6 years part-time
Distance learning available
January
April
September
Be inspired to reach your research ambitions in an intellectual and supportive community at the forefront of English research.
The diversity of our staff’s research interests means that we are well-positioned to supervise research in any field of literature, from the Middle Ages to the present day, including literature in languages other than English, and literary works in translation.
We also have distinctive expertise in practice-led teaching and research, including archival work and printing. The PhD in English and Related Literature is available on a full-time or part-time basis.
Under the guidance of your supervisor, you'll complete a thesis of up to 80,000 words. A typical semester will involve a great deal of independent research, punctuated by meetings with your supervisor who will be able to suggest direction and address concerns throughout the writing process. You'll be encouraged to undertake periods of research at archives and potentially internationally, depending on your research thesis.
Throughout your degree, you'll have the opportunity to attend a wide range of research training sessions in order to learn archival and research skills, and a range of research seminars organised by the research schools, which bring speakers from around the world for research talks and networking. There is also internal funding available if you wish to propose research events and symposia/conferences.
[email protected] +44 (0) 1904 323366
You also have the option of enrolling in a PhD in English by distance learning, where you will have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world. You will attend the Research Training Programme online in your first year and have supervision and progression meetings online.
You must attend a five-day induction programme in York at the beginning of your first year. You will also visit York in your second and third years (every other year for part-time students).
Apply for PhD in English and Related Literature (distance learning)
We're a top ten research department according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023.
We're proud to hold an Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of the work we do to support gender equality in English.
Explore funding for postgraduate researchers in the Department of English and Related Literature.
Explore the expertise of our staff and identify a potential supervisor.
You'll receive training in research methods and skills appropriate to the stage you've reached and the nature of your work. In addition to regular supervisory meetings to discuss planning, researching and writing the thesis, we offer sessions on bibliographic and archival resources (digital, print and manuscript). You'll receive guidance in applying to and presenting at professional conferences, preparing and submitting material for publication and applying for jobs. We meet other training needs in handling research data, various modern languages, palaeography and bibliography. Classical and medieval Latin are also available.
We also offer training in teaching skills for students who wish to pursue teaching posts following their degree. This includes sessions on the delivery and content of seminars and workshops to undergraduates, a structured shadowing programme, teaching inductions and comprehensive guidance and resources for our graduate teaching assistants. Our teacher training is directed by a dedicated staff member.
You'll also benefit from the rich array of research and training sessions at the Humanities Research Centre .
This course is run by the Department of English and Related Literature.
You'll be based on Campus West , though your research may take you further afield.
We also have a distance learning option available for this course.
For doctoral research, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or high upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualification) and a Masters degree with distinction.
The undergraduate and Masters degrees should be in literature, or in a related subject that is closely tied to the proposed research project.
Other relevant experience and expertise may also be considered:
Supervisors interview prospective research students to ensure good supervisory match and to help with funding applications.
The core deciding factor for admission is the quality of the research proposal, though your whole academic profile will be taken into account. We are committed to ensuring that no prospective or existing student is treated less favourably. See our admissions policy for more information.
Take a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.
Before applying, we advise you to identify a potential supervisor in the department. Preliminary enquiries are welcomed and should be made as early as possible. Please email one member of staff at a time, after checking that their research expertise matches your project. Emailing several staff members at a time regardless of the relationship between their research interests and yours means that you are unlikely to find a good supervisory match.
If it's not clear which member of staff is appropriate, you should email the Graduate Chair .
Apply for the PhD in English and Related Literature
Students embarking on a PhD programme are initially enrolled provisionally for that qualification. Confirmation of PhD registration is dependent upon the submission of a satisfactory proposal that meets the standards required for the degree, usually in the second year of study.
Find out more about how to apply .
You'll need to provide evidence of your proficiency in English if it's not your first language.
Check your English language requirements
In order to apply for a PhD, we ask that you submit a research proposal as part of your application.
When making your application, you're advised to make your research proposals as specific and clear as possible. Please indicate the member(s) of staff that you'd wish to work with.
Your research proposal should:
What we look for:
Find out more about careers
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.
Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.
Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.
Explore our staff expertise
Find out all you need to know about applying to York
Find funding to support your studies
English Literature and Creative Writing
PhD students in English Literature and Creative Writing pursue a wide range of different topics, from Anglo-Saxon poetry to the contemporary novel. Here's what some of our current students are researching.
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Interdisciplinary clusters.
The Department of English's Doctoral program in Literature offers advanced study and research in literary history, criticism, and theory, with excellent opportunities for interdepartmental and interdisciplinary study. Courses within the department cover major genres, periods, authors, and a broad range of methodological and theoretical approaches.
The graduate curriculum is enhanced by frequent lectures and workshops with Northwestern faculty and visiting scholars from around the world. Student-organized colloquia, conferences, reading groups, and dissertation groups provide opportunities for students to present their research to an audience of peers.
The PhD program provides superb professionalization and training in a variety of settings, including teaching assistantships for undergraduate lecture courses and the opportunity to develop and lead courses in Northwestern's Writing Program and the School of Professional Studies .
How to use this guide, literary research: background & context, find books and articles in jumbosearch, recommended web resources.
Welcome to the Tisch Library guide to resources for the graduate study of literature in English. Use the table of contents to find definitions, topic overviews, books, articles, and more that will help you with your research.
If you don't find what you are looking for or need help navigating this guide or any of the resources it contains, don't hesitate to contact the author of this guide or Ask a Librarian .
Want to learn more about the background and context of literary scholarship? Below is a selection of resources that can help you to develop a better understanding of literary research, including the discourses of critical theory.
Want to discover everything that Tisch Library has on your topic? Try searching for your topic in JumboSearch, which simultaneously searches across all of the library's resources, including: books from the library catalog: journal articles in databases, online and in print; research guides on your topic; digital files from the Archives; and much, much more!
Search by Keyword, Title, Subject, or Creator
There are a lot of great resources on the web where you can find information about English Literature as well as online primary texts (stories, poems, plays, and novels) and recordings of literature being read aloud. Have fun exploring!
Get expert academic help for your assignments!
