phd in english translation

• Translation Studies
• Introduction

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The Graduate Secondary Field in Translation Studies (GSFTS) offers graduate students the opportunity to undertake sustained study of the theory and practice of translation, broadly understood across languages, media, and the arts. The secondary field in translation studies has a triple rationale: intellectual, multidisciplinary, and practical. By examining a range of linguistic encounters and cultural exchanges, students pursuing the secondary field have the opportunity to root their translation work within their knowledge of at least two languages while expanding their engagement with the craft of translation. As they move through the curriculum, graduate students do more than simply examine how meaning is transferred from one language to another; they acquire the knowledge necessary to intervene in current scholarly debates in the growing field of translation studies, as well as the ability to teach translation to undergraduate and graduate students. While deepening their expertise in at least two languages, students enroll in a range of courses offered across departments that consider theoretical issues raised by and through the process of translation and will then complete a capstone project, supervised by a faculty advisor. 

The secondary field provides enrolled students with opportunities for professional development, training in translation pedagogy, and an additional credential in today’s extremely competitive academic job market. It complements students’ main PhD programs while providing the competitive edge that they need to distinguish themselves as outstanding candidates for jobs at research universities and liberal arts colleges in North America, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Faculty with expertise in one or two national languages and literatures are often now expected to teach broad-ranging comparative courses in and on translation. Even a cursory look at this year’s MLA Job List shows that more and more advertisements for junior searches make explicit the desirability for practical and theoretical knowledge of translation studies as proof of interdisciplinarity and crossover intellectual capacity for a prospective faculty member. 

Admission Eligibility

A student may apply for the secondary field in translation studies at any point in their academic progression. Students from any PhD program in the FAS may apply; students may pursue only one secondary field. Students in the comparative literature PhD program interested in the translation studies secondary field must ensure that no courses taken for the field are double counted toward the PhD; that is, any courses counted toward the secondary field, including Translation Studies 280, may not be used also to meet requirements for the doctoral program. 

Requirements

The Graduate Secondary Field in Translation Studies involves the following requirements: 

Translation Studies 280: Proseminar in Translation Studies : The Proseminar will be a team-taught course that combines the study of translation theory with translation practice and will emphasize the development of projects that have the potential to become capstone projects. 

Two graduate-level seminars in translation studies , including, for example, Translation Studies 260: Literary Translation Workshop, which, with recurring support from the FAS Elson Arts Fund, pairs professional translators and source language experts with students as they workshop their manuscripts-in-progress. With approval of the student’s advisor and the Translation Studies Executive Committee, a summer internship in publishing, literary translation, or design may take the place of one of these two seminars.  

A capstone project which features a substantive translation, of variable length (dependent upon the difficulty of the languages involved), potentially publishable in a scholarly journal or as a short book. The capstone project will be accompanied by a critical essay of 4,000–7,000 words, or, if approved by the student’s advisor and the Executive Committee, a digital humanities project or public exhibition. As they complete the capstone project, graduate students will enroll in a semester-long 300-level Translation Studies reading course with their faculty advisor. The project will be supervised by the student’s translation studies advisor and evaluated by two appropriate readers from the Harvard faculty who, together with the advisor, will be responsible for assessing the completed project. 

The Executive Committee of GSFTS will appoint from among itself or, in the case of a language that is not represented on the Committee, from among the experts on the Harvard faculty, an appropriate advisor for each student in the secondary field, who will offer tailored guidance throughout the curriculum and on the capstone project.    

The co-chairs of the Executive Committee that governs the Graduate Secondary Field in Translation Studies for 2023–2024 are Professors Sandra Naddaff and Jeffrey Schnapp. The members of the Executive Committee for 2023–2024 are: Luke Leafgren, Sandra Naddaff, Luis Girón-Negrón, John Mugane, Stephanie Sandler, Jeffrey Schnapp, Karen Thornber, and Tom Wisniewski (fall). 

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Translation Studies PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Translation Studies

Introduction to Postgraduate Study at the University of Edinburgh

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Research profile

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 translation studies.

One of the most flexible doctoral programmes of its kind in the UK, our PhD enables you to enhance your translation practice while gaining an intellectual and philosophical perspective on the activity of translation, developing you as a self-reflective and theoretically-minded researcher or​ translator.

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of experienced and well-published supervisors - you can opt to produce an independent thesis, or an extended scholarly translation with commentary.

Research excellence

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research in Translation Studies was submitted in Modern Languages and Linguistics (Panel D - Arts and Humanities; Unit of Assessment 26).

The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities - third in the UK.

As published in Times Higher Education's REF power ratings, this result is based on the quality and breadth of our research in the unit of assessment.

Research areas

Our expertise covers a wide range of interdisciplinary and international research areas and many languages. We encourage PhD scholars to investigate translation’s intersections with intellectual, material and political perspectives in global contexts.

We have particular strengths in:

• audiovisual translation
• literary translation
• translation and music
• translation and art / intermediality
• performance and translation
• translation and religion
• translation and history
• trauma and translation
• gender and translation
• translation and health
• translation and the environment

Explore our range of research centres, networks and projects in Translation Studies

Languages offered

We typically offer the languages above, but not necessarily on a year-on-year basis due to staff commitment and leave.

• Be inspired by the range of PhD research in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

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. Guests include Dr Charlotte Bosseaux (Series 2 - Episode 6) talking about her AHRC-funded research on the ethical demands of translating accounts of trauma.

• Browse Beyond the Books episodes and hear our research community talk about their work

Programme structure

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses.

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Training and support

This programme includes optional training on research skills, methods and problems.

Between the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), the Careers Service, and the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), you will find a further range of programmes and resources to help you develop your postgraduate skills.

You will also have access to the University’s fantastic libraries, collections and worldwide strategic partnerships.

Our graduates tell us that they value LLC’s friendliness, the connections they make here and the in-depth guidance they receive from our staff, who are published experts in their field.

As one of our PhD candidates, you will be part of a friendly international community which partners the International Postgraduate Conference in Translation and Interpreting (IPCITI) and has its own seminar series for postgraduate students, staff and visiting speakers, as well as hosting regular symposia and conferences such as 'Whose Voice is it Anyway?'.

• Whose Voice is it Anyway?

We are an official Higher Education Language Partner of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) and a member of the RWS Campus - Trados Academic Partner Program.

We have great links with the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and with many industry and cultural partners in the city of Edinburgh.

As a student here, you will have borrowing rights to over two million volumes in the University's Main Library, which subscribes to the 'Bibliography of Translation Studies' database.

The Library is also the home of the University's Centre for Research Collections which brings together:

• more than 400,000 rare books
• six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
• thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects

Many of our Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, Computing Labs, and dedicated PhD study space in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).

• Look inside the PhD study space in LLC

In the city

Our world-leading capital city is a treasure trove of cinemas, theatres, galleries, and museums, consulates and cultural institutes, and established communities of non-English speakers.

Highlights include the National Museums and Galleries of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Poetry Library and the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree and a masters degree with distinction (first class or excellent), or their international equivalents, in a relevant subject.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Scholarships and funding, featured funding.

There are a number of scholarship schemes available to eligible candidates on this PhD programme, including awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Please be advised that many scholarships have more than one application stage, and early deadlines.

• Find out more about scholarships in literatures, languages and cultures

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: [email protected]
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• Programme: Translation Studies
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• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Translation Studies - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd translation studies - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.

If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

Pre-application guidance

Before you formally apply for this PhD, you should look at the pre-application information and guidance on the programme website.

This will help you decide if this programme is right for you, and help us gain a clearer picture of what you hope to achieve.

The guidance will also give you practical advice for writing your research proposal – one of the most important parts of your application.

• Application and research proposal guidance

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

• Translation

Top U.S. Translation Schools: Master’s and PhD Programs

So, you’ve decided to take the next big step and pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. with a focus on translation and/or interpreting. Finding the program that’s right for you can be exhausting and time-consuming, so we’ve put together this list to help you get started.

In this article, you’ll find descriptions of some of the best interpreting and translating Master’s and Ph.D. programs in the country, offering specializations in professional translation, conference and community interpreting, public service interpreting, legal and financial translation, and general translation studies. The list is alphabetical and unranked. Most are full-time programs that will take between one to two years to complete.

If you’re interested in studying translation and interpretation but don’t have the time to devote to an MA or Ph.D., consider reviewing our list of the top U.S. Certificate Programs.

Binghamton University Location: Binghamton, New York Type of Program: MA or Ph.D. (Translation) Duration: ~ 1.5 years (MA) Number of credits: 32 (MA)

In addition to their doctorate in translation studies, Binghamton University offers a vocationally-oriented translation studies degree, which must be pursued in conjunction with a graduate certificate in translation. This is the less traditional of two tracks offered within the master of arts program, the more traditional track putting greater emphasis on comparative literature and interdisciplinary studies involving literature. Students who are drawn to the more traditional track may also take the graduate certificate in translation alongside the MA. Notably, for this program, students are required to possess a working knowledge of two foreign languages and to take literature courses in both.

Kent State Location: Kent, Ohio Type of Program: MA or Ph.D. (Translation) Duration: 2 years (MA) Number of Credits: 60 (MA)

Kent State offers a Ph.D. and MA in Translation, both of which focus on translation research skills, specialized translation, computer-assisted terminology and translation, software localization and project management for the language industry. For the MA, at least thirty credits must be devoted to studying outside of a student’s research and dissertation, including twenty-four credits of core courses, regardless of a student’s area of specialization.

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Location: Monterey, California Type of Program: MA (Translation and Interpreting) Duration: 2 years (4 semesters) Number of Credits: 60

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey offers a wide variety of degrees that prepare students for professional roles in cross-cultural, multi-lingual environments. They offer four different MAs within the field of translating and interpreting: the MA in translation and localization management, the MA in translation, the MA in translation and interpretation, and the MA in conference interpretation.

We’ll be delving into the localization management degree in a separate article. For the other three areas, students take courses in all three programs in their first year of study and work towards finalizing their degree decision for the second year. Additionally, unlike almost all other MA programs, students can choose to specialize in up to two languages out of the following: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. The translation MA prepares students for all kinds of translation careers, from medical to legal to literary translation. The program in translation and interpretation broadens the field of study to include interpretation, and the MA in conference interpretation specializes in conference terminology and instructs students in the practices of both consecutive and simultaneous interpretation.

NYU Location: New York, New York Type of Program: MS (Translation) Duration: 12 months – 5 years Number of Credits: 36

NYU offers an MS in translation that is online for the programs from English to Spanish, Spanish to English, and French to English, and on-sight for Chinese to English. It is one of the only programs in the nation that offers a curriculum specifically focused on translating into a language other than English (English to Spanish). The programs focus primarily on legal and financial translation, and the balance of required and elective courses allows students to ultimately focus more on one or the other. Students also learn about translation theory, linguistic analysis, and terminology management, and each language pairing includes background courses in comparative legal systems and economics. Students also benefit from the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development, where they can work with advisors to search for jobs, build their resumes and improve their interviewing skills.

Rutgers University Location: New Brunswick, New Jersey Type of Program: MA (Interpreting and Translation) Duration: ~2 years Number of Credits: 30

Rutgers, a research university and the largest institute of higher education in New Jersey, offers an MA in Translation and Interpreting in Spanish. The program includes practice in legal, medical, technical, audiovisual, and literary translation, as well as community, court, and medical interpreting, most of which can be taken as part of 24 required elective credits. Advanced training in project management and translation technology tools is also incorporated. Notably, students can also elect to take courses in translation and interpreter training. A unique requirement of this MA is that all degree candidates must have some experience living in both English and Spanish-speaking countries, whether in a study abroad context or as a life experience. However, this requirement can also be fulfilled by taking part in the department’s Summer Study in Spain Program, or for foreign students from Spanish-speaking countries, through English-language coursework at Rutgers.

