Program Overview

---

Overview

The PhD in Text/Image Studies allows research in any area that interacts pictures with words. Examples include the study of Renaissance emblem books, contextualised photography, and the culture of comics and the graphic novel.

Study Options

PhD

• Duration: 3 years full-time / 5 years part-time
• A Doctor of Philosophy may be awarded to a student whose thesis is an original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in, or understanding of, a field of study and normally containing material worthy of publication.
• Thesis Length: 70,000-100,000 words, including references, bibliography and appendices (other than documentary appendices).

Entry Requirements

• Our regular standard of admission is at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree (2:1), although candidates will usually also have completed or be undertaking a Masters qualification.

Research Outline

Candidates are required to provide an outline of the proposed research subject in about 1000 words. This need not be your final thesis proposal but should include:

• a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
• the question that your research will address
• an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
• an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
• a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
• a discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums
• an indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult

English Language Requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 7.0
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common Equivalent English Language Qualifications Accepted for Entry to this Programme

• TOEFL (ibt, my best or at home)
  • 100 overall with Reading 24; Listening 24; Speaking 23; Writing 27
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.
• Pearsons PTE Academic
  • 66 overall with no subtest less than Reading 68; Listening 66; Speaking 65; Writing 82
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
• Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
  • 185 overall, no subtest less than 185
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
• Oxford English Test
  • 8 overall with no subtest less than 8
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
• LanguageCert Academic SELT
  • 75 overall with no subtest less than 75
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
• Password Skills Plus
  • 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 7.0
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
• Trinity College Tests
  • Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEIII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
• University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
  • Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language Qualification

• Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
  • students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
• Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
  • students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

Pre-sessional Courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses.

Fees and Funding

Fees

2026/27

• UK: To be confirmed [25/26 fee was Ł5,006]
• International & EU: Ł27,720
• Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Alumni Discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes.

Possible Additional Fees

• Re-submission by a research student Ł540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work Ł1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed Ł350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship Ł790

Support

Teaching and research in the Arts and Humanities is supported by the outstanding resources of our University Library with its special collections and our on-campus Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.

Graduate School

Our Graduate School creates a productive and interdisciplinary collegiate environment for all of our research students. We offer a range of services, courses and skills development opportunities for research students.