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The University of Edinburgh: English Literature
Institution | The University of Edinburgh View institution profile |
---|---|
Department | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
Web | https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying |
Study type | Research |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
Doctorate-level study is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise in a community that really values research; and to make an original, positive contribution to learning in literature and related fields.
As the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, based in one of the largest and most diverse Schools in the University of Edinburgh, we are the ideal place for PhD study.
Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in all periods and genres of literature and literary analysis.
**Research excellence**
Based on our performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), over 90 per cent of our research and impact is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent by Research Professional. 69 per cent is graded at the world-leading level – the highest of REF’s four categories.
In Times Higher Education's REF analysis, English at Edinburgh is ranked fifth in the UK (out of more than 90 institutions) for:
- the overall quality of our publications and other outputs
- the impact of our research on people’s lives
- our supportive research environment
Given the breadth and depth of our expertise, we are able to support students wishing to develop research projects in any field of Anglophone literary studies. These include American studies, literary and critical theory, the history of the book, gender and sexuality studies, and global Anglophone literatures - where our specialisms include Pacific, African, South Asian, and African-American writing.
We have particular strengths in each of the main periods of English and Scottish Literature:
- Medieval
- Renaissance/early modern
- Enlightenment
- Romantic
- Victorian
- Modernist
- Post-war
- 21st century
- Contemporary
Emergent research themes in the department include the digital humanities, the economic humanities, the environmental humanities and literature and medicine.
Working with colleagues elsewhere in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and across the wider University, we are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between disciplines and/or languages.
Over the course of your PhD, you’ll be expected to complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of your supervisors leading to a dissertation of usually between 80,000 and 100,000 words.
You will be awarded your doctorate if your thesis is judged to be of an appropriate standard, and your research makes a definite contribution to knowledge.
**Go beyond the books**
Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen. Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research.
Level | SCQF Level 12 |
---|---|
Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
Doctorate-level study is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise in a community that really values research; and to make an original, positive contribution to learning in literature and related fields.
As the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, based in one of the largest and most diverse Schools in the University of Edinburgh, we are the ideal place for PhD study.
Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in all periods and genres of literature and literary analysis.
**Research excellence**
Based on our performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), over 90 per cent of our research and impact is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent by Research Professional. 69 per cent is graded at the world-leading level – the highest of REF’s four categories.
In Times Higher Education's REF analysis, English at Edinburgh is ranked fifth in the UK (out of more than 90 institutions) for:
- the overall quality of our publications and other outputs
- the impact of our research on people’s lives
- our supportive research environment
Given the breadth and depth of our expertise, we are able to support students wishing to develop research projects in any field of Anglophone literary studies. These include American studies, literary and critical theory, the history of the book, gender and sexuality studies, and global Anglophone literatures - where our specialisms include Pacific, African, South Asian, and African-American writing.
We have particular strengths in each of the main periods of English and Scottish Literature:
- Medieval
- Renaissance/early modern
- Enlightenment
- Romantic
- Victorian
- Modernist
- Post-war
- 21st century
- Contemporary
Emergent research themes in the department include the digital humanities, the economic humanities, the environmental humanities and literature and medicine.
Working with colleagues elsewhere in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and across the wider University, we are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between disciplines and/or languages.
Over the course of your PhD, you’ll be expected to complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of your supervisors leading to a dissertation of usually between 80,000 and 100,000 words.
You will be awarded your doctorate if your thesis is judged to be of an appropriate standard, and your research makes a definite contribution to knowledge.
**Go beyond the books**
Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen. Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research.
Level | SCQF Level 12 |
---|---|
Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc (Res)
Summary
A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level. The programme is a good stepping stone to a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.
As a Masters by Research student, you will be part of a wider masters community while specialising in what most interests you right from the beginning of the programme. This is how it is different to a taught Masters (MSc).
Our highly flexible programme enables you to complete an MScR degree through a combination of coursework and a final dissertation of 15,000 words.
Your coursework will take the form of two essays of 6,000 words on topics related to your research focus. You will also complete assignments in research skills and methods.
**Research excellence**
Based on our performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), over 90 per cent of our research and impact is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent by Research Professional. 69 per cent is graded at the world-leading level – the highest of REF’s four categories.
In Times Higher Education's REF analysis, English at Edinburgh is ranked fifth in the UK (out of more than 90 institutions) for:
- the overall quality of our publications and other outputs
- the impact of our research on people’s lives
- our supportive research environment
Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in all periods and genres of literature and literary analysis.
Given the breadth and depth of our expertise, we are able to support students wishing to develop research projects in any field of Anglophone literary studies. These include American studies, literary and critical theory, the history of the book, gender and sexuality studies, and global Anglophone literatures - where our specialisms include Pacific, African, South Asian, and African-American writing.
We have particular strengths in each of the main periods of English and Scottish Literature:
- Medieval
- Renaissance/early modern
- Enlightenment
- Romantic
- Victorian
- Modernist
- Post-war
- 21st century
- Contemporary
Emergent research themes in the department include the digital humanities, the economic humanities, the environmental humanities and literature and medicine.
**Go beyond the books**
Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen. Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research.
Level | SCQF Level 11 |
---|---|
Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on our website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level. The programme is a good stepping stone to a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.
As a Masters by Research student, you will be part of a wider masters community while specialising in what most interests you right from the beginning of the programme. This is how it is different to a taught Masters (MSc).
Our highly flexible programme enables you to complete an MScR degree through a combination of coursework and a final dissertation of 15,000 words.
Your coursework will take the form of two essays of 6,000 words on topics related to your research focus. You will also complete assignments in research skills and methods.
**Research excellence**
Based on our performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), over 90 per cent of our research and impact is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent by Research Professional. 69 per cent is graded at the world-leading level – the highest of REF’s four categories.
In Times Higher Education's REF analysis, English at Edinburgh is ranked fifth in the UK (out of more than 90 institutions) for:
- the overall quality of our publications and other outputs
- the impact of our research on people’s lives
- our supportive research environment
Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in all periods and genres of literature and literary analysis.
Given the breadth and depth of our expertise, we are able to support students wishing to develop research projects in any field of Anglophone literary studies. These include American studies, literary and critical theory, the history of the book, gender and sexuality studies, and global Anglophone literatures - where our specialisms include Pacific, African, South Asian, and African-American writing.
We have particular strengths in each of the main periods of English and Scottish Literature:
- Medieval
- Renaissance/early modern
- Enlightenment
- Romantic
- Victorian
- Modernist
- Post-war
- 21st century
- Contemporary
Emergent research themes in the department include the digital humanities, the economic humanities, the environmental humanities and literature and medicine.
**Go beyond the books**
Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen. Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research.
Level | SCQF Level 11 |
---|---|
Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on our website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.
The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 22nd in the 2024 QS World University Rankings.
Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
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