University of Illinois Location: Champaign, Illinois or online Type of Program: MA (Translation and Interpreting) Duration: 2 years Number of Credits: 32

The MA in Translation and Interpreting at the University of Illinois allows students to specialize in Translation for the Professions, Literary and Applied Literary Translation, or Conference and Community Interpreting. Although students can choose to specialize in interpreting, it does appear that the program’s overall focus is geared more towards translation studies, as all core requirements are translation classes and the final project is a Translation Studies Capstone Project. The program is full-time for two years and can be completed either online or on campus, with the same requirements in either format.

University of Maryland Location: College Park, Maryland Type of Program: MPS (Master of Professional Studies in Interpreting) Duration: 2 years Number of Credits: 44

The Master in Professional Studies in Interpreting at the University of Maryland offers two tracks of study: Conference or Public Service Interpreting. In both programs, the first year of study is geared towards cultivating the fundamental skills of consecutive interpreting and intercultural communication, while the second year delves into simultaneous interpreting, communication in political, legal, and/or healthcare settings, as well as training in language services management. This is one of the only interpreting programs that offer classes specifically geared towards teaching students the rhetoric of political and business institutions and that also trains students in the use of simultaneous interpreting technologies. It is currently open to students of Chinese, German, and Spanish, although other languages may be accommodated upon request.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Location: Amherst, Massachusetts Type of Program: MA (Translation) Duration: 1-2 years Number of Credits: 33

The Masters in Translation at Amherst focuses as much on translation theory as it does on the practice of translation, and special interest is given to cultural and literary studies within the translation. However, the final thesis does not have to be a literary translation. Instead, students may write on an aspect of translation theory, prepare a comparison of several translations of one original text, do a literary translation or a scientific, legal, medical, technical, or business translation, or create or translate a multi-media project, conduct a field study, or create a translation memory/database. Students must concentrate on two coherent literary/language/cultural traditions, though English can be one of them.

University of Texas at Dallas Location: Dallas, Texas Type of Program: MA or PhD Duration:1.5-3 years Number of Credits:33-60

The Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Humanities at the University of Texas at Dallas are non-traditional degrees that allow students to concentrate their studies around their individual translation interests using an interdisciplinary approach, wherein a focus on Translation Studies is combined with one or more of the following scholarly areas: Literary Studies, History of Ideas, or Aesthetic Studies. Both programs allow for students to major in one of those three areas (i.e. Ph.D. in Humanities with a major in History of Ideas) while gearing their study within the area toward various aspects of Translation Studies. Both programs require 6 credit hours in each of the three areas listed plus a number of electives and a final thesis.

Wake Forest University Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina Type of Program: MA (Interpreting and Translation) Duration: 1 year/2 years Number of Credits: 34/37

Wake Forest offers both a Chinese-English and a Spanish-English MA in Interpreting and Translation Studies. The Spanish program consists of 34 credit hours to be completed in one year of intensive study, while the Chinese program is a bit longer, requiring 37 credit hours to be completed in two years of study. Both tracks are professionally oriented and research-based, aiming to provide students with the foundations to work in a variety of language-oriented capacities, including in foreign affairs, media, business, law, and healthcare delivery. Core required courses include an internship and applied research project in addition to formational courses in applied translation and interpreting, the contrastive grammar of the given language pair, localization and terminology, and sociolinguistics and dialectology. Electives, on the other hand, delve into domain-specific topics, such as medical and business translation.

Janet Barrow writes about the places where language meets history, culture, and politics. She studied Written Arts at Bard College and has fiction work forthcoming in Easy Street. Recently, she completed a diploma in medical interpreting. Raised in Minnesota, she currently lives in Lima, Peru.

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Admissions Procedures

Applicants for the Ph.D. in Interpretation must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information and a checklist of application requirements .  

Program Specific Requirements

• MA in interpretation, translation or related field
• A 15-20 page academic writing sample, or a 15-20 page essay, including references and citations (APA style) on the following: Please describe and assess three peer-reviewed articles or books in the field of Interpretation Studies that have shaped your thinking about the interpreting process and/or the role of the interpreter.
• Three letters of reference – at least one letter documenting your experience in the field and your potential for doctoral-level graduate study
• Evidence of professional certification as interpreter  (RID NIC, CI/CT, CDI, or equivalent)
• Minimum 3 years interpreting experience (five years strongly encouraged)
• ASLPI score of 4 for ASL users and an ASLPI score of 3 or the passing of a Department Screening for international students

Program of Study

The doctoral curriculum consists of a minimum of 46 credits of coursework plus dissertation research.

All students must complete the following courses: INT 810 Interpreting Studies: Linguistic and Translation Dimensions, INT 812 Research Internship, INT 813 Research Internship, INT 820 Interpreting: Sociocultural Dimensions, INT 821 Interpreting Pedagogy I, INT 830 Interpreting Studies: Cognitive Psychological Dimensions, INT 831 Interpreting Pedagogy II, INT 832 Research Internship, INT 833 Research Internship, INT 841 Doctoral Teaching Internship I, and INT 842 Doctoral Teaching Internship II (INT 841 and INT 842 require residency on campus). INT 845 Guided Research Project, INT 850 Dissertation Proposal Writing, and INT 900 Dissertation Writing.

Doctoral Assistantship

For the doctoral assistantship, students will contribute to the Department of Interpretation and Translation with responsibilities including serving as teaching and/or research assistants for the first 3 semesters of the program.

Research Internship

For the research internship, students will work on all aspects of the research cycle with data-based interpreting research projects run by an experienced scholar or group of scholars. Students will also devote time to discussion of the internship with the instructor related to their research experiences, focusing both on the process and product of their work, in either independent meetings or a regularly scheduled seminar with other interns.

Teaching Internship

The teaching internship site will be in the Department of Interpretation and Translation at Gallaudet University; preparation for the teaching internship occurs in the two preceding courses in which students examine the Gallaudet curricula at the Undergraduate and Graduate levels (our department is the only institution to offer both levels of interpreter education), compare and contrast it with other curriculums, and observe and assist in teaching with department faculty in the BA and perhaps the MA courses. This prepares the student to teach independently within the department for their internship.

Candidacy Examination

After the first two semesters of coursework for full-time students, or 20 credit hours for part-time students, students must successfully complete a written examination designed to evaluate a student’s understanding, knowledge, and application of the approaches that underlie interpretation studies and pedagogical approaches. This examination will be in written English and requires a written response or a written translation of a signed response.

Comprehensive Examination

Comprehensive examinations serve to assess that a doctoral student’s knowledge and understanding of Interpreting Studies (IS) is at a sufficiently high level to begin dissertation research. Upon completion of 37 credit hours, students must successfully present a demonstration in ASL of their theoretical and methodological knowledge of IS and their grasp of the fundamental studies and works in IS. Students will also create a presentation on pedagogy including curriculum and course development, evidence-based teaching practices, assessment practices, and the instruction of specific interpreting skills.

Qualifying Paper

Students are required to conduct a substantial data-based research project related to interpretation or translation, which results in a written qualifying paper. The process will be guided by a faculty advisor and will include conducting a review of relevant literature, writing a proposal (including IRB approval and/or small grants applications), collecting data, coding and analyzing data and creating drafts, which culminate in the completion of the final paper ready for submission to a journal.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense

Students will prepare a proposal which includes an introduction to the study and the research question(s), a preliminary review of the relevant literature, a detailed research plan including a description of the methodology and plan for analysis, working references, an outline of the dissertation, and a timeline. Once the dissertation advisor deems the proposal ready for review by the committee, the candidate distributes copies to the committee members. When the proposal is ready for a defense, the chair of the dissertation committee will schedule a formal defense, and will notify both the Department Chair and the Ph.D. Coordinator.

Dissertation and Defense

The dissertation is a professional product that not only represents the student’s level of achievement, but also the scholarship generated by the program, the department, and Gallaudet University. The dissertation chair and committee members work to ensure the project demonstrates original research that contributes to new knowledge and/or a reinterpretation of existing knowledge to the area of investigation. Students work closely with their chair, and occasionally with their committee members, throughout the proposal, research, and writing process.

Courses & Requirements

Summary of Requirements

Semester I - Fall

An advanced seminar focusing on linguistic and translation theory and research as it pertains to interpretation. Topics will vary depending upon current developments in the field.

Students serve as an intern working on all aspects of the research cycle with a data-based interpreting research project run by an experienced scholar or group of scholars. Students will participate in this field work for 50 clock hours per credit hour under the supervision of a Department of Interpretation and Translation faculty member. Student will assume increasing responsibilities on research projects approved by their advisor.

Acceptance into the program or permission of the instructor.

Semester II - Spring

An advanced seminar focusing on socio-linguistic and anthropologic theory and research as it pertains to interpretation. Topics will vary depending upon current developments in the field.

This course provides students with an introduction to educational and interpretation philosophies, teaching considerations and techniques, and considerations for faculty responsibilities in academia in the areas of teaching, service, scholarship, and administration. Students will research and analyze program and curriculum design and their interplay with student learning outcomes, teaching Deaf and non-deaf interpreters, and teaching styles. Students will learn procedures for observing classrooms, teachers and students and perform observations. They will learn how learning experiences are planned, the role technology plays in learning experiences, and how to assess reading and course materials. Students will survey teaching techniques for teaching ethics, interpreting skills, assessing student skills, and teaching self-assessment skills.

INT 810 and an elective in curriculum or assessment

Semester III - Fall

An advanced seminar focusing on cognitive and psychological dimensions of the interpreting process. Topics will vary depending upon current developments in the field.

This course builds on INT 821 and provides students with hands-on opportunities to put into practice what they have been learning. Students will address the issues of course design, classroom teaching, and assessment by co-teaching courses with department faculty. Learning experiences will address issues including, but not limited to, student learning outcomes, ethics, skill development, self-assessment, attitude and interpreting skills, use of technology, use and development of materials, grading, academic integrity, and classroom activities. They will conduct evaluation of teaching interpreting through action research in the classroom.

INT 821 and electives in curriculum and assessment or permission of the instructor

Students serve as an intern working on all aspects of the research cycle with a data-based interpreting research project run by an experienced scholar or group of scholars. Students will participate in this field work for 50 clock hours per credit hour under the supervision of a Department of Interpretation and Translation faculty member. Student will assume increasing responsibilities on research projects, at a professional level, as approved by their advisor.

Semester IV - Spring

Students serve as an intern working on all aspects of the research cycle with data-based interpreting research project run by an experienced scholar or group of scholars. Students will participate in this field work for 50 clock hours per credit hour under the supervision of a Department of Interpretation faculty member. Student will assume increasing responsibilities on research projects, at an professional level, as approved by their advisor.

This course provides students the opportunity to teach independently with supervision of department instructors following the successful completion of INT 821 and INT 831. The student assumes the role of instructor in one or more course(s) in the Department of Interpretation. The purpose of this practicum is to develop and hone the doctoral student's ability to plan, implement, and evaluate an academic course in interpretation and/or translation.

INT 821 and INT 831

This course is a one semester course in which students conduct an intensive research project conducted under the guidance of a faculty member. The research, analysis, and writing require an amount of a student's time equivalent to a normal three-credit course. Students are expected to develop an appropriate research plan, to complete the IRB process, to analyze data, and to write a final report of publishable quality.