Choosing a dissertation topic in English literature can be both exciting and daunting. With a wealth of genres, historical periods, and critical approaches, the possibilities are vast. This comprehensive guide presents over 50 important dissertation topics across various themes and periods, helping you find inspiration for your research.
1.1 shakespearean tragedies.
Explore the complexities of human nature, fate, and morality in plays like “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” or “Othello.” Analyze themes such as ambition, revenge, and madness.
Investigate the works of poets like John Donne, George Herbert, and Andrew Marvell. Focus on their use of metaphysical conceits, religious themes, and exploration of love and mortality.
Examine the representation of women in the works of male authors or explore the writings of female authors like Mary Sidney and Lady Mary Wroth.
2.1 social criticism in dickens’ novels.
Analyze Charles Dickens’ critique of social issues such as poverty, child labour, and class disparity in novels like “Oliver Twist,” “David Copperfield,” and “Bleak House.”
Compare and contrast the themes of gothic elements, gender roles, and family dynamics in the works of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë.
Explore the depiction of women and their societal roles in the works of authors like Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy.
3.1 stream of consciousness in james joyce’s “ulysses”.
Examine the narrative technique of stream of consciousness and its impact on modernist literature through Joyce’s “Ulysses.”
Investigate themes of alienation, bureaucracy, and existential angst in Kafka’s stories like “The Metamorphosis” and “The Trial.”
Analyze Woolf’s exploration of gender, identity, and consciousness in works like “Mrs. Dalloway” and “Orlando.”
4.1 identity and displacement in salman rushdie’s works.
Explore themes of identity, migration, and cultural hybridity in Rushdie’s novels such as “Midnight’s Children” and “The Satanic Verses.”
Examine the intersection of postcolonial themes and feminist issues in Adichie’s works like “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Americanah.”
Analyze how Coetzee portrays the impacts of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa in novels like “Disgrace” and “Waiting for the Barbarians.”
5.1 environmental themes in margaret atwood’s works.
Investigate the portrayal of environmental issues and dystopian futures in Atwood’s novels like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Oryx and Crake.”
Examine the critique of technology, surveillance, and privacy in Eggers’ novel “The Circle.”
Analyze how Smith addresses themes of multiculturalism, identity, and social dynamics in novels like “White Teeth” and “Swing Time.”
6.1 the american dream in f. scott fitzgerald’s “the great gatsby”.
Explore the critique of the American Dream and the pursuit of wealth in Fitzgerald’s classic novel.
Investigate Morrison’s exploration of African American identity, history, and culture in novels like “Beloved” and “Song of Solomon.”
Analyze the use of gothic elements, decaying settings, and complex family dynamics in Faulkner’s novels like “The Sound and the Fury” and “As I Lay Dying.”
7.1 the role of the supernatural in edgar allan poe’s stories.
Examine Poe’s use of supernatural elements, psychological horror, and themes of madness in his short stories.
Explore the representation of gender, creation, and monstrosity in Shelley’s seminal gothic novel.
Analyze the themes of sexuality, fear of the other, and the clash between modernity and ancient evil in Stoker’s “Dracula.”
8.1 dystopian themes in george orwell’s “1984”.
Investigate Orwell’s critique of totalitarianism, surveillance, and control in his dystopian novel “1984.”
Examine Tolkien’s creation of Middle-earth, focusing on themes of heroism, power, and the struggle between good and evil.
Analyze the depiction of gender, power dynamics, and resistance in Atwood’s dystopian novel.
9.1 moral lessons in aesop’s fables.
Explore the use of anthropomorphism and moral teaching in Aesop’s classic fables.
Investigate the blend of fantasy and reality, the hero’s journey, and themes of friendship and bravery in the “Harry Potter” series.
Examine J.M. Barrie’s portrayal of colonialism, race, and the concept of the “other” in “Peter Pan.”
10.1 nature and the sublime in william wordsworth’s poetry.
Analyze Wordsworth’s depiction of nature, the sublime, and the human experience in his poetry.
Investigate the themes of love, loss, and mortality in Keats’ poetic works.
Explore the blending of Romantic and Gothic elements in Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein.”
11.1 feminist themes in virginia woolf’s “a room of one’s own”.
Examine Woolf’s arguments about women’s rights, creativity, and the need for financial independence in her extended essay.
Analyze Lorde’s exploration of intersectionality, identity, and resistance in her poetry and essays.
Investigate Plath’s portrayal of gender roles, mental illness, and societal expectations in her semi-autobiographical novel.
12.1 historical accuracy in hilary mantel’s “wolf hall”.
Examine Mantel’s depiction of Thomas Cromwell and the Tudor court, focusing on historical accuracy and narrative style.
Analyze Remarque’s portrayal of the horrors of World War I and its impact on soldiers.
Investigate Dickens’ depiction of the French Revolution, class struggle, and redemption in “A Tale of Two Cities.”
13.1 comparing dystopian societies in “1984” and “brave new world”.
Analyze the similarities and differences in the dystopian societies depicted by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley.
Examine the use of the hero’s journey archetype in Homer’s epic poem and Tolkien’s fantasy series.
Compare and contrast the themes of revenge, justice, and morality in Shakespeare’s play and Dumas’ novel.
14.1 the role of myth in james joyce’s “ulysses”.
Investigate how Joyce incorporates and reinterprets classical myths in his modernist novel “Ulysses.”
Analyze the influence of Greek tragedy on contemporary works, focusing on themes of fate, hubris, and catharsis.
Explore the use of mythical motifs, creatures, and archetypes in the “Harry Potter” series.
15.1 queer identity in james baldwin’s “giovanni’s room”.
Examine Baldwin’s exploration of queer identity, love, and societal norms in his novel “Giovanni’s Room.”
Analyze Wilde’s depiction of gender, sexuality, and societal hypocrisy in his plays and novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
Investigate Lorde’s exploration of the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality in her poetry.
Choosing a dissertation topic in English literature requires careful consideration of your interests, the scope of available research, and the depth of the material. The above list provides a diverse array of topics across different periods, genres, and themes, offering a solid foundation for your academic exploration. Whether you are drawn to the timeless works of Shakespeare, the social critiques of Victorian literature, the innovative narratives of modernism, or the diverse voices of contemporary literature, there is a rich vein of material to explore in your dissertation.
