Program Overview

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English Literature Postgraduate Research Degrees

Postgraduate Research in English Literature

The University of Portsmouth offers postgraduate research degrees in English Literature, providing students with the opportunity to explore their expertise in the written word. Our researchers at the Centre for Studies in Literature are experts in early modern writing, with a particular strength in Victorian literature and culture, and twentieth- and twenty-first-century British and American literature.

Research Degrees

We offer PhD, MPhil, and PhD by Publication opportunities in English Literature. Our PhD and MPhil programs are available full-time and part-time, while our PhD by Publication is available part-time.

PhD and MPhil Projects

We have a range of pre-approved funded and self-funded PhD projects available in English Literature. Students can also submit their own research idea and work with a supervisor to develop their project.

PhD by Publication

A PhD by Publication is a postgraduate research degree based on research that has already been undertaken and published. Eligible research outputs include peer-reviewed academic papers, complete books or chapters in anthologies, and other materials accepted for publication, exhibited or performed.

Duration, Fees, and Funding

Duration

• MPhil: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time
• PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
• PhD by Publication: 1 year part-time

Fees

• PhD and MPhil:
  • UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students: £4,786 per year (full-time), £2,393 per year (part-time)
  • EU students: £4,786 per year (full-time), £2,393 per year (part-time)
  • International students: £17,200 per year (full-time), £8,600 per year (part-time)
• PhD by Publication:
  • External candidates: £4,786
  • Members of staff: £1,950

Funding

MPhil full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Postgraduate Loan (UK/EU students only). PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Doctoral Loan (UK/EU students only).

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for a PhD, MPhil, or Professional Doctorate include an upper second-class honors degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, or a master's degree in an appropriate subject. Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications may be considered. All applicants are subject to interview.

If English is not your first language, you'll need English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Support and Facilities

When you join us, you'll be supported by our Doctoral College, alongside your assigned supervisory team, who'll help you get the most from our facilities. The Doctoral College will help you become part of our thriving, collaborative research community, and help grow your skills as a researcher through the Graduate School Development Programme, which offers training, workshops, and events.

You'll also use our exceptional facilities, including our Bloomberg Suite – where you'll have access to data from Bloomberg, Datastream, and S&P Global, and use the latest statistical software, including Stata, Matlab, EViews, and SPSS Statistics.

What Can a Postgraduate Research Degree Do for My Career?

Once you complete your postgraduate research degree, you'll be a highly-skilled researcher with the knowledge and skills to make an impact in many different industries.

Your postgraduate research qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you're an intelligent, capable, and motivated person, with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership, and creativity. You'll also develop research management skills, and an in-depth knowledge of the subject on which your PhD is focused.

After researching with us, our successful postgraduate research candidates have gone on to impressive positions in a variety of fields – from positions within academia, to careers in industry and the public sector.

Current Research

We're currently exploring several areas of research in English Literature, including:

Body Politics

Through the study of literature, culture, sociology, and politics, we're exploring how bodies shape political identity, how the body is presented through performance, and how cultural representations of bodies have changed over time.

Modern Literature

We're studying literature written in or translated into English, from across the globe and within different genres, from the Renaissance to the present.

Time, Space, and Environment

We're exploring representations of time, space, and environment in English Literature and culture – from the eighteenth century to the present day.