Semester V - Fall

This course builds on INT 841, providing students the opportunity to teach independently with supervision of department instructors. The student assumes the role of instructor in one or more course(s) in the Department of Interpretation. The purpose of this practicum is to further develop and hone the doctoral student's ability to plan, implement, and evaluate an academic course in the interpretation.

INT 841 or permission of instructor

The purpose of this course is to guide students through the process of writing a doctoral dissertation proposal. The proposal will include a problem statement, literature review. It will also incorporate the research design and methodology, a description of how the data will be treated and analyzed, and the significance and limitations of their proposed study.

INT 833, 841, 845, and successful completion of the qualifying paper

Semester VI - Spring

Students register for this course while conducting all aspects of the dissertation research.

Semester VII - Fall

Semester VIII - Spring

Information

Ph.d. in translation and interpreting studies requirements.

Completed application form. See Application Instructions to learn how. A non-refundable application fee of $75. A minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a four-point scale) in all previous undergraduate and graduate study. (Occasionally, applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be admitted conditionally upon...

DoIT Doctoral Program Contributing Scholars

The Interpretation doctoral program at Gallaudet University includes four research internship courses. In these courses, students are paired with established research scholars to work collaboratively on specific interpreting and translation studies. Working alongside scholars, both within the Interpretation Program and at other universities, provides opportunities...

Interpreter

The employment for Interpreters is set to grow at a 20% rate between 2019 to 2029, with a median annual salary of $51,830. Learn more here.

Media and Communications

The employment of Media and Communications is expected to grow by a 4% rate from 2019-2029, with an average annual salary of $61,310. Learn more about careers in media and communications.

Interpreter and Translator

The employment of Interpreters and Translators is expected to grow by a 46% rate from 2019-2029, with an average annual salary of $51,830. Learn more about career opportunities in interpreting.

Postsecondary Education Teacher

The employment of Postsecondary Teachers is expected to grow by a 9% rate from 2019-2029, with an average annual salary of $80,790. earn more about career opportunities as a post-secondary education professor.

Danielle Hunt

Associate Professor

Faculty and Staff

Campbell mcdermid, pamela collins.

Assistant Professor

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Translation Studies - Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree in Translation Studies is a research-based program that provides advanced training in translation studies. The program focuses on translation research skills, specialized translation, computer-assisted terminology and translation, software localization and project management for the language industry. The program is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation for the development of key skills in humanistic translation and translation studies.

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Program Information for Translation Studies - Ph.D.

Full description.

The Ph.D. degree in Translation Studies is a research-based program that provides advanced training to support the investigation of translation- and interpreting-related phenomena. Program faculty have expertise in a wide-range of subjects and disciplines, including cognitive psychology; gender and sexuality studies; histories of translation; the language industry; machine translation and pedagogy of translation and interpreting; postcolonial approaches; translation quality assessment; and specialized translation, from technical to legal to literary.

The doctoral program provides a comprehensive foundation in all aspects of translation studies, preparing students for careers in higher education, the language industry and government service — both in the United States and abroad. Funding opportunities are available on a competitive basis.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website . For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website .

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree in translation, a foreign language or in any other relevant discipline with prior experience or training in translation
• Minimum senior-year 2.750 undergraduate GPA and/or minimum 3.500 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Proficiency in a foreign language
• Goal statement
• Essay or writing sample (7-10 pages) from a research paper on any aspect of translation (or a prospectus for a translation studies project)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Minimum 102 TOEFL iBT score
• Minimum 7.5 IELTS score
• Minimum 73 PTE score
• Minimum 130 DET score

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Priority deadline: January 1
• Priority deadline: October 1

Applications submitted by these deadlines will receive the strongest consideration for admission .

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate broad knowledge across several areas in the field of translation studies, as well as in-depth knowledge in an area of expertise.
• Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct original research.
• Critically assess translation studies literature, as well as their own empirical and theoretical findings.
• Communicate research findings effectively in written and spoken form.
• Follow ethical guidelines for work in the field.

Program Requirements

Graduation requirements, major requirements.

Students may elect to take doctoral courses from other departments as appropriate and with prior approval from the graduate coordinator and the student's advisor.

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for TRST 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is required that doctoral candidates continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter TRST 80299 , each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met. After passing the written examination, students must present a detailed written proposal of their dissertation research. The dissertation focuses on original research. The dissertation topic must fall within one or more of the sub-fields in translation studies. The written dissertation is reviewed and approved by the research adviser and the dissertation advisory committee prior to scheduling a final defense before the committee.

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Translation Studies, PhD

Phd in translation studies.

The doctoral program is primarily designed to prepare its graduates for careers in both the academic field and scholarly research, including research-informed translation. It offers individualized interdisciplinary tracks to accommodate a variety of backgrounds. The doctoral program offers the following features:

Inclusive curriculum comprising, but not limited to, history and traditions of translation studies, literary studies, cultural and postcolonial studies and philosophy;

Individualized interdisciplinary tracks, with the option to take courses in other academic departments; 

Learner-centered atmosphere through discussion seminars and independent studies to make learning an enriching exchange among students and faculty.

Guidelines & Checklists For Current Students

Students pursuing the PhD in Translation Studies must follow the standard Graduate School matriculation procedures.

Admission decisions are made by the TRIP Director, in consultation with the advisory committee and any other faculty member whose expertise seems appropriate for the applicant.

Graduate applicants should demonstrate the following background, as attested by transcripts, standard exam scores, letters of recommendation, personal statement and a writing sample.

• Near-native fluency in English, as well as (and especially) the ability to write academic texts in English, as demonstrated by high GREs (310+) (GMAT or LSAT will be accepted in place of the GRE), and high TOEFL scores (100+);
• Near-native fluency in a second language;
• Optionally, but desirable: a good reading knowledge of a third language, meaning the applicant can read reliably with a dictionary;
• Previous immersion in a culture where the second language is spoken;
• A Master's degree in a relevant area; applicants with no graduate course work in languages should also be prepared for a diagnostic examination during the application process.
• Background in translation studies; applicants who do not have a documented background in translation studies, or who do not have any formal certification in translation, may be provisionally admitted; full admission will be granted after passing the certificate examination.

Note: The Translation Studies doctorate is part of the Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP), and is not managed by the Department of Comparative Literature. Please direct any questions about the doctorate to TRIP.

Students completing the Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP) Ph.D. in Translation Studies will obtain the following abilities:

• Broaden and deepen knowledge of areas relevant to their research interests, including interdisciplinary knowledge and skills appropriate to the field; 
• Define a research project in translation studies of appropriate scope or develop a substantial translation with an accompanying analysis; 
• Develop as a scholar in the field through the practice of independent research and writing. 

Program of Courses (Required Core Curriculum)

Translation Practice

• TRIP 572: Translation Workshop: Literary - (4 credits)
• TRIP 573: Translation Workshop: Non-Literary - (4 credits)

Translation Theory

• TRIP 560: Intro to Translation Studies - (4 credits)
• TRIP 562: Scholarly Methods in Translation Studies - (4 credits)

(Students who present workshop credits from Binghamton University or elsewhere may petition to have the required workshop courses waived. However, if a waiver is granted, these credits must still be fulfilled with other relevant classes.)

Allied and Disciplinary Electives - (20 credits)

Depending on their interests, students will be able to choose electives from a variety of courses in other academic departments, encompassing disciplines such as:

• Criticism and textual analysis (e.g., Comparative Literature, Philosophy)
• Cultural studies (e.g., Anthropology, Sociology, area-specific studies)
• World languages and literatures
• Technical fields (e.g., business or the sciences, for those specializing in non-literary translation)
• Pedagogy (education and language departments)

Dissertation

• TRIP 698: Pre-Dissertation Research - (1+ credits)
• TRIP 699: Dissertation - (1+ credits)

Total Credits

• Total Credits Required (without a previous master's degree in a related field) - (48 credits)
• Total Credits Required (with a previous master's degree in a related field) - (36 credits)
• The total number of credits required should remain the same, even when students are exempted from taking workshop classes (TRIP 572 and TRIP 573).

Note: TRIP does not accept graduate-level transfer credits.

Residency Requirement: Students are expected to be in residence during their formal course work, which will usually take two academic years. It is also advisable that they stay in residence during the parallel requirements described below.

A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 is required for a graduate degree. To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students are required to earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses that the Graduate School counts toward a degree. Further, doctoral students in TRIP maintain satisfactory academic progress by meeting program requirements to secure a committee chair by the end of their second semester in the program and to have taken at least one written comprehensive exam by the end of their fifth semester. Students who do not pass a comprehensive exam have one chance to retake and pass the exam. 

When students have not achieved satisfactory academic progress, as outlined by the Graduate School and TRIP, they may be placed on Jeopardy status. In this case, students receive a warning and typically are expected to meet requirements for degree progress by the end of the next semester. These requirements are shared with the student in writing. Failing this, the program may recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School that the student be severed. In this case, the student will be informed that they are being severed. Exceptions will be considered only in cases of extraordinary circumstances and students are responsible for having discussions with the program director in advance. 

The Graduate School may sever a student when, in the estimation of the Dean of the Graduate School (or the Dean's designee), the student is not maintaining a satisfactory GPA, as required for graduation. Refer to the Graduate School Manual for additional information regarding academic standing, probation/jeopardy status, and severance. Students receiving a probation or jeopardy academic status should work closely with their advisor and/or the Director of TRIP to develop a plan to return to good academic standing.

If a student’s academic progress does not meet expectations of the TRIP guidelines as documented publicly on TRIP’s webpages, the program will not register the student and will recommend to the Graduate School Dean the student be severed. If they are severed, students are encouraged to reapply if they decide to pursue their degree again. This must be done within five years, before credits expire. 

Once doctoral students have secured a committee chair, students are encouraged to develop a learning contract with their chair. The purpose of the learning contract is to define the knowledge and skills required in order to pass the comprehensive examination. Toward that, the learning contract will identify likely courses, texts, and/or concepts, which must be mastered in order to provide breadth of background, as well as specialized concepts that are germane to the proposed area of research. The learning contract may be modified later if additional knowledge is required, or if the field of research is changed.

The comprehensive examination consists of four parts, detailed below: a dissertation prospectus, two written take-home exams, and an oral examination. Students need to form an exam committee consisting of an academic advisor (who will usually serve as their dissertation director (chair of the committee) and who supervises the dissertation prospectus) and two additional faculty members from Binghamton University, whose work is relevant to their project, each of whom will be responsible for one of the written take-home exams.

• Dissertation Prospectus. This is a longer paper (approximately 30-50 pages) devoted to a theoretical issue, or sub-area explicitly related to translation studies, which will help students establish the direction of their dissertations. It should involve substantial scholarship and show that students are familiar with the current bibliography on the topic selected and are able to articulate their arguments in an academically acceptable format. The paper serves as a dissertation proposal in that it defines the areas that the student will be focusing on for their research.
• Main Area of Concentration. Students are required to define an area and build a reading list with one of their committee members that reflects students' main interests in the field. Suitable topics might be, for example, translation pedagogy, political aspects of translation theory, translation and ethics, linguistic approaches to translation, translation criticism, or a focus on the literary works of a particular period/language. (This is a 72-hour take-home examination scheduled by the student.)
• Minor Field. This section of the exam focuses on a field that either complements or expands the student's main area of concentration. Thus, if a student's main area of concentration is, for example, translation pedagogy, the minor field might be contemporary approaches to education or the training of translators in medieval Spain. Students will build a reading list for this field with one of their committee members that reflect students' main interests in the field. (This is a 72-hour take-home examination scheduled by the student.)
• Oral Examination. This final component of the comprehensive exam involves all committee examiners and requires the student to explain choices made in each written exam, including the prospectus.