UCL English
One of the highest-ranking English Departments in the UK, UCL provides fantastic opportunities for PhD students to study in the heart of literary London, with access to vast quantities of resources and research materials, and a high number of academic staff working on a diverse range of specialist topics.
Note that you should identify a prospective supervisor yourself (see our list of staff ) and contact them before you make your formal application, to check that they are in a position to support the project that you are proposing.
Dr Anthony Ossa-Richardson ( [email protected] ) is the English Department's Graduate Tutor. Application enquiries can also be directed to Natasha Clark ( [email protected] ), Senior Education Administrator.
With access to a vast collection of archival materials, and world-leading supervision in a wide range of literary periods and topics, UCL is one of the best universities in which to study for an English PhD.
There are normally about 35 students undertaking research degrees in the department. Graduate students initially register for the MPhil degree, but usually in the second year, when a realistic and workable thesis has been confirmed, and work-in-progress and a future plan have been discussed, students are upgraded from MPhil to PhD status.
Students accepted for admission are given a principal supervisor with whom the student will work closely during the course of the degree. A secondary supervisor is also appointed to provide additional advice. Great importance is attached to matching student and supervisor (for more on this, please see the 'Applying for a Place' section below), and ensuring that students' progress is well monitored. Students meet either one or other supervisor approximately ten times during the academic year. The Department is eager to ensure PhD completion rates within four years, and therefore reviews each student's progress by means of an interview at the end of each year. When completed and submitted, the thesis is defended in an oral examination.
Students are expected to complete the PhD within three or four years of registration, and the minimum period of registration is two years. Part-time students complete the degree within five to seven years of registration.
The Department offers MPhil/PhD supervision in a wide range of topics, including English and English-related language and literature from Old English to the present day. Information on the research interests of staff can be found here (click on the name of each member of staff to access their personal profile).
Research Resources
UCL Library has outstanding physical and digital collections for literary research, as well as specialist materials in its excellent Special Collections department. Among these are the George Orwell Archive; Little Magazines; the Routledge and Kegan Paul Archives (publishing history); the Brougham Papers and papers of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (19th-century liberalism); and the Chadwick Papers (19th-century sanitary reform). UCL Library also has superb holdings in London history. For language topics the Department is especially well placed, as it houses the world-renowned Survey of English Usage.
Other London archives with manuscript and rare book resources relevant to the Department’s research interests include (but are by no means limited to):
Research is expected to take students into numerous libraries and archives, not only within London, but also throughout Britain, and often internationally.
Research Environment
The Department places great emphasis on opportunities for students to discuss their work and participate in the exchange of knowledge and ideas. There is a programme of regular departmental Research Seminars at which PhD students are invited to present their work; speakers may also include members of the department’s academic staff and invited guests. The department also hosts a seminar series on Race, Power, and Poetics , and a wide range of informal discussion groups and reading groups.
The Institute of Advanced Studies (part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities) hosts an exciting programme of research events and activities. UCL students also have access to the abundance of seminars and conferences available across London, including those of the Institute of English Studies at the University of London.
The English Department’s graduate students organise a one-day conference each year; many of the papers delivered at the conference are published in Moveable Type , the Department's graduate-led online journal. There is a Graduate Common Room in the English Department. Many PhD students spend much time working at the British Library, to which UCL has unrivalled proximity, which also functions as a hub for academic networking.
Details of current PhD students and their projects can be found here .
Your research proposal does not need to be long (typically somewhere between 800-1000 words). The most important things we are looking for you to explain are:
1) What primary literature/texts will you be studying?
2) What is your idea/approach to this literature?
3) How does your project fit in to the secondary literature/criticism on this topic?
4) Practical details, like which archives you will use, roughly how long you will spend on each chapter, what each chapter may be about, etc
5) That you have considered how the chosen project will work within a 100,000 word limit (so it's clearly not something so small that it's 20,000 words maximum, nor have you chosen something so big that you couldn't possibly do it justice in 500,000).
Proposals and intentions often change a little/quite a lot once they are on the course, but the important thing is just to demonstrate that you have thought about the practicalities and you have a clear, viable research topic that we could supervise in the Department, and which you could complete within three years.
Please note that you should always contact us before submitting a formal online application (see step 1 below).
Applicants should usually expect to begin their studies in September at the start of an academic year (although in some cases, a January start can be discussed). UCL’s application process usually opens in mid-October, and you are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as there are a number of stages to the process.
It is essential to understand that your application for a place must be fully processed, and an offer of a place at UCL secured, before you can apply to any of the various funding schemes (see under ‘Applying for Funding’ below). You should allow time for this, and for us to advise you on your funding application(s). For this reason your full, formal application for a place via UCL’s online system must be submitted by Friday 5 January 2024 at the latest . This is an internal departmental deadline and supersedes any dates given on external websites.
We strongly recommend that all candidates should apply for funding; but those candidates who intend to self-fund may apply for entry in September 2025 at any time up to 31 March 2025.
The steps for applying for a place take some time, and are as follows:
1. Contact a member of staff in the English Department to establish whether they are available and interested in supervising your project. They may ask to see your CV and a brief research proposal (see above, ‘The Research Proposal’). You can find details of the research interests of individual members of staff here (click on each name to see the staff member’s profile). If you are not sure who to approach, you may consult the English Department’s Graduate Tutor, Dr Anthony Ossa-Richardson ( [email protected] ).
Please be aware that members of staff cannot give detailed advice on how to improve your research proposal. This is because evaluation of the proposal is an important part of the process for the selection of candidates, so it must be your own independent work. If we invite you for interview (step 3 below) this will be an opportunity for you to discuss your proposal with your prospective supervisor. If we offer you a place (step 4 below), we will then advise you on how to make your research proposal as strong as possible for your funding application(s).
2. If you have been encouraged to make a full, formal online application, please do so, following the instructions here . Your application must include a research proposal, two references, a CV, and transcripts from your previous academic courses. If you intend to proceed to funding applications, your application for a place must be submitted by 8th January 2024 . When you submit your application, please also send your research proposal and academic CV directly by email to the English Department’s Graduate Tutor, Dr Anthony Ossa-Richardson ( [email protected] ).
