English Literature, Ph.D. / M.Phil. 36 months PHD Program By Swansea University |Top Universities
Subject Ranking

# 101-150QS Subject Rankings

Program Duration

36 monthsProgram duration

Tuitionfee

18,750 GBPTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

15 Apr, 2025Application Deadline

Program overview

Main Subject

English Language and Literature

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

A PhD or MPhil in English Literature enables you to undertake a substantial independent research project, which should be of a publishable standard. It takes three years full-time or six years part-time, and the MPhil takes two years full-time or four years part-time.


You submit a thesis of up to 90,000 words for PhD assessment and 60,000 words for MPhil assessment, demonstrating original research with a significant contribution to the subject area. This is followed by an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination, or viva).

Related research groups:

  • the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Research (MEMO)
  • the Centre for research into Gender in Culture and Society (GENCAS)
  • Centre for Research into the English literature and language of Wales (CREW)


Swansea offers supervision in most areas of literature from the middle ages to the present. Swansea's particular research strengths include:

  • Welsh writing in English
  • American literature
  • Gender
  • Medieval, renaissance, eighteenth and nineteenth-century writing and culture
  • Modernism and postmodernism
  • Irish poetry
  • Contemporary literature
  • Critical and cultural theory
  • Science Fiction and Ecology/Environmentalism
  • Human-Animal Studies

Your project will be agreed in consultation with supervisors and we recommend these discussions are started before applying, to help draw up an initial proposal.


There are no taught PhD classes but upon request you may attend MA modules relevant to your thesis.  You typically undertake a number of distinct but related research studies that ultimately form the basis of your dissertation.


You will develop and hone research skills needed for high-level work in any field of English literature, while skills and training programmes available on campus provide further support. You will have the opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars, and at the College of Arts and Humanities Postgraduate conference.


You may also have the chance to teach undergraduate tutorials and seminars from the second year, for which you receive training and payment. Financial support is also provided (subject to approval) for attending conferences or conducting research away from Swansea.

Program overview

Main Subject

English Language and Literature

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

A PhD or MPhil in English Literature enables you to undertake a substantial independent research project, which should be of a publishable standard. It takes three years full-time or six years part-time, and the MPhil takes two years full-time or four years part-time.


You submit a thesis of up to 90,000 words for PhD assessment and 60,000 words for MPhil assessment, demonstrating original research with a significant contribution to the subject area. This is followed by an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination, or viva).

Related research groups:

  • the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Research (MEMO)
  • the Centre for research into Gender in Culture and Society (GENCAS)
  • Centre for Research into the English literature and language of Wales (CREW)


Swansea offers supervision in most areas of literature from the middle ages to the present. Swansea's particular research strengths include:

  • Welsh writing in English
  • American literature
  • Gender
  • Medieval, renaissance, eighteenth and nineteenth-century writing and culture
  • Modernism and postmodernism
  • Irish poetry
  • Contemporary literature
  • Critical and cultural theory
  • Science Fiction and Ecology/Environmentalism
  • Human-Animal Studies

Your project will be agreed in consultation with supervisors and we recommend these discussions are started before applying, to help draw up an initial proposal.


There are no taught PhD classes but upon request you may attend MA modules relevant to your thesis.  You typically undertake a number of distinct but related research studies that ultimately form the basis of your dissertation.


You will develop and hone research skills needed for high-level work in any field of English literature, while skills and training programmes available on campus provide further support. You will have the opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars, and at the College of Arts and Humanities Postgraduate conference.


You may also have the chance to teach undergraduate tutorials and seminars from the second year, for which you receive training and payment. Financial support is also provided (subject to approval) for attending conferences or conducting research away from Swansea.

Admission requirements

3.3+
6.5+
MPhil: Applicants for MPhil must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). 
PhD: Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis. 
15 Apr 2025
3 Years
Jan
Apr
  • Candidates are required to submit references or letter(s) of recommendation for acceptance

Tuition fee and scholarships

Domestic Students

4,786 GBP
-

International Students

18,750 GBP
-

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

how_to

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

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A list of available scholarships around the world

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A scholarship application checklist

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At undergraduate level, Swansea University offers a wide range of degrees in a number of fields, including:
 


Browse all courses here.

Browse undergraduate scholarships here.

Apply via the university’s online application system here or browse the undergraduate prospectus here.


You can stay connected with Swansea University on FacebookTwitter and YouTube.

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At postgraduate level, Swansea University offers a broad range of taught and research master’s degrees and doctorates in a number of fields, including:
 


Browse all courses here.

At postgraduate level, entry requirements include at least a 2.2 degree (or any foreign equivalent) and for all non-native speakers, a 6.5 IELTS with at least a 6.0 in all sections.
The average fee for most international students at postgraduate level is £17,500 (US$24,300), but scholarships are available for PhDs, MPhils and MRes studies.

Browse postgraduate scholarships here.

Apply via the university’s online application system here or browse the postgraduate prospectus here.


You can stay connected with Swansea University on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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