To pass their PhD comprehensive examination, students must achieve a grade of B+ or better on each part. At the discretion of the examiners and in consultation with the graduate advisor, a student who has failed to achieve this standard may retake the part (or those parts) in which the grade was below B+. All exam procedures and evaluations follow the Graduate School Manual. 

The dissertation is an original research project, which may consist of a case study, an annotated translation, a speculative essay, a literature survey or some other form approved by the student's committee, presented and defended in a public forum. The dissertation should be at least 200 pages, not including bibliography and appendices. If students choose to include a translation as part of the dissertation, their theory-guided analysis of the translation must comprise at least one-quarter, or 50 pages, of the total dissertation. 

• TRIP 572: Translation Workshop, Literary
• TRIP 573: Translation Workshop, Non-Literary
• TRIP 560: Intro to Translation Studies
• TRIP 562: Scholarly Methods in Translation
• TRIP 580D: Postcolonial Theory & Arabic Literature
• TRIP 580E: Translation and Creativity
• TRIP 580H: Translators in History/Fiction
• TRIP 580P: Taboos in Translation

36 credits of coursework are required for the doctoral degree. TRIP students take an average of 4.5 years to complete the degree. For more information download the document below. phD Student Coursework & Degree Flow Chart

Advising/Contact

Tarek Shamma

Graduate director.

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Last Updated: 8/27/24

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PhD Translation and Interpreting

The Centre for Translation Studies, an internationally leading centre for research and teaching in translation and interpreting studies. Our research reflects the evolving nature of the discipline, encompassing a critical understanding of technology-enabled language mediation as well as quality, ethical and social dimensions of a fast-evolving language services industry

Key course information

October 2024 - full-time, october 2024 - part-time, january 2025 - full-time, january 2025 - part-time, april 2025 - full-time, april 2025 - part-time, july 2025 - full-time, july 2025 - part-time, why choose this programme.

• We combine our knowledge of translation and interpreting as human practices with our expertise in computational linguistics, natural language processing, machine learning/AI, distance communication and human-computer interaction.
• Our research into social perspectives on translation/interpreting workflows allows us to achieve a responsible integration of human and machine in translation and interpreting.
• Since our formation in 1982, we have been awarded prestigious research funding that has allowed us to contribute to the theoretical advancement of translation and interpreting studies, applied to the real world. We achieve this by studying the responsible integration of human and technology-enhanced approaches, novel modalities of audiovisual translation and innovative practices in interpreting.
• We are part of several externally funded doctoral training partnerships, including TECHNE , an  Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) -funded doctoral training partnership, which provides access to comprehensive academic and professional training programmes. There are possibilities for studentships and funding for your studies.
• The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked Literature and Languages 10th in the UK for research impact, with 75% of our case studies rated as having outstanding impacts, in terms of reach and significance (4*). Our submission to REF included contributions from the Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

Fantastic graduate prospects

95% of Surrey's postgraduates go on to employment or further study 

4th in the UK

4th in the UK for Languages and Linguistics in the Guardian University Guide 2024

Research excellence

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked Literature and Languages 10th for research impact in the UK, with 75% of our case studies rated as having outstanding impacts

Programme details Open

What you will study.

At a time when increasing automation is reshaping language services into one of the fastest growing industries nationally and globally, the ‘technological turn’ in translation/interpreting has created a wealth of opportunities. However, to understand the dimensions of technology’s impact, to mitigate drawbacks and to derive innovative solutions it requires fresh approaches to research.

We are therefore particularly interested in PhD projects investigating how:

• Professional translators/interpreters interact with, and adapt to, emerging technological ecosystems
• This is changing professional practice and the products of this practice
• Human knowledge combined with natural language processing and machine-learning approaches can help design sustainable technology-enhanced solutions in translation/interpreting.

It normally takes three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study to complete our PhD in Translation and Interpreting. You will take a confirmation viva at 12-15 months (or 24-30 months part-time) and will then be assessed by a thesis and viva examination.

You will be assigned two supervisors, who will guide you through your PhD, meet with you monthly to discuss your progress, and give you feedback and advice on your work. You will also have the opportunity to interact and collaborate with other researchers from the Centre and across the University who work on topics relevant to your research.

As a doctoral student, you’ll receive a structured training programme covering the practical aspects of being a researcher, including grant-writing, publishing in journals, and applying for academic jobs.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

Research areas Open

Research themes.

• Translation technologies, including computer-assisted translation, translation memories, machine translation and post-editing
• Interpreting technologies, especially video-mediated interpreting, distance/remote interpreting
• Audio-visual translation including subtitling, audio-description, re-speaking and other modalities
• Collaborative translation
• Translation and natural language processing
• Bilingual lexicography, corpora and translation
• Translation process research
• Translation and interpreting as multimodal activities
• Translation and interpreting in the context of migration
• Dialogue interpreting
• Legal interpreting
• Multilingual healthcare communication
• Multilingual copyrighting
• Sociological approaches to translation
• Humour in translation.

Discover more about the research in the literature and languages research .

Research centres and groups

• Centre for Translation Studies
• Research in literature and languages
• Surrey Morphology Group

Academic staff Open

See a full list of all our  academic staff  within the Centre for Translation Studies.

Support and facilities Open

Research support.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College , which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.

You will benefit from excellent facilities, including specialist software and hardware for research, for example: software to support computer-assisted translation, linguistic/corpus-based analysis, subtitling, re-speaking and audio-description; software for qualitative and quantitative analysis, eye-tracking facilities and dedicated server space.

We are also home to state-of-the-art interpreting laboratories with ISO-compliant professional interpreting booths, video-conferencing tools, mobile interpreting equipment and access to a remote simultaneous interpreting platform.

You will be allocated desk space, and you will also be able to take advantage of our common rooms for socialising and networking with other students and staff.

Entry requirements Open

Uk qualifications.

Applicants are expected to hold a good bachelors degree and/or masters degree (2:1 or equivalent) in translation studies (translation, audiovisual translation, interpreting.

For other topics, a good bachelors degree and an MA in a relevant topic is required.

Country-specific qualifications

International students in the united kingdom, english language requirements.

IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category and at least 7.0 in the writing component.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept. 

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants:

• Meeting the expected entry requirements
• Being shortlisted through the application screening process
• Completing a successful interview
• Providing suitable references.

Fees and funding Open

Fees per year.

Explore  UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the  list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.

• Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
• Any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Application process

Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our  application guidance .

After registration

Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.

Apply online

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Select your course

Choose the course option you wish to apply for.

Create an account and sign into our application portal.

Translation and Interpreting PhD

Full-time, October 2024

Part-time, October 2024

Full-time, January 2025

Part-time, January 2025

Full-time, April 2025

Part-time, April 2025

Full-time, July 2025

Part-time, July 2025

About the University of Surrey

Accommodation

We have a range of housing to suit all requirements and budgets. There are more than 6,000 rooms available (en-suite, single-sex, studio flat, shared or single).

Student life

At Surrey we offer a friendly university campus set in beautiful countryside, with the convenience and social life of bustling Guildford on your doorstep.

Need more information?

Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.

Code of practice for research degrees

Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.

Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF) .

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

• First when we make an offer.
• Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .

Language and Linguistic Science

PhD in Translation and Interpreting

Carry out an extensive research project and contribute to advancing a rapidly growing field

Join a prestigious research department and carry out a project in an exciting and ever-growing research area.

Your research

This course will allow you to carry out an intensive research project on a topic relating to translation and/or interpreting. You'll join a stimulating research environment and work with leading experts in the field who are engaged in collaborative research and have strong links with the language services industry and international research networks.

We welcome proposals to work on projects exploring a range of questions, including linguistic, social, technological, professional, pedagogical or ethical phenomena related to translation and/or interpreting as mediation activities. Students will become part of the academic community of our department, with academic staff and PhD students conducting innovative research on areas such as applied linguistics, forensic speech and audio, language and society, linguistics and psycholinguistics, in addition to translation and interpreting. 

You'll have two or three supervisors, depending on the focus of your study. You'll have access to training, research facilities and specialist software. Over the course of your study, you'll be encouraged to engage in training, networking and dissemination activities both inside and outside the university. In your first year, you'll submit a 2000-word summary of your project so far, then a 5000-8000 word summary in your second year. Your third year will be the culmination of your project and you'll complete your 80,000-100,000 word thesis.

The PhD in Translation and Interpreting is available full or part-time and also to visiting research students who would like to come here for short periods (usually between one semester and a year) for specialist training.

Related links

• Research degree funding
• Accommodation
• International students
• Life at York
• How to apply

1st in the UK

for the quality of our linguistics research, according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

4th and 6th in the UK

for French and Iberian languages (Complete University Guide 2025).

Extensive facilities

Gain unparalleled access to our interpreting lab, as well as other dedicated facilities to work in.

Explore funding for postgraduate researchers in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science.

Supervision

We have a range of expert staff available to supervise projects. Please reach out to Dr Eloísa Monteoliva Garcia, Dr Gustavo Gongora-Goloubintseff, Professor Monika S. Schmid or Dr Ahmed Khaleel for any enquiries.

Training and support

You'll be trained to use specialist equipment and in the implementation of lab techniques that are necessary in the industry. We'll work with you to ensure that you receive relevant training based on the topic of your research project.

Our Research Excellence Training team also offer a wide variety of workshops designed to help you thrive as an independent researcher. You'll work with your supervisor to create a Professional Development Plan (PDP) that will consolidate the support you recieve throughout your degree.

Specialist software

We are using Phrase in our translation courses free of charge. Phrase is a complete translation platform that includes translation memory, integrated machine and human translation, terminology management, and both online and desktop CAT tools.

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.

Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Graduate Research School

Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.

Meet us online or on campus

Find out all you need to know about applying to York

Scholarships

Find scholarships to support your studies

Ph.D. in English

Our nationally ranked Ph.D. program provides specialized training in literary, cultural and language studies for students who plan to teach at universities and colleges. 

Related Resources

• English Ph.D. Handbook
• Job Placement

English Ph.D. students pursue individualized programs of study within the parameters of our degree requirements; they share the qualities of excellent critical thinking and writing, and above all, of intellectual curiosity. Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive, but all admitted students receive a five-year funding package. Once our students enter, they are mutually supportive and develop networks of collegial friends often maintained beyond their time at UMD.

Our students gain extensive teaching experience as part of their training at UMD, and our placement record is among the best in the nation.

Students moving successfully toward the Ph.D. degree are expected to complete the degree typically in five to six years. To maintain their status, students are expected to make satisfactory progress; those who do not may be eligible to change their degree objective from the Ph.D. to the M.A.

The Ph.D. curriculum offers opportunities for advanced study in a variety of literary and language fields, including literary and cultural history; aesthetic, critical and cultural theory; digital and media studies; humanistic engagement with the sciences; and language, rhetoric and composition. The curriculum addresses a series of broad questions relevant to such studies: What are the histories, genealogies and futures of literary, cultural and rhetorical studies? What is the relationship of such work to society, politics and history? To the media of representation and communication? To reading and writing practices? To disciplinarity and institutional contexts? How do we conceptualize, teach and apprehend aesthetics through literary and other modes of cultural expression? The courses available to doctoral students particularize such broad issues and, together with extensive attention to pedagogy and teacher-training, have as a general objective the training of students to identify and formulate compelling research questions and the preparation of students for long-term careers in academia.