Applying as an international student
Further information about English language requirements and applying as an international student can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/applying-international-student .
3. The English Department will consider the strength of each applicant’s proposed research project, the applicant's grades in undergraduate and Masters level study, and the suitability (and availability) of academic staff in the Department to supervise the proposed project. If we decide to proceed with the application, the applicant will be invited to a short interview to discuss the research proposal in more detail. This will normally be with the applicant's proposed primary supervisor, a potential secondary supervisor, and/or the Tutor for Graduates. UK applicants will normally be interviewed at UCL; international students, or those who are unable to attend for other reasons, will be interviewed online. Please try to ensure that you are available for interview from November to January.
4. If your interview is successful, we will offer you a place. You can now proceed to funding applications (see ‘Applying for Funding’ below). PLEASE NOTE: it is your responsibility to be aware of the deadlines for different funding schemes, and to ensure that there is time for your application for a place to be fully processed before you proceed to funding applications.
Scholarships for which you may be eligible to apply are listed here .
Studentships for PhDs in English at UCL are available from LAHP (the London Arts and Humanities Partnership), funded by the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council). LAHP is a consortium of Higher Education Institutions in London. More information, including eligibility for a studentship and how to apply, is available from their website . Around 10% of applications for studentships are successful.
Applicants who are interested in LAHP funding must also have submitted a completed PhD application to UCL by Wednesday 8th January 2025. Once we have confirmed your offer of a place, you must then submit a completed LAHP application form, including the supervisor statement, by their deadline ( TBC, January 2025 ). Your prospective supervisor will advise you on how to make your LAHP application as strong as possible. It is your responsibility to allow sufficient time for all of these processes.
If you have any further questions about the LAHP application procedure, please email Ms Natasha Clark ( [email protected] )
UCL Research Excellence Scholarships aim to attract high-quality students to undertake research at UCL. Up to 40 UCL Research Excellence Scholarships (RES) are available to prospective and current research students from any country.
More details about the application process for the Research Excellence Scholarships, including deadlines, can be found here .
The Wolfson Foundation is offering six postgraduate research awards in the humanities for 2024/25. These will be for three areas in history, literature and languages.
Details about the award scheme and the application process can be found here .
Applicants should send the mandatory documents to Natasha Clark ( [email protected] ) by the end of 10th January 2025.
UCL's Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS) supports UK BAME postgraduate research degree students. Details about eligibility, the award and the application process can be found here .
Each student works closely with their supervisor to develop research skills specific to their project. Regular completion of an online research log helps the student and supervisor to assess training needs.
The English Department provides a course in PhD Skills Training. The first term is on Research Skills and Methods, and is aimed at first-year students, who are required to attend. The second term is on Professional Academic Skills, and is open to all PhD students.
Across UCL, PhD training is co-ordinated by the Doctoral School . The Doctoral Skills Development Programme is delivered via the Inkpath platform, and benefits from participation by the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network , a consortium of leading Higher Education Institutions.
Training courses and events are also available from LAHP (the London Arts and Humanities Partnership). LAHP-funded students are given priority for booking, but places may also be available to other students.
PhD students who are making good progress with their research project are offered teaching opportunities. Those in their second year are normally offered experience in teaching one-to-one tutorials. Those in their third year are normally offered experience in teaching seminars.
PhD students in English also work with UCL’s Access and Widening Participation team to deliver a highly successful Summer School for Year 12 school students.
PhD graduates from the Department have an excellent record of securing employment in institutions of higher education. In recent years PhD alumni have progressed to academic positions here at UCL, as well as at Oxford and Cambridge, in the wider University of London, and at other universities across the UK. Others have successfully gained international appointments, in destinations including the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. Our PhD graduates are also well placed to pursue careers outside academia, as the skills in research, analysis, writing, and communication obtained during the PhD transfer easily to high-level work in many sectors.
Please see the UCL prospectus page for the MPhil/PhD programme for full details and how to apply.
For further information, please email Natasha Clark ( [email protected] ).
We do accept some visiting students, if there is a suitable academic to act as supervisor. The first step is to identify someone who looks like a suitable supervisor by looking through the list of academic staff yourself: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/english/people/academic-staff . Then, you should contact them with your research proposal to see if they think they would be well-positioned to supervise and will be available to do so over the period of time you’d like to visit. If they are happy to supervise you, you must submit an application via our online system. Further details about this and the link for applying can be found on this page: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/international/study-abroad-and-exchange/visiting-research-students .
"I am currently completing my PhD on Shakespeare. The English department at UCL is a very special place: the academic staff are dedicated, supportive. I would whole-heartedly recommend applying to study English at UCL."
Shani Bans, PhD Candidate
About the university, research at cambridge.
Postgraduate Study
Cambridge is an outstanding place to work on Anglophone literature. Students and scholars benefit from world-class libraries, and from each other. The PhD cohort is diverse and large in number. No particular area or approach is preferred. Faculty members who act as supervisors and advisors for doctoral theses work on a great variety of topics and in varied ways. Proposals of all kinds are therefore welcome: from little-known as well as canonical authors, innovative and interdisciplinary perspectives, and more traditional thematic, theoretical, cultural, and literary-historical perspectives. Regular postgraduate training sessions offer guidance at every stage of the process - from first-year assessment to learning to teach to applying for jobs. In addition to the formal training, there are excellent opportunities for the sorts of enriching conversations and collaborations that emerge informally, between fellow PhDs, MPhils, and Faculty members. Some of these take place under the auspices of the student-run Graduate Research Forum. Regular Research Seminars focus on particular periods and fields (for instance, Medieval, Nineteenth Century, Postcolonial and Related Literatures); these combine internal and invited speakers, and encourage discussions and relationships between the entire research community. The Faculty also puts on occasional conferences on all manner of topics; like the research seminars, many of the most successful and exciting ones are conceived of and run by PhD students.
MPhil students in English Studies who wish to continue to the PhD must apply for admission through the University's admission processes, taking funding and application deadlines into consideration. Readmission is not automatic and each application is considered on its own merits. The expected standard for continuation is an overall mark of at least 70 in the MPhil course, including at least 70 for the dissertation. Other conditions may be imposed.
