Program Overview

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Portuguese and Lusophone Studies PhD

Research Overview

Could your dedication to the Portuguese language and history of the Lusophone countries influence the way their culture is recognised today? Follow your intercultural research interests to a deeper level in a department ranked 6th nationally in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Our research areas include, but are not limited to:

• Literature and culture in Portugal, Brazil and Lusophone Africa from the 19th century to the present day
• Political and intellectual history of Portugal and Lusophone Africa
• History of Brazil (particularly slavery)
• Culture and visual culture of Lusophone Africa and the Portuguese diaspora (cinema, popular culture)

Course Content

Before you start your research degree you will have completed a research-preparation masters degree in a related discipline and have agreed your research topic with a main supervisor and co-supervisor. You will work with this team closely for the duration of your study and are welcome to consult any other member of the department whose research seems of relevance to your own work.

You are required to attend all departmental research seminars and special lectures and deliver at least one paper of your own each year, usually at the annual Postgraduate Forum or at a work-in-progress seminar.

At the end of three years’ full-time registration, plus one year optional writing-up, you will have written a thesis of between 80,000-100,000 words, in English or Portuguese, on a topic which makes a significant contribution to the sum of knowledge on the Hispanic or Lusophone worlds.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

• Home / UK students:
  • Degree: 2:1 (or international equivalent) in an arts, humanities or social science subject – we would usually expect you to hold, or be working towards, a masters degree in a relevant subject.
• EU / International students:
  • Degree: 2:1 (or international equivalent) in an arts, humanities or social science subject – we would usually expect you to hold, or be working towards, a masters degree in a relevant subject.
  • International and EU equivalents: We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.
  • IELTS: 7.0 (6.5 in each element)
  • English language requirements: As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English Language Requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa Restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

Fees

• Home / UK: £5,006
• International: £23,000

Additional Information for International Students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional Costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts.

Funding

There are funding opportunities which are only open to students within the Faculty of Arts.

Postgraduate funding for Faculty of Arts students

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Support

We offer our research students:

• Advanced research training
• Expert supervision (each student is allocated two supervisors)
• Frequent reviews and feedback on progress
• Departmental research seminars/work in progress sessions
• Well-equipped work bases, with excellent library and IT facilities
• Support for research trips and conference attendance, inter-library loan

Teaching Opportunities

During your doctoral studies, you may have the opportunity to apply to work as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA) within the Faculty of Arts. We offer a limited number of part-time annualised hours contracts of employment. They provide invaluable teaching experience in delivering and supporting seminars, as well as marking, assessing and giving feedback on students' work. We provide dedicated training and professional development. Applications for PGTA positions are competitive and not guaranteed.

Researcher Training and Development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate Centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

• Studying
• Socialising
• Computer work
• Seminars
• Kitchen facilities

Student Support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

• Academic and disability support
• Childcare services
• Counselling service
• Faith support
• Financial support
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Visa and immigration advice
• Welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

• International students
• Black and minority ethnic students
• Students who identify as women
• Students with disabilities
• LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Careers

Careers advice Graduate destinations Career progression

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Many of our postgraduates have chosen academic careers and are currently in full-time posts in the UK. Others have moved into the civil service, the cultural industries, the media, publishing, teaching or translation.

The research training all our postgraduates follow equips them with a range of key transferable skills, such as analytical thinking, time management, and presentation and research skills.

75% of postgraduates from the School of Modern Languages and Cultures secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £27,500.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022 The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

I research aspects of C19th-C21st Portuguese and Lusophone African writing, visual culture and cultural history, focusing particularly on the fiction of José Saramago, on representations of LGBTQ+ identity and experience, on issues of gender and sexuality, and on memories of dictatorship, conflict, and anti-colonial struggle. I welcome research proposals across all these areas and more. ”

Dr Mark Sabine, Associate Professor in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Related Courses

• Translation Studies PhD
• Comparative Literature PhD
• Modern Languages MRes
• Modern Languages and Culture Studies PhD
• Linguistics (Modern Languages) PhD

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

• The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures was placed 6th nationally
• 88% of research in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures was graded as world-leading or internationally excellent
• 88% of the Faculty of Arts’ research was graded as world-leading or internationally excellent
• 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4) or 'internationally excellent' (3)
• 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
• 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.