The program combines flexibility with consistent and continuous mentorship from the faculty and the director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The degree requirements are as follows:

• a minimum of 10 courses (30 credits) at the graduate level, including three required courses, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.6 (see Satisfactory Progress)
• between 3 and 6 credits of ENGL898, Pre-candidacy Research
• reading facility in a second language
• successful passage of a qualifying examination
• an approved dissertation prospectus
• a successful dissertation defense

Students who begin the Ph.D. program having earned an M.A. in English would be expected to complete a minimum of 8courses (24 credits) of coursework.

Course Requirements

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 10 courses (30 credits) for students entering the program without an M.A. This includes 2 required courses. All coursework must be completed with a minimum of a 3.6 GPA (see Satisfactory Progress). Students are required to take ENGL601: “Introduction to Graduate Studies”; and ENGL611: “Approaches to College Composition” as part of their 10 course requirement. In addition, students will select a minimum of 8 additional graduate courses. The degree assumes conversance with the major body of English and American literature as well as familiarity with bibliography, research methods and other necessary tools of the trade.

Students may take up to 2 independent-study courses to fulfill 600-level electives. Students interested in taking an independent-study course for elective credit should collaborate with their professor in writing up an intended course of study and file it with the Graduate Office for approval by the DGS before the first day of classes each semester. Please see the form here .

Students may also make special arrangements to do additional work in their 600-level courses to have those courses count as a seminar/700 level course. Students wishing to take a 600-level class as a seminar must provide the Graduate Studies Office with the required seminar credit form and syllabus detailing the additional work that will be undertaken in order for the course to be counted as a 700-level seminar at the beginning of the semester. Students may not take an independent study for seminar/700 level credit except in extreme circumstances and only after receiving permission from the DGS.

Newly admitted Ph.D. students entering the program with an M.A. from another institution should meet with the director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to have their academic record evaluated; the DGS will establish what courses taken during the previous M.A. can count toward the Ph.D. distribution requirements or recommend courses that will enable their completion. Students who begin the Ph.D. program having earned an M.A. in English from another institution would be expected to complete a minimum of 8 courses (24 credits) of coursework, but may be required to complete more at the DGS’s discretion. All Ph.D. students should select courses with two primary goals in mind: 1) filling in gaps in their knowledge of literary history and 2) developing an area of scholarly expertise and professionalization.

The DGS will help students select courses and act as the general advisor for students entering the program. Students will be assigned mentoring teams just prior to their first semester and this mentoring team, in conjunction with the DGS, will help them select courses for the second semester. After the first year in coursework, students can work directly with their mentors to choose appropriate courses.

During the coursework phase of the program each student will meet with his or her advising team and/or the DGS in order to assess academic progress and to discuss his or her intended degree track and plans for professionalization. Students whose GPA for the first completed 15 credits of coursework is 3.0 or lower will be offered the option of pursuing the terminal M.A. degree or of resigning from the graduate program altogether.

A note on incompletes: Students are generally discouraged from taking incompletes, but especially so at the beginning of their coursework, in order to ensure that academic progress can be accurately assessed. If an incomplete is necessary in the first 15 credits of coursework, the DGS must be consulted in addition to the instructor of the course. 

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate, by equivalencies or exam, reading knowledge of one language other than English. When satisfying this requirement, students are encouraged to choose a foreign language that is appropriate for his or her area of doctoral studies. The director of Graduate Studies (DGS), the student's mentors and the student will coordinate in determining the appropriate language. In addition to the foreign language requirement administered by the Graduate Studies Office (GSO), the student's dissertation committee may also recommend more advanced proficiency in the language selected and/or work in an additional language; however, the student is obliged to be tested on (or to provide an equivalent for) only one language. The foreign language requirement must be fulfilled before the student can be admitted to his or her qualifying exam and no later than the fifth semester in the program in order to maintain satisfactory progress.

Equivalencies : Equivalencies include: native speaking ability; undergraduate major; passage of an equivalent requirement in another graduate program; a grade of B or better in a 300-level course in the language taken at the University of Maryland after starting the Ph.D. program. A 300-level course must emphasize the fluent use of the language in a variety of formats and all major assignments in the course must be conducted in the language and not in English. The written work for the course must be evaluated for language and style as well as for organizational accuracy and coherence. The DGS will determine whether coursework or other equivalencies are appropriate and sufficiently recent to attest to proficiency.

Timeline : If foreign language equivalency is not fulfilled prior to admission, students have the option of taking a foreign language exam at the end of their first or second semester of the Ph.D. program. Students who have not fulfilled the foreign language requirement by the end of their second semester will test out of or enroll in a prerequisite entry-level foreign language class in their third semester. Students will have the opportunity of (re-) taking the exam during the first week of their third semester. Students who pass the exam can drop the prerequisite language class. Students who do not pass will complete (or test out of) the pre-requisite class and will have another opportunity to take the language exam at the end of their third semester. Students who have not fulfilled the foreign language requirement by the end of their third semester will take a 300-level language class in their fourth semester. Students who do not receive a grade of “B” or better in the foreign language class during their fourth semester will retake the class or/and the language exam in their fifth semester. (Students admitted prior to Fall 2015 must fulfill their foreign language requirement by their 5th semester in the program, and before taking a qualifying exam, but are exempt from the rest of this timeline.)

The Foreign Language Exam : At least one month prior to the exam, students will choose and submit to the GSO for its approval two books of at least 200 pages in the foreign language, one primary work and one secondary work (both works must have been originally written in the target language and may not be translated works). The GSO will determine the appropriateness of the student’s choice. ('Appropriateness' does not necessarily mean that the primary text must come from your period of specialization and that the secondary text must be about your period, simply that the texts are equivalent in difficulty to other texts students are tested on.) Once the student’s choice of texts has been approved, the GSO will assign an appropriate faculty member to administer the exam and provide this faculty member with a set of guidelines and expectations for the foreign language exam. The faculty member administering the exam will choose a 250- to 300-word passage from each, the primary and the secondary work. The student will have three hours to prepare the translation with the help of a dictionary. The faculty administrator will evaluate the translations and determine whether or not the student passed or failed, based on the guidelines provided by the GSO. The GSO will keep on file all exams and make them available to students preparing for the exam.

Students will be assigned two faculty mentors in their first year and will serve as a research assistant for one of them in the fall and the other in the spring.

These advising teams are charged with meeting with the student at least once each semester and with filing a report (no more than a page) each semester on the student’s progress with the Graduate Studies office. Students are expected to remain in regular contact with their advisors.  The members of each advising team will help students select courses, otherwise navigate the program and begin the process of professionalization, and they will act generally as resources for the student, as well as sign off on the student's self-evaluation form. The DGS will remain available to all students in all stages of the program to assist in advising.

As students are preparing to advance to candidacy, the advising team will help the student form the qualifying examination committee. The advising committee may be separate from the examination committee. From this point until the constitution of the dissertation defense committee, the qualifying examination committee will act as the student's primary advisors.

All students are expected to keep regular contact with the DGS and their advising teams throughout all stages of the program. Measures to be used to assess progress include the student’s grades, other evidence of the quality of coursework, schedule for meeting requirements for candidacy and schedule for completing the dissertation.

Qualifying Exams

To advance to candidacy, all Ph.D. students must complete the oral Qualifying Examination. The language requirement must be satisfied before a student can take his or her qualifying exam. Students should contact the Graduate Office eight weeks before to schedule an exam date and reserve a room. A signed copy of the reading list must also be submitted when scheduling the exam .

Planning for the Qualifying Examination

In order to be admitted to Qualifying Exams, students must have satisfactorily completed all their coursework and met the foreign language requirement. Students with outstanding incompletes in coursework are not eligible to take the exam. Students should consult with their appointed advising teams in forming an examination committee that will administer the Qualifying Exam and serve as the student's advising committee until the constitution of the dissertation committee. The exam committee consists of four graduate faculty members, including a chair and three committee members. (Please note that while many students do keep the same committee for their dissertation, it is not a requirement.) Students register for a range of 3 to 6 credit hours of ENGL898, “Pre-Candidacy Research,” and are expected to meet regularly with the chair and at least one member of their examination committees under this rubric.

We encourage Ph.D. students to take the Qualifying Examination by their sixth semester in the doctoral program and expect them to sit for the exam no later than their seventh semester. Students who received an M.A. prior to admission are expected to complete coursework more quickly and take their qualifying exams as early as the fifth semester in the program.

The Reading List

The Qualifying Examination is based on a reading list compiled by the student in consultation with his or her committee. The list will include roughly 80-120 works, chosen to cover two of the following categories: a literary period; a recognized field; the proposed area of the dissertation.  For students planning to work in literature, it is assumed that a 100-year period will be covered. The field may be interpreted as any discrete literary concern that has accrued a body of serious critical thought and may include such diverse subjects as genre; literary, linguistic or theoretical criticism or methodology; a sub-period. Typically, students develop a literary period or field list of approximately 75 works and a more focused list of 25 works on the proposed dissertation topic; also typically, around 80 percent of the list consists of primary texts and 20 percent of secondary titles. But there are wide varieties in lists (some will be longer than others; some will have more criticism than others; etc.) The reading list must be approved by the committee chair and all committee members eight weeks prior to the examination. A copy of the reading list, signed by your committee, must be turned into the Graduate Office eight weeks prior to scheduling the exam.

The exam consists of two 60-minute parts: 1) an oral presentation by the student and follow-up discussion of the presentation; 2) a general examination on the reading lists.

Working in consultation with other members of the committee and the student, the committee chair prepares 2-4 topics for part one of the exam, the student's oral presentation. The student will receive the topics from the Graduate Office one week before the oral examination. The exam begins with the student's 15-20-minute oral presentation on the selected topic. The student may bring a copy of the reading list and brief notes to the exam. Students may also use PowerPoint or any other technological aid for their presentation. A 35-40 minute discussion follows the student's presentation.

Part two is an approximately one-hour examination on the student's two reading lists. The emphasis here is on breadth.

At the conclusion of the examination the student leaves the room and the committee discusses and votes on the student's performance. Three passing votes constitute a passing grade on the exam. If the student fails the exam, they can retake the exam the following semester. The student will receive a written assessment from the chair of the committee indicating the reasons for the failure. The examination committee and reading list should remain the same from the initial to the second attempt. Changes must be requested, in writing, to the DGS, and may be made only upon approval by the DGS. Failing the exam a second time disqualifies the student from continuing in the Ph.D. program. The DGS or a representative from the Graduate Studies Committee will be present at the second attempt to ensure procedural fairness. The chair of the examining committee informs the director of Graduate Studies in writing about the result of the exam.

Teaching assistants receive a step promotion and a small raise in stipend once they have advanced to candidacy. Upon advancing to candidacy, the student has four years to complete the dissertation; the Graduate School grants extensions only in extreme circumstances.  Students generally complete the dissertation in 2-3 years. Candidacy forms to be submitted to the Graduate School must be filed at the English graduate office. See Ph.D. Deadlines and Paperwork. Upon advancing to candidacy, students are expected to file a dissertation progress form (save to your hard drive to access the text fields) with the Graduate Office each semester.

Dissertation Prospectus

The prospectus is to be submitted within four months of passing the qualifying exam. The prospectus establishes that the student has defined a research question that is worth pursuing and is in a position to do a good job of pursuing it. The prospectus should be developed in consultation with your committee.