The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:
Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.
Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.
For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages .
3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, faculty of english, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2025.
Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.
Funding deadlines.
These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.
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The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked Literature and Languages
What you will study.
Our English Literature PhD will train you in critical and analytical skills, research methods, and knowledge that will equip you for your professional or academic career. It normally takes around three or four years to complete our full-time PhD.
You’ll be assigned a primary and secondary supervisor, who will meet with you regularly to read and discuss your work and progress. For us, writing is essential for understanding and developing new perspectives, so you’ll be submitting written work right from the start of your course.
In the first year of your PhD, you’ll refine your research proposal and plan the structure of your work with the guidance and support of your supervisors. As you go into your second and third year, you’ll gradually learn to work more independently, and your supervisors will guide you on how to present at conferences and get your work published.
After 12-15 months, you’ll submit a substantial piece of work for a confirmation examination. The confirmation examination will be conducted by two internal members of staff not on your supervisory team and will give you the opportunity to gain additional guidance on your research-to-date. The final two years of your PhD will be devoted to expanding and refining your work ready for submission of the final thesis.
As a doctoral student, you’ll receive a structured training programme covering the practical aspects of being a researcher, including grant-writing, publishing in journals, and applying for academic jobs.
Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.
Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
Research themes.
Discover more about our literature and languages research .
See a full list of all our literature and languages academic staff .
Research support.
In addition to a number of excellent training opportunities offered by the University, our PhD students can take additional subject-specific training and take part in research seminars and events. These provide a valuable opportunity to meet visiting scholars whose work connects with our own research strengths across literature, theory, and creative writing.
The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College , which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.
You’ll be allocated shared office space and have full access to our library and online resources. Our close proximity to London also means that the British Library and many other important archives are within easy reach.
Student - English Literature PhD
"A real highlight for me was having an article published in a well-known journal in my field. This came out of a chapter I wasn’t expecting to write at the start of the thesis, on a novel I read during the PhD."
Uk qualifications.
Applicants are expected to hold a good first-class UK degree (a minimum 2:1 or equivalent) and an MA in a relevant topic.
IELTS Academic: 7.0 or above with a minimum of 6.5 in each component (or equivalent).
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection is based on applicants:
Fees per year.
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.
There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.
A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.
Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our application guidance .
Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.
To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.
Choose the course option you wish to apply for.
Create an account and sign into our application portal.
Full-time, October 2024
Part-time, October 2024
Full-time, January 2025
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Full-time, July 2025
Part-time, July 2025
We have a range of housing to suit all requirements and budgets. There are more than 6,000 rooms available (en-suite, single-sex, studio flat, shared or single).
At Surrey we offer a friendly university campus set in beautiful countryside, with the convenience and social life of bustling Guildford on your doorstep.
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.
Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF) .
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .
We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:
View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .
A/Prof Barbara Boswell ( [email protected] ) and Dr Bernard Fortuin ( [email protected] )
The Department of English Literary Studies supervises research degrees in a broad range of areas, from Early Modern to contemporary literature and theory. We specialise particularly in writings of and from South Africa and Africa and work closely with prospective students to develop a thesis topic that reflects their interests and allows them to make a substantive and innovative contribution to their research area.
Once accepted, students are assigned one (sometimes two) supervisor(s) who will offer them consistent intellectual support and guidance. In addition students are encouraged to take part in the intellectual life of the department and are given opportunities to attend workshops and seminars as well as teach and present on their own research. On occasion (in keeping with our increasingly interdisciplinary approach) we offer co-supervision with another department.
We appreciate that a PhD is an extremely serious undertaking and as such we read all applications closely and consult with colleagues to ensure that we have adequate supervisory capacity for your project. We encourage all applicants to read our staff’s research profiles in order to gauge the interface between their research interests and the specialisations of our teaching staff.
Many of our graduates have gone on to be leading researchers in their fields, teaching and holding senior management positions at major universities both locally and globally.
How to apply
Phd in english and comparative literary studies.
A PhD is undertaken for a variety of reasons: as preliminary training for an academic career; as an advanced degree that may contribute to a future career in other sectors; or simply as an exciting and rewarding pursuit in its own right. Your final dissertation, which will be up to 80,000 words, is expected to make an original contribution to knowledge.
Studying at Warwick means joining a supportive and world-leading network of experts. Our staff are specialists across a broad spectrum of topics: see our staff profile pages for more information, and our current PhD and MPhil students to give you a sense of the projects currently being pursued in our department.
Our department was ranked in the top 10 in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework Link opens in a new window , and the 2024 QS World University Rankings placed us in the top 30 English departments in the world Link opens in a new window . Find out more about our history and who we are Link opens in a new window .
Our warm and vibrant research community is one of the largest in the UK, with around 110 postgraduates every year. We offer a full calendar of seminars, symposiums and conferences, with a busy diary of speakers from around the world. We also offer funding for postgraduate study, and career development support during your time here.
You will study alongside ambitious scholars and researchers at the forefront of their fields. We want you to harness your intellectual ambitions and interests, and bring your own distinct personal experiences and circumstances to bear on your work.
Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Duration: 4 years full time, 7 years part-time
Next intake: October 2025
Contact: [email protected]
At the start of the academic year, you will be welcomed by our department. You will work with your supervisor to create a calendar plan for the year that is bespoke for you and your studies.
Each year, your work will also be read and assessed by other academic staff in your field. The final goal of the research degree is the production of your thesis. You will write 80,000 words (excluding footnotes, bibliography and appendices) on a topic of your choice; and be examined by an internal and external examiner in a viva.
Find out more about degrees:
Research themes at Warwick
We particularly welcome research applications in these research areas .
Supervision
As a research student, your closest contact will be with your supervisor, or co-supervisors, who will meet with you regularly to discuss your work. The supervisory relationship is at the heart of your research. Your supervisor(s) are experts in their field who will guide you throughout your degree and will agree upon a programme of reading, research and writing with you.
You can ask any academic from our department to be your supervisor. See our staff pages for more details and to see whose research interests align with yours.