Dissertation

Students have successfully passed the qualifying exam and have advanced to candidacy. Upon advancing to candidacy, students are expected to file a dissertation progress form with the Graduate Office each semester. Ph.D. candidates are expected to file an approved dissertation prospectus within four months of passing the qualifying exam. At least three of the four members of the student’s dissertation committee are expected to meet annually with the student to review progress. A successful defense of dissertation is the final requirement for the degree. Students must graduate within four years of advancing to candidacy. All graduate students must register for courses and pay associated tuition and fees each semester, not including summer and winter sessions, until the degree is awarded. 

Dissertation Committee

The Ph.D. student should be thinking about assembling a Dissertation Committee while still taking courses and identifying areas of specialization for the Qualifying Examination. In many cases, the dissertation committee is the same as the Qualifying Examination committee. A Dissertation Committee consists of four faculty members (one of whom may be University of Maryland faculty outside of the English department), who advise the student on his/her dissertation. One member serves as the student's dissertation director. All members of the dissertation committee must be members of the University of Maryland's graduate faculty. If a student wishes to include in his or her dissertation committee a person who is not currently a member of the University's general graduate faculty, that person will have to be nominated by the department as adjunct or special member of the university's graduate faculty and approved as such by the Graduate School. The nomination by the department is made on the recommendation of the department's full graduate faculty by simple majority.

The Ph.D. student should consult with the director of Graduate Studies and his or her advising team concerning the selection of the Dissertation Committee.

The prospectus should demonstrate that the student:

• has defined and delimited an interesting research question
• can explain the importance of the research question and the contribution that it will make to the field
• is familiar with the existing scholarship related to the research question and can describe the relationship of the dissertation project to that scholarship (review of the literature)
• has developed a theoretical framework for the argument and a methodology for your project.

The prospectus should be between 8-12 pages in length. It should be written in clear prose and include a bibliography. The prospectus, including a one-page abstract and the completed prospectus form (signed by the all four committee members), should be turned in to the English graduate office.

Dissertation Workshop

We urge students to take the Dissertation Workshop (1 credit of ENGL898) in the semester following successful passage of the qualifying examination. Taught by members of the department’s faculty and convened weekly as a seminar, usually during the fall semester, the workshop concentrates on helping students advance their work on the dissertation, whether they are developing a prospectus or writing individual chapters.

Dissertation Template

Please refer to the Graduate School instructions for dissertation templates here (full dissertation template available here ) for clarity and guidance in constructing your dissertation for submission and committee review.

Dissertation Defense Committee

When the dissertation is nearly complete and the major advisor has approved moving on to this penultimate step, the Ph.D. candidate 1) submits to the Graduate School a request to appoint the Dissertation Oral Committee and 2) schedules the dissertation defense. Consisting of five faculty, this committee normally includes the four members of the candidate's Dissertation Committee and an additional member of the university’s graduate faculty serving as the graduate dean's representative.  

In accordance with Graduate School regulations, that representative must be from outside the department. All members of the Defense Committee appointed by the Graduate School must attend the defense. Students must submit their final draft of their dissertation to their committee at least two weeks before the defense date. Typically, the defense is a two-hour discussion of the dissertation. Four of the five members of the Dissertation Defense Committee must approve the dissertation in order for the student to pass.  

Please see the Dissertation Policies here

Submission of Dissertation

The approved dissertation must be submitted electronically to the Graduate School by the deadlines posted for graduation in a given semester (see the Graduate School Deadlines ). Information about all aspects of electronic submission of the dissertation is available on the Graduate School's website .

Completing the Ph.D. involves careful attention to deadlines imposed and paperwork required by the Graduate School.

Students are expected to complete their coursework and meet the foreign language requirement by no later than their fifth semester in the program. Please contact the Graduate Office to schedule your language exam and confirm the acceptability of equivalences if you wish to not take an exam to meet your language requirement. 

Students are expected to advance to candidacy by successfully passing their qualifying examination by their seventh semester in the program. Please contact the Graduate Office to schedule your qualifying exam. Submit your form for candidacy advancement to the Graduate Office (2116 Tawes) upon successful completion of your qualifying exam. Upon advancing to candidacy, students are expected to file a dissertation progress form with the Graduate Office each semester.

Students must file an approved dissertation prospectus with the Graduate Office no later than four months following the qualifying examination. 

Specific deadlines for students intending to graduate will be announced on the English graduate-student reflector and are also available from the Graduate School's Deadlines for Graduates . Most of the necessary paperwork for these deadlines can be found on the Graduate School's General Forms for Graduate Students .

Graduate Admissions

We seek applicants who will enhance our highly motivated, academically accomplished, and intellectually and culturally diverse student body. We normally receive about 100 applications annually for M.A. and Ph.D. programs.

Ph.D. Application Instructions

Submit the complete application and all supporting materials by December 1, 2023 . Please note that the system will close promptly at midnight, so you will be unable to edit your application past 11:59 pm on this date. The system is set to Maryland time (EST). If you are uncertain about what time that the system will close in your timezone, please look it up. We are unable to make exceptions for late applications based on timezone.

Admission to the Ph.D. is highly competitive. If you would like to be considered for the M.A. program if not selected for the Ph.D. program, please indicate that in your personal statement. We expect to enroll between 6-8 Ph.D. students for this year's cohort.

University of Maryland's Graduate Application Process

The University of Maryland’s Graduate School accepts applications through its application system . Before completing the application, applicants are asked to check the Admissions Requirements site for specific instructions.

As required by the Graduate School, all application materials are to be submitted electronically:

• Graduate Application
• Non-refundable application fee ($75) for each program
• Statement of Goals, Research Interests, and Experiences. The statement, which should be around 1000 words, should address relevant aspects of your educational experience, the focus of your academic interests, and reasons for applying to our program. If you are applying to the PhD program but would like to be considered for the MA if you are not selected for the PhD, please indicate that here.
• Unofficial transcripts of your entire college/university record (undergraduate and graduate), including records of any advanced work done at another institution. Electronic copies of these unofficial transcripts must be uploaded along with your on-line application. Official transcripts will be required after an applicant is admitted to the program.
• Three letters of recommendation . In your on-line application, please complete fully the information requested for your recommenders and ask them to submit their letters electronically. We do not accept letters through Interfolio.
•  A single sample of critical writing of approximately 12-20 pages double-spaced (not including works cited/bibliography). While we encourage you to submit your best writing sample, we prefer a writing sample in your declared field of interest. If you are submitting an excerpted selection, please include a brief description or introduction to the selection. The MLA citation format is preferred.
• Academic CV/Resume

The electronic submission of application materials helps expedite the review of an application. Completed applications are reviewed by an admissions committee in each graduate degree program. The recommendations of the committees are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final admission decision. Students seeking to complete graduate work at the University of Maryland for degree purposes must be formally admitted to the Graduate School by the Dean.  To ensure the integrity of the application process, the University of Maryland authenticates submitted materials through TurnItIn for Admissions .

Information for International Graduate Students

The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community. The office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) is a valuable resource of information and assistance for prospective and current international students.  International applicants are encouraged to explore the services they offer, and contact them with related questions.

The University of Maryland Graduate School offers admission to international students based on academic information; it is not a guarantee of attendance.  Admitted international students will then receive instructions about obtaining the appropriate visa to study at the University of Maryland which will require submission of additional documents.  Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for International applicants for more information.

Questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact the Graduate School .

Prospective Student FAQ

Because many of our applicants share general questions about the application process, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to make applying a bit easier.

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Translating and Interpreting MPhil, PhD

We invite research proposals for research degrees in translation and interpreting (T&I). We offer expert supervision in a wide range of fields relating to T&I.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2025
• January 2026

Join us as a Translating and Interpreting MPhil or PhD student and form an integral part of our research community.

In today's globalised world, translation and interpreting has an ever-growing role. Our main research purpose is to find out more about how it works - from professional, language and cultural perspectives.

We offer supervision for projects involving English plus:

Our research specialisms are:

• Interpreting (Dr Chen, Dr Du, Dr Jin, Dr Wu)
• Psycholinguistics of interpreting and translating (Dr Jin, Dr Lin)
• Sociolinguistics, discourse analysis in translation and interpreting (Dr Du, Dr Hall)
• Linguistic diversity and social justice (Dr Du)
• Translation and gender studies (Dr Henry-Tierney)
• Translating literature (Dr Arnold, Dr Henry-Tierney, Dr Lin)
• Translation and culture (Dr Arnold, Dr Chen, Dr El Maizi, Dr Lin, Dr Penet, Dr Robertson)
• Translation and ethics, ideology, and power (Dr Arnold, Dr Lin, Dr Penet)
• Translation and emotions/wellbeing (Dr Penet)
• Translation and reception (Dr Arnold)
• Translation products, processes and strategies (Dr Chen, Dr Jin, Dr Lin, Dr Penet, Dr Robertson)
• Institutional translation (Dr Penet)
• Translator and interpreter training and assessment (Dr Cacheiro Quintas, Dr Chen, Dr Penet, Dr Wu)
• Reflective/autonomous learning and educational psychology (Dr Chen, Dr Wu)
• Audiovisual translation studies (Dr Chen, Dr Henry-Tierney, Dr Robertson)
• Game translation (Dr Chen, Dr Robertson)
• Translation and localisation of digital products (Dr Robertson)
• Translation technology and translator agency (Dr Cacheiro Quintas, Dr Penet, Dr Robertson)
• Legal translation and legal and medical interpreting (Dr Du)
• Migration and multilingualism (Dr Du)
• Respeaking or translation voice to text (Dr Cacheiro Quintas)

Find out more about staff in the School of Modern Languages

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

How you'll learn

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

Faculty of humanities and social sciences (hass) researcher development programme .

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership -  www.northernbridge.ac.uk/

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

Our facilities include:

• a postgraduate common room
• three dedicated interpreting suites
• professional translation software
• the Language Resource Centre, equipped with audio-visual and computing facilities linked to a digital speech bank

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year), home fees for research degree students.

For 2024-25 entry, we have aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee was confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI.

For 2025-26 entry, we will be aligning our standard  Home research fees  with those set by  UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2025 by UKRI.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

School of Modern Languages Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5867 Email:  [email protected]

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

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Translation Studies PhD/ MA by Research (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,786 full-time, £2,393 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail .

• Visit an Open Day
• Request a prospectus
• Course details
• Entry Requirements
• Employability

This programme offers promising candidates the opportunity to carry out research in the field of Translation Studies and be part of a stimulating research culture within the Department of Modern Languages. 

Research strengths include: literary translation and reception; translation history; translation stylistics; corpus-based translation studies; translation and language change; adaptation; gender issues in translation; news translation; collaborative and self-translation; intercultural pragmatics; interpreting studies.

The Department of Modern Languages boasts a  vibrant and diverse postgraduate community  and provides a range of support for its research students. 

You may be interested in comparing this programme to our  Translation Studies Practice-Based PhD  programme.

AHRC funding for PhD students

The University of Birmingham is part of the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (M4C), offering Arts and Humanities Research Council PhD studentships for campus-based programmes. These include a number of Collaborative Doctoral Award opportunities. Each studentship includes research fees, a substantial maintenance grant and additional research training support. Applications are open until 12:00 (noon), 13 January 2021.

Find out more

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

Virtual Open Day: Postgraduate opportunities in Modern Languages - 27 April 2020, 10:00-11:00

Join us online to watch a range of staff and student videos, and take part in our online chat where Emma Tyler and Lorraine Ryan will be answering your questions about postgraduate study.