You will also be able to seek advice from our Director of Graduate Studies, who oversees our research students; and participate in sessions organized by our PG Professionalization Officer, who organizes seminars on employment in both the academic and non-academic sectors. With your peers, you will have the chance to participate in seminars, conferences, reading groups, and symposia; and you will be encouraged to apply for internal funding to support research trips and participation in academic events outside of the university.
Research expertise
Our department was ranked in the top 10 in the Research Excellence Framework Link opens in a new window , and the 2024 QS World University Rankings placed us in the top 30 English departments in the world. Link opens in a new window
Our staff are renowned experts across a broad spectrum of specialisms.
Thriving research groups
Our Department is home to several thriving research groups, including Comparative Religions and Literatures (CoRAL) and the Warwick Research Collective (Materialist Studies in World Literature) . We have close ties to the Centre for Philosophy, Literature and the Arts , the Eighteenth Century Centre , the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance , the Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies , and many other ongoing research projects and collectives.
International conferences
Our Department is regularly home to major national and international conferences , most recently The Descent into the Classical Underworld , Imperial Cultures of the United States , and Peripheral Postcolonialities .
Large library at the heart of campus
The University library's Rare Books and Special Collections include early editions of Smollett, Swift, Scott, and Goethe, and is home to the Modern Records Centre.
Regional and national connections
The University campus is approx. 15 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and the largest publically-available collection of Shakespeare material in the world . We are also just over an hour from London, home to world-class museums, galleries, and the British Library - the largest library in the world.
A lively graduate culture
You will get a chance to present your work at our annual Postgraduate Symposium . Our graduate students are an important part of our teaching faculty, and for those progressing well with their research, there are opportunities to gain valuable teaching experience across a variety of undergraduate modules.
A postgraduate English degree is a key route into Higher Education, research, and academic careers, which often require postgraduate qualifications. As part of English’s postgraduate community, you will join a department that values its graduate students and encourages them to become part of our thriving research culture.
The average mean salary for all postgraduates from Warwick is £39,500 per annum, and 93.7% are currently in work and/or further study ( Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education ).
Recent graduate destinations for postgraduate courses:
Barclays Bank; Civil Service Ministry of Justice; Corus Hotels; Coventry University; Deloitte; International Institute for Environment and Development; NewsQuest Media Group; Oxfam; Pan Macmillan; PepsiCo; Royal National Lifeboat Institution; Royal Opera House; Royal Town Planning Institution; TeachFirst; The Burlington Magazine; The Sun; The Times; University of Worcester; V&A Museum; Yale University Press.
Positions of our recent graduates from postgraduate courses:
Account Executive; Business Consultant; Community and Events Fundraising Assistant; Compliance Office; Content Executive; Editorial Assistant; English Teacher; Foreign Rights Assistant; Workshop Director; Writer and Researcher; Innovation and Enterprise Consultant; International and Business Performance Assistant; Journalist; Junior Account Executive; Marketing Manager; Publishing Assistant; Research Analyst; Social Media Analyst; TV Researcher; TV Runner, University Lecturer.
What personal and professional development opportunities and support are available?
Entry Requirements
You must hold, or be currently studying for, an MA or international equivalent in a relevant discipline, with a predicted or final mark of 65 or above. You should normally also have an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject.
If you have not already taken an MA at Warwick, you may be required to take part in the ‘Foundation Module’ of the taught MA. This will not be formally assessed but will ensure that you have acquired the necessary skills for further research.
English Language Requirements
Band C Link opens in a new window
IELTS overall score of 7.5, minimum component scores of two at 6.5/7.0 and the rest at 7.5 or above.
We also accept TOEFL Band C (108 overall, with no component below 23).
See our Graduate Admissions page for further details on language requirements.
Your research proposal
This is the most important part of your application and you should take the time to hone it carefully.
Your proposal should make specific reference to the texts, authors, and/or themes that you will tackle, the theories or concepts that you will employ, and situate the project within current critical work in the area. You might cite a few secondary works which have interested, inspired, or provoked you. This is not the place for a personal statement about your past career or future aspirations. We recognise, of course, that all projects change and evolve during the process of doctoral study, and that it's difficult to define a project in advance of carrying it out. For us to assess your application and identify possible supervisors, however, it is crucial for us to have a clear idea of the scope and subject of your project.
We strongly recommend that you take the time to look at the profiles of our staff who work in your research area in order to identify a potential supervisor or supervisors for your project. It can really help applicants to have corresponded with potential supervisors before submitting their formal application.
Successful applicants are assigned a supervisor and advisory mentor (who offers academic and pastoral support) from amongst the academic staff of the Department. On occasion, it may be appropriate for a student to have two supervisors, sometimes with their second supervisor being in another department.
Course Fees
See Student Finance
Scholarships 2024/25 Entry
There are a number of scholarships available for both Home and international applicants, through a variety of University schemes. Like all applications for funding awards they take some time and effort to complete, so please begin early by identifying a potential supervisor(s) and writing a research proposal. Please note that most scholarship require candidates to have applied for a place at Warwick to be eligible for competition entry.
China Scholarship Council (CSC) / University of Warwick Scholarships : Closed. For PhD applicants and first year PhD students who meet the CSC criteria. Open on 10 November 2023 for entry in Autumn 2024. Closing Date: 18 January 2024 23:59 (GMT)
The Department will nominate outstanding applicants for these awards.
For the Monash Warwick scholarship there is a separate application form, which can be found here .
You should indicate on your application which, if any, scholarships you wish to be considered for.
Additional Course Costs
Students are expected to buy the set primary texts for each module they study.
Find out more about fees and funding on the University website.
The application consists of two parts: a formal application form and the supporting documents.
(1) The formal application
You may apply for a place on the PhD program from October 2023. The application is completed and submitted via the University's postgraduate online application form . The form will ask you to include, amongst other things:
Please indicate on the application form if you have entered into any discussions with staff members of our department about possible research, or if there is someone who would particularly like to work with. This enables us to deal with your application more quickly.
You will also be asked to upload your academic transcript(s) AFTER you have submitted your online form. Admissions will contact you by email and provide a link to a page where you should upload an electronic copy of your transcript.