Find out more and register

Wolfson Scholarships available

The College of Arts and Law has been awarded a number of prestigious Wolfson Scholarships, available to doctoral research students in Modern Languages. Each scholarship provides for fees, a maintenance grant, and some research and training costs. Applications are now open.

Find out more and apply now

We offer two postgraduate research-only programmes, whether you are looking to complete your academic studies with a PhD or pursue your research at Masters level. Find out more about what to expect from a PhD and MA by Research .

Birmingham has an excellent academic reputation with leading experts in the field which makes it the perfect choice to carry out research in this field. There is a vibrant research community with lots of opportunities to meet other colleagues at workshops, seminars and conferences organised by the Department Balsam

Why study this course?

• World-leading research : The University of Birmingham is ranked equal 10th in the UK amongst Russell Group universities in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 according to the Times Higher Education
• Employability skills : Birmingham’s Modern Languages postgraduates develop excellent communication skills, while cultural awareness and foreign language skills are highly sought after by employers. Postgraduates in Modern Languages also have a range of transferable skills including the ability to gather and interpret information, organisational skills and the ability to work well with others
• Community : We have a lively programme of translation-related events at Birmingham, and we also have strong connections to the international translation community. We are a corporate member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting . Our staff are active members of the European Society for Translation Studies and the International Association of Translation and Interpreting and we are also a partner in the ARTIS initiative (Advancing Research in Translation & Interpreting) and IPCITI (International Postgraduate Conference in Translation and Interpreting). We have hosted an annual  Translation Studies Research Forum  featuring a guest lecture by a distinguished scholar and there continues to be a lively programme of translation-related events.

The postgraduate experience

The College of Arts and Law offers excellent support to its postgraduates, from libraries and research spaces, to careers support and funding opportunities. Learn more about your postgraduate experience .

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows:

• UK: £4,786 full-time; £2,393 part-time *
• International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only)

The same fees apply to both campus-based and distance learning study. The distance learning programme also includes one fully-funded visit to campus in the first year of study.

The above fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

* For UK postgraduate research students the University fee level is set at Research Council rates and as such is subject to change. The final fee will be announced by Research Councils UK in spring 2024.

Eligibility for UK or international fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students .

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding .

How To Apply

Research for this subject area takes place within the Department of Modern Languages. When you select ‘Apply Now’ you will need to select your preferred mode of study from the Modern Languages choices available. 

Application deadlines

Postgraduate research can start at any time during the year, but it is important to allow time for us to review your application and communicate a decision. If you wish to start in September 2024, we would recommend that you aim to submit your application and supporting documents by 1 June 2024.

If the programme has a Distance learning option then students will usually attend a residential visit in September or January, and those students wishing to attend the September residential are also encouraged to apply by 1 June 2024. The visit will take place at the end of September/beginning of October and you will receive further details once you have accepted your offer.

Six steps to apply for our Postgraduate Research courses

Do you have an idea for an interesting research project? You can follow our six easy steps to apply to study for our postgraduate research courses . These include guidance on identifying funding opportunities and writing your research proposal .

Please also see our additional guidance for  applicants to the PhD Distance Learning study mode .

Please note: While our PhD programmes are normally studied in three years full-time or six years part-time, and Masters-level research programmes one year full-time or two years part-time, many programmes have a longer length listed in course or funding applications. This is because the course length is defined as the maximum period of registration, which includes a period of supervised study plus a thesis awaited period. The maximum period of registration for a full-time PhD is four years (three years supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For a full-time Masters-level research programme, it is two years (one year supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For part-time programmes, the periods are double the full-time equivalent.

• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

• For MRes and MA by Research programmes, entry to our programmes usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK, usually in a relevant area.
• Applicants for a PhD will also need to hold a Masters qualification at Merit level or above (or its international equivalent), usually in a relevant area.

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases, form an integral part of the entrance requirements.

If you are applying for distance learning research programmes, you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated here, please contact the admissions tutor.

International students

IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 21 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 59 in all four skills
• Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

Learn more about international entry requirements

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below. 

Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , Shanghai Ranking 2024 (full table) and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2024

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2024（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2024 。  

Business School (excluding MBA)   and School of Computer Science programmes 商学院 （ MBA除外） 及计算机学院硕士 课程入学要求

* Applicants from Group 4 institutions are only considered for the following 7 programmes

来自第四类院校的申请人仅限于申请以下7个课程：

• MSc Financial Management
• MSc Investments
• MSc Financial Technology
• MSc Economics
• MSc Financial Economics
• MSc Money, Banking and Finance
• MSc Computer Science

All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements.

如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]  

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Bachiller, Licenciado, or Título Profesional with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

The Department fosters an interconnected vision of Modern Languages and our research explores how the study of languages, discourses, and cultures challenges how we understand and experience the world. 

We have particular strengths in the following research areas where leading academics, who have extensive experience in supervising students, produce cutting-edge research.

Our research streams, and areas of supervision within these, can be found below. Please contact a staff member working in your area of interest in the first instance.

• Translation Studies

Forging Links

• Colonial and Postcolonial Studies
• Exile and Migration
• Memory Studies

(Trans)forming Knowledge

• Digital Humanities in Modern Languages
• Linguistics
• Medieval Studies
• Nineteenth Century Studies

Intersecting Identities

• Sexuality and Gender Studies

We also have expertise in French , German , Hispanic , Italian and Russian  as well as  audio-visual  research.

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report .

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network  provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated  careers and employability team  who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

• Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
• Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
• Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
• Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation.

Postgraduate employability: Modern Languages

Our Modern Languages postgraduates develop excellent communication skills, cultural awareness and foreign language skills - all highly sought after by employers at home or abroad. Postgraduates in Modern Languages also have a range of transferable skills including the ability to gather and interpret information, organisational skills and the ability to work well with others.

Many of our graduates enter roles for which their programme prepared them, such as language teaching oe translation. Others use their transferable skills in a wide range of occupations including publishing, executive research and project management. Employers that graduates have gone on to work for include Language Connect, RWS Group, TransPerfect Global Business Solutions, University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge and University of Oxford.

The department has an excellent employability record, and the majority of graduates go on to successful careers. Find out about how our alumni, have used the skills they developed studying Modern Languages at postgraduate level within their careers.

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School of Modern Languages and Cultures

Phd in translation and transcultural studies (p-q3pg).

We have a thriving community of PhD students in Translation and Transcultural Studies, working with a range of theoretical and methodological approaches and across a variety of language pairs. We welcome expressions of interest from potential applicants with projects that are compatible with our staff research interests .

A PhD in Translation and Transcultural Studies at Warwick can take one of two distinct routes:

(i) a theoretical route

(ii) a practice-led route.

The theoretical model involves demonstrating a significant and original contribution to knowledge in the form of a traditional PhD thesis that considers a particular research question through theories and a case study (or case studies) relevant to Translation and Transcultural Studies.

The practice-led model makes a significant contribution in the form of an original translation and an accompanying commentary that demonstrates critical awareness of the theoretical and practical considerations prompted by the translation process. The commentary evidences doctoral levels of contextual knowledge and powers of analysis and argument, displaying the same intellectual rigour as the traditional PhD project.

Research Themes

Staff working in Translation and Transcultural Studies at Warwick have expertise in a wide range of research areas, including cultural translation and transculturalism, literary translation, sociolinguistics, multilingualism, self-translation in multilingual contexts, gender and feminist translation studies, sociology of language and translation, history of publishing, audio-visual translation, translation technologies, and linguistic landscapes. Details on staff expertise and profile are available here , and further details on current staff research projects in Translation and Transcultural Studies can be found on this page .

Translation and Transcultural Studies has close links to the language sections in the SMLC (especially Chinese , French , German , Italian , and Hispanic Studies ): our co-supervision with colleagues from these sections strengthens the cultural approach to translation, seen as cultural exchange and transfer, and is one of the distinctive aspects of our research.

Proposals framed in cultural, social and political contexts beyond the languages spoken within TTS can be considered, depending on topics and approaches within staff research expertise: if you are planning to propose a project that would fall into this category, please contact the PGR Admissions Tutor for TTS, Dr Caroline Summers ( [email protected] ).

Meet our current PhD students in Translation and Transcultural Studies

Entry requirements.

Applicants should normally hold an honours degree (2.i or First) and normally a Distinction in an MA (with specialisation in an appropriate subject, including Modern Languages, English Literature, Classics, Translation Studies and Creative Writing). Applicants may also be considered who can demonstrate compelling evidence of advanced translation experience through significant publication and associated professional recognition and an awareness of the critical requirements of translation practice in an academic environment.

The minimal English Language requirement is "Band B".

It is also possible to apply for a joint Warwick-Monash PhD in Translation and Transcultural Studies (course code Q3PGM), where the two institutions have compatible supervisory expertise. See the Warwick-Monash Alliance page for more information. Please consult early with the Director of Graduate Studies if you wish to discuss whether your project is eligible for this or any other cross-institutional co-supervision and/or funding arrangement.

Funding opportunities for PhD study Link opens in a new window are highly competitive and often work with a staged process: applicants should make contact as soon as possible with a prospective supervisor in order to develop a sound and robust research proposal (in November/early December for the January funding deadlines). An academic CV and draft research proposal may help us deal with your query more quickly.

Applicants not looking for funding and/or interested in pursuing a PhD on a part-time basis are welcome to send in their enquiries at any time.

Postgraduate admissions enquiries

For further information about postgraduate degrees please send your enquiry to the Postgraduate Research Admissions Tutor for TTS, Dr Caroline Summers, at caroline dot summers at warwick dot ac dot uk

Further advice and tips on how to write a PhD proposal can be found here .

Contact: Dr Caroline Summers (PhD Admissions Tutor, TTS): [email protected]

Apply Online Link opens in a new window

Funding information link opens in a new window, we warmly invite expressions of interest from students who envisage applying for, ahrc-funded midlands4cities doctoral training partnership, warwick's chancellor's international scholarships, china-scholarship council, monash-warwick alliance, further details on current tts staff research projects and research activities.

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• Program Description

Higher Degrees in English

The Graduate Program in English leads to the degrees of Master of Arts (AM) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The AM is an integral part of the doctoral program, and therefore only students who intend to pursue the PhD are eligible for admission to the Graduate Program in English.

The Program

The program takes from four to seven years to complete, with the majority finishing in five or six years. The first two years are devoted to coursework and, in the first year, to preparation for the PhD Qualifying Exam (the “General” exam) at the beginning of the second year. The second and third years are devoted to preparing for the Dissertation Qualifying Exam (the “Field” exam) and writing the Dissertation Prospectus. The fourth, fifth, and sixth years are spent completing the doctoral dissertation. From the third year until the final year (when they are generally supported by Dissertation Completion Fellowships), students also devote time to teaching and to developing teaching skills. Students with prior graduate training or those with a demonstrated ability may complete their dissertations in the fourth or fifth years. Students are strongly discouraged from taking more than seven years to complete the program except under the most exceptional circumstances.

The program aims to provide the PhD candidate with a broad knowledge of the field of English, including critical and cultural theory. Additional important skills include facility with the tools of scholarship—ancient and modern foreign languages, bibliographic procedures, and textual and editorial methods. The program also emphasizes the ability to write well, to do solid and innovative scholarly and critical work in a specialized field or fields, to teach effectively, and to make articulate presentations at conferences, seminars, and symposia.

The minimum residence requirement is two years of enrollment in full-time study, with a total of at least fourteen courses completed with honor grades (no grade lower than B-).

The minimum standard for satisfactory work in the Graduate School is a B average in each academic year.

• A minimum of 14 courses must be completed no later than the end of the second year.
• At least ten courses must be at the 200- (graduate) level, and at least six of these ten must be taken within the department. Graduate students in the English department will have priority for admission into 200-level courses.
• Beginning with the incoming class of 2020-21, two proseminars are now required as part of the ten required seminars.
• The remaining courses may be either at the 100- or the 200-level.
• Students typically devote part of their course work in the first year to preparing for the “General” exam, focusing increasingly on their field in the second year.
• Students are strongly encouraged to take at least two courses that engage extensively with texts in Literary Theory. Such courses should introduce works by writers such as Freud, Barthes, Derrida, Foucault, de Beauvoir, Fanon, Gates, Bhabha, and Jameson, and texts such as  The Poetics  by Aristotle,  The Birth of Tragedy  by Friedrich Nietzsche,  Mimesis  by Eric Auerbach, and  The Theory of the Novel  by Georg Lukacs. We recommend students consult with mentors and the graduate office if they need help finding courses that introduce these and similar works of theory.

Proseminars

• Beginning with the incoming class of 2020-21, two proseminars will now be required as part of the ten required seminars.

• The first-year proseminar (taken in the spring semester of the first year) introduces students to the theories, methods, and history of English as a discipline, and contemporary debates in English studies. The readings feature classic texts in all fields, drawn from the General Exam list. This first-year proseminar helps students prepare for the General Exam (taken at the beginning of their second year); it gives them a broad knowledge for teaching and writing outside their specialty; and it builds an intellectual and cultural community among first-year students.

• The second-year proseminar has a two-part focus: it introduces students to the craft of scholarly publishing by helping them revise a research paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal by the end of the course. It thus gives students the tools to begin publishing early in their career. It also introduces students to the growing array of alternative careers in the humanities by exposing them to scholars who are leaders in fields such as editing, curating, and digital humanities.

Independent Study and Creative Writing

• Students may petition to take one of the 100-level courses as independent study (English 399) with a professor, but not before the second term of residence.
• Other independent study courses will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances and with the consent of the professor and director of graduate studies (DGS).
• Only one creative writing course, which counts as a 100-level course, may count toward the PhD degree course requirements.

Credit for Work Done Elsewhere (Advanced Standing)

Once the student has completed at least three 200-level courses with a grade of A or A-, a maximum of four graduate-level courses may be transferred from other graduate programs, at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Transferred courses will not count toward the minimum of ten required 200-level courses, but will be counted as 100-level courses.

Incompletes

No more than one Incomplete may be carried forward at any one time by a graduate student in the English Department. It must be made up no later than six weeks after the start of the next term.

In applying for an Incomplete, students must have signed permission from the instructor and the DGS, or the course in question may not count toward the program requirements. If students do not complete work by the deadline, the course will not count toward the program requirements, unless there are documented extenuating circumstances.

Language Requirements

A reading knowledge of two languages is required. Normally, Latin, Ancient Greek, Old English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian are the accepted languages. Other languages, including ASL and computer languages, may be acceptable if the DGS deems them relevant and appropriate to a student’s program of study. Students may fulfill the language requirements:

(1) by passing a two-hour translation exam with a dictionary; (2) by taking a one-term literature course in the chosen language, when conducted in the language and/or the readings are in the language (DGS approval may be necessary in some cases) (3) or by taking two terms of Old English*, elementary Latin or Ancient Greek.

Any course taken to fulfill the language requirement must be passed with a grade of B- or better. Literature-level language courses count for course credit ; elementary language courses do not. *Please note that only the spring semester of Old English will count towards the graduate course requirement (as a 100-level course, or as a 200-level course in the case of ENG 200d) when taken to fulfill a language requirement.

Examples of past language exams can be found  here .

The (Non-Terminal) Master of Arts Degree

In order to apply for the AM degree, students must complete, with a grade of B+ or better, no fewer than a total of seven courses, including a minimum of four English courses, at least three of which must be at the graduate (200-) level, and one additional course that must be taken at the graduate level, but may be taken in another department. Students must also fulfill at least one of their departmental language requirements.

General Exam

At the beginning of the second year, students will take a 75-90 minute oral exam, based on a list of authors and/or titles which the Department will make available for each entering class in the summer prior to its arrival. The examiners will be three regular members of the department (assistant, associate, or full professors), whose names will not be disclosed in advance.

Candidates whose performance on the exam is judged inadequate will be marked as “not yet passed” and must retake the exam at a time to be determined. If candidates do not pass on the second attempt, they will not be able to continue in the program.

Note: Students must fulfill at least one language requirement by the end of the first year in order to be eligible to take the General Exam.

Field Oral Exam

The purpose of the Field Oral exam is twofold: to discuss an emerging dissertation topic, and to examine students' preparation in primary teaching and the scholarly field(s) they mean to claim, particularly field(s) related to the dissertation. Students should be prepared to display knowledge of the field(s) in general based on the books and articles listed in their field bibliography.

The order of events in the exam is up to the committee and student to establish beforehand, but typically the exam has two parts: a discussion of the field(s) in which the proposed dissertation situates itself and in which the student intends to teach; and a discussion of the dissertation topic. The exam should assess both the viability of the thesis topic and the preparedness of the student to pursue it at this time. The level of preparedness should be clarified between the student and committee in their meetings before the exam. The discussion of the dissertation topic should substantially aid the student in writing the prospectus, due six weeks after the exam.

In some field exams, there is already a clear idea of the dissertation, one that the student has already discussed with the committee. The discussion in the exam can thus dive more deeply into the details of the project. In other field exams, the student's dissertation project is not yet fully formed, and the exam actively contributes to fleshing out the formation of the project's scope and direction. The committee and student should agree beforehand on the specific format and scope of the exam.

The two-hour examination is typically taken before the end of the Fall Reading Period of the third year of graduate study, although it is possible to take it as late as the end of February, should the need arise. The exam is conducted by a three-person examination committee, chosen by the individual student, normally from among the tenured and ladder faculty of the English department, (the chair is chosen by May 15 of the second year, and the remaining examiners by no later than September 1 of the third year). One faculty member acts as chair of the committee and often assists the student in selecting other members. The committee, or some part of it, will likely continue to serve as individual students’ dissertation advisors.

During the exam, students are asked to describe and discuss their dissertation project, and to demonstrate an adequate knowledge both of the major primary works and of selected scholarly works in the field(s) as they relate to their dissertation.

The twin purposes of the exam--representing the chosen field, and giving a first account of a dissertation project--are represented by two separate bibliographies, each consisting of primary and scholarly works, drawn up by the student in consultation with the examination committee. There may be considerable overlap between these two bibliographies.

At least four weeks before the exam, the student should meet with the committee, present the two bibliographies (of the chosen field(s) and of the dissertation project), and discuss the format of the exam.

The exam is graded Pass/Fail.

Dissertation Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus, signed and approved by three advisors (or two co-advisors, with a third committee member to be added at a later date), is due to the Graduate Office six “business weeks” after passing the Field Oral Examination. The “business weeks” do not include the Winter Recess, so a student passing the exam four weeks before Winter Recess begins, for example, would have another two weeks after the start of classes in the Spring Term to complete the prospectus.

The prospectus is neither a draft chapter nor a detailed road-map of the next two years work but a sketch, no longer than seven to ten pages, of the topic upon which the student plans to write. It gives a preliminary account of the argument, structure, and scope of the intended treatment of the topic. The overview will be followed by a bibliography.

The prospectus is written in consultation with the dissertation advisors, who will meet with students at least once in the spring of the third year to discuss the prospectus and to draw up a timetable for the writing of the dissertation.

In planning a timetable, students need to bear in mind (1) that two draft chapters of the dissertation must be completed by the middle of their fifth year, if they are to be eligible to apply for completion fellowships in their sixth year, and (2) that students generally enter the job market in the fall of their sixth year, with at least two final chapters and a third draft chapter completed. They should also remember that term-time fellowships and traveling fellowships may be available to them in the fifth year, but that these require applications which are due as early as December or January of the fourth year.  Note: The timetable described above can be accelerated if a student so wishes and is in the position to do so.

Article Submission and Professional Writing Workshop

Students are required to submit an article to a scholarly journal by the end of their 5th year (acceptance is not required). Failure to do so would result in the loss of good standing. This is encouraged for all students, but is a requirement beginning with the incoming class of 2015-16. In conjunction with this new requirement, the department has established a professional writing workshop open to English department students only. Attendance will not be required but expected of students in residence. Students will be expected to take the course at some time before the beginning of the 6th year, and ordinarily in the spring of their 5th year. The course will be graded Sat/Unsat.

Dissertation Advising

Students should assemble a group of faculty members to supervise the dissertation. Several supervisory arrangements are possible: students may work with a committee of three faculty members who share nearly equal responsibility for advising, or with a committee consisting of a principal faculty advisor and a second and third reader. In the first scenario, one of the three faculty members will be asked to serve as a nominal chair of the committee; in the second scenario, the principal advisor serves as chair. If the scope of the project requires it, students should consult the DGS about including a faculty advisor from a department other than English or from another university.

The advising mode chosen will be indicated to the department when the prospectus is submitted. Regardless of the structure of advising, three faculty readers are required to certify the completed dissertation. If it is deemed useful, chapter meetings between the student and the entire committee may be arranged in consultation with the chair.

The Dissertation

After the dissertation prospectus has been approved, candidates work with their dissertation directors or their dissertation committee. All of the designated advisors must approve the final work.

The doctoral dissertation is expected to be an original and substantial work of scholarship or criticism, excellent in form and content. The department accepts dissertations on a great variety of topics involving a broad range of approaches to literature. It sets no specific page limits, preferring to give students and directors as much freedom as possible.

Dissertation Defense

The Dissertation Defense will be a necessary part of receiving the PhD, though it will not be a pass/fail examination. The defense is required for all students who entered the program in 2007 or after.

The form of the defense is as follows:

• Each student’s defense will be a separate event
• In addition to the student and the advisors, the participants typically include any interested faculty and any interested graduate students
• The Graduate Office will announce the upcoming defense to all members of the department, unless otherwise specified by the student
• The event will start with a 15–20 minute presentation by the student and last at most 90 minutes
• If a student has left Cambridge and cannot return easily for this purpose, the defense may be held remotely

Arrangements will be overseen by the Graduate Office but conducted by the student (as with the Fields examination); students will be required to send an email to the Director of Graduate Studies and to the Graduate Program Administrator, with a copy to their advisors, indicating the day, time, and location of the defense.

The meeting for a November, March, or May degree must take place any time after advisors have signed off on the dissertation (by signing the Dissertation Acceptance Certificate) and, in the case of the May degree, at least a week before Commencement. In practice, however, the student will need to defend after advisors have signed off and before advisors disperse. That period will normally be between 1–14 May, and most probably in the early days of May. It is up to the student to coordinate the arrangements.

Students begin teaching in their third year*. Ordinarily they teach discussion sections in courses and in the department’s program of tutorials for undergraduate honors majors.

Preparation for a teaching career is a required part of students’ training, and Teaching Fellows benefit from the supervision and guidance of department members.

Teaching fellows are required to take English 350, the Teaching Colloquium, in their first year of teaching. In addition, they are encouraged to avail themselves of the facilities at the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.

*English graduate students wishing to teach in their 2nd year must have 1) passed Generals, 2) completed all required course work by the end of their first year OR must have previous comparable teaching experience, and 3) received