(2) Supporting documents
You should be able to upload your supporting documents with your application, but if you encounter any technical difficulties please send them directly to the Director of Graduate Studies.
If you require a printed copy of the postgraduate application form please e-mail [email protected], remembering to include your postal address, or telephone them on +44 (0) 24 7657 23648. Consult the University's Graduate Prospectus for guidelines on the application process and frequently asked questions.
Our admissions process
Admission is dependent upon:
We normally expect to make a decision on applications within four weeks of receipt (although bear in mind that we often have to wait for reference letters to be uploaded before we can formally review your application). If we cannot offer you a place, Admissions will formally write to you, and we may also get in touch to explain why.
If we can offer you a place, we will notify you by email informally, and Admissions will write to you with a formal offer.
Conditions of offer may be attached, such as passing at 65 or above the MA which you are currently taking, or a satisfactory IELTS or other accepted English language test score. You will also be asked to indicate whether you intend to accept or decline the offer.
The Doctoral College Office will provide you with information about accommodation and (if relevant) about the International Office. It is sensible to establish informal contact with your prospective supervisor via email or letter well ahead of arrival, and to arrange a date for a first meeting. Note that when you come to Warwick, you will be registered initially as an MPhil student. During the course of your studies, you will be formally upgraded to PhD registration after a monitoring procedure (see full details of this in the department’s MPhil/PhD Handbook, in the section Monitoring Progress).
You apply for the PhD in English Literature through the University’s online Degree Finder. Here is our guidance on how to write an effective application.
The two elements of an application that are most useful to us when we consider a candidate for the PhD in English Literature are the sample of written work and the research proposal.
You will probably choose your sample of written work from an already-completed undergraduate or masters-level dissertation or term-paper.
Your research proposal will be something new. It will describe the project that you want to complete for your PhD.
Take your time in composing your research proposal, carefully considering the requirements outlined below. Your proposal should not be more than 2,000 words .
PhD degrees are awarded on the basis of a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The ‘Summary of roles and responsibilities’ in the University’s Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students stipulates what a research thesis must do.
Take me to the Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students (August 2020)
It is in the nature of research that, when you begin, you don’t know what you’ll find. This means that your project is bound to change over the time that you spend on it.
In submitting your research proposal, you are not committing yourself absolutely to completing exactly the project it describes in the event that you are accepted. Nevertheless, with the above points in mind, your research proposal should include the following elements, though not necessarily in this order:
1. An account of the body of primary texts that your thesis will examine. This may be work by one author, or several, or many, depending on the nature of the project. It is very unlikely to consist of a single text, however, unless that text is unusually compendious (The Canterbury Tales) or unusually demanding (Finnegans Wake). Unless your range of texts consists in the complete oeuvre of a single writer, you should explain why these texts are the ones that need to be examined in order to make your particular argument.
2. An identification of the existing field or fields of criticism and scholarship of which you will need to gain an ‘adequate knowledge’ in order to complete your thesis. This must include work in existing literary criticism, broadly understood. Usually this will consist of criticism or scholarship on the works or author(s) in question. In the case of very recent writing, or writing marginal to the established literary canon, on which there may be little or no existing critical work, it might include literary criticism written on other works or authors in the same period, or related work in the same mode or genre, or some other exercise of literary criticism that can serve as a reference point for your engagement with this new material.
The areas of scholarship on which you draw are also likely to include work in other disciplines, however. Most usually, these will be arguments in philosophy or critical theory that have informed, or could inform, the critical debate around your primary texts, or may have informed the texts themselves; and/or the historiography of the period in which your texts were written or received. But we are ready to consider the possible relevance of any other body of knowledge to literary criticism, as long as it is one with which you are sufficiently familiar, or could become sufficiently familiar within the period of your degree, for it to serve a meaningful role in your argument.
3. The questions or problems that the argument of your thesis will address; the methods you will adopt to answer those questions or explain those problems; and some explanation of why this particular methodology is the appropriate means of doing so. The problem could take many forms: a simple gap in the existing scholarship that you will fill; a misleading approach to the primary material that you will correct; or a difficulty in the relation of the existing scholarship to theoretical/philosophical, historiographical, or other disciplinary contexts, for example. But in any case, your thesis must engage critically with the scholarship of others by mounting an original argument in relation to the existing work in your field or fields. In this way your project must go beyond the summarising of already-existing knowledge.
4. Finally, your proposal should include a provisional timetable , describing the stages through which you hope your research will move over the course of your degree. It is crucial that, on the one hand, your chosen topic should be substantial enough to require around 80,000 words for its full exploration; and, on the other hand, that it has clear limits which would allow it to be completed in three years.
When drawing up this timetable, keep in mind that these word limits, and these time constraints, will require you to complete 25–30,000 words of your thesis in each of the years of your degree. If you intend to undertake your degree on a part-time basis, the amount of time available simply doubles.
In composing your research proposal you are already beginning the work that could lead, if you are accepted, to the award of a PhD degree. Regard it, then, as a chance to refine and focus your ideas, so that you can set immediately to work in an efficient manner on entry to university. But it bears repeating that that your project is bound to evolve beyond the project described in your proposal in ways that you cannot at this stage predict. No-one can know, when they begin any research work, where exactly it will take them. That provides much of the pleasure of research, for the most distinguished professor as much as for the first-year PhD student. If you are accepted as a candidate in this department, you will be joining a community of scholars still motivated by the thrill of finding and saying something new.
If you have read the guidance above and are ready to apply for your PhD in English Literature, you can do so online through the University of Edinburgh's Degree Finder.
Applications to start your PhD in September 2025 open in October 2024.
Take me to the Degree Finder entry for the PhD in English Literature
If you've got any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Aaron Kelly by email in the first instance.
Email Dr Aaron Kelly
If you are considering pursuing a PhD in English Literature, you may be currently grappling with deciding which thesis /research topic to select. To assist you with this endeavour, I have carefully curated a list of the most noteworthy research topics for your consideration. You are presented with the option of selecting one of the suggested topics or utilizing it as a source of inspiration to develop a distinctive research topic of your own.
Choosing the right doctoral dissertation can be daunting, especially when no expert guidance or personal inclination towards a particular field exists. It is vital to thoroughly discuss with one’s mentor before finalizing a topic, especially if one is interested in British poetry or Tribal literature. This will ensure the dissertation topic is well-researched and aligns with the student’s academic and professional goals.
Choosing the right topic for a PhD in English language and literature is a challenging task that demands much cognitive and physical effort. A particularly formidable aspect of this process is identifying a suitable thesis topic, which may require several months or even years of research. Many people find it difficult to decide because they need more relevant expertise to pick a topic that will stand out. Ultimately, selecting a distinguished dissertation or thesis topic is a crucial choice that demands thoughtful deliberation.
When selecting a topic for your phd research project, expanding your thinking and considering various options is imperative. It is recommended that you select a topic that piques your interest while also remaining realistic by choosing a topic that is related to your field and manageable to research. It is helpful to select a topic your advisor finds interesting and has knowledge about or one in which you already possess some expertise. Furthermore, it is advised that you select a unique topic that has yet to be extensively researched in the past. Thorough research and reliable sources are crucial for producing successful work in business or academia. Ensure your arguments are well-supported with evidence. Be aware of the local resources available to you and seek guidance from your mentor throughout the process.
Selecting the ideal research topic for a PhD in English Literature can be challenging. However, there are numerous potential topics available for research. Here are some guidelines to assist you in selecting the appropriate PhD research topic in English Literature:
Begin by identifying a poet or author who is relevant to your area of interest. Consult with your PhD supervisor to ensure the poet is suitable for research. Examine previous research areas to determine whether your chosen topic has been explored before. Consider exploring a new topic that has yet to be researched previously.
Determine if there are sufficient primary sources available for your chosen topic. Seek assistance from professors in your academic circle. Acquire relevant books on English Literature. Dedicate time to reading about your research topic and literary theories, and apply them to your PhD topic.
When selecting or finalizing a research topic, attending specialized lectures, workshops, and university interviews can be a valuable tool. These events provide insights and knowledge related to the researcher’s chosen topic. Interviews can take the form of meetings or lectures.
Attending numerous public lectures, book readings, and similar events related to the researcher’s topic of interest is recommended. If the researcher is still trying to decide their topic, it is advisable to interview as many experts as possible. Conducting a wide range of interviews and gathering diverse ideas before settling on a topic is crucial.
One-on-one interviews or meetings can be particularly advantageous. As the researcher, it is important to listen attentively during these sessions. The interviewer can offer guidance and insights that stimulate critical thinking. If an interviewer can inspire the researcher to think, imagine how the researcher’s writing will impact readers. It is essential to remember that people possess unique ideas to assist the researcher in their research.
We understand that composing an English literature research paper can be arduous. In light of this, we have compiled a comprehensive list of English research topics to facilitate the process. Please select a subject that piques your curiosity and can be thoroughly researched beyond the current literature. It is crucial to select a subject that is not only compelling but also deserves further investigation. Using this method for topic selection leads to a deeper understanding of the subject and the chance to contribute to the research community. It is imperative to scrutinize the selected topic meticulously before embarking on the writing process.
This blog has proven to be a valuable resource for you.
If you are still not sure about how to choose your research topic, then IdeaLaunch is the perfect place to get complete guidance for your research projects . Get a consultation from our experts to prepare a PhD research topic proposal , Call us at +91- 7904479887 / +91-7548889787
Tools and resources for ph.d. researchers to maximizing productivity.
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Recent PhD Dissertations. Terekhov, Jessica (September 2022) -- "On Wit in Relation to Self-Division". Selinger, Liora (September 2022) -- "Romanticism, Childhood, and the Poetics of Explanation". Lockhart, Isabel (September 2022) -- "Storytelling and the Subsurface: Indigenous Fiction, Extraction, and the Energetic Present".
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The PhD in English and Related Literature is available on a full-time or part-time basis. Under the guidance of your supervisor, you'll complete a thesis of up to 80,000 words. A typical semester will involve a great deal of independent research, punctuated by meetings with your supervisor who will be able to suggest direction and address ...
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Dissertations. Alharthi, Ahmad Abdulmajeed A. Breaking Away from Binaries: Teaching Writing with Critical Realist Sensibilities. 2023. University of Washington, PhD dissertation. Wilson, Joseph Anthony. Literacy's Displacements: Toward Transnational Orientations to Writing and/as Translation. 2023.
The Department of English's Doctoral program in Literature offers advanced study and research in literary history, criticism, and theory, with excellent opportunities for interdepartmental and interdisciplinary study. Courses within the department cover major genres, periods, authors, and a broad range of methodological and theoretical approaches.
The Center for Humanities at Tufts fosters interdisciplinary humanities work in comparative literature, comparative religion, world history, philosophy, anthropology, and the arts, to innovate new research and reflection. Provides the complete text of the standard guide to Western mythology. Online journal devoted to English literature of the ...
Choosing a dissertation topic in English literature can be both exciting and daunting. With a wealth of genres, historical periods, and critical approaches, the possibilities are vast. This comprehensive guide presents over 50 important dissertation topics across various themes and periods, helping you find inspiration for your research. 1.
With access to a vast collection of archival materials, and world-leading supervision in a wide range of literary periods and topics, UCL is one of the best universities in which to study for an English PhD. There are normally about 45 students undertaking research degrees in the department. Graduate students initially register for the MPhil ...
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PhD in English - Postgraduate Study - University of Cambridge
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The Department of English Literary Studies supervises research degrees in a broad range of areas, from Early Modern to contemporary literature and theory. We specialise particularly in writings of and from South Africa and Africa and work closely with prospective students to develop a thesis topic that reflects their interests and allows them ...
Key facts. Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Duration: 4 years full time, 7 years part-time. Next intake: October 2025. Contact: [email protected]. Apply now. Overview, eligibility and application process for the PhD research degree in the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies, University of Warwick.
Take your time in composing your research proposal, carefully considering the requirements outlined below. Your proposal should not be more than 2,000 words. PhD degrees are awarded on the basis of a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The 'Summary of roles and responsibilities' in the University's Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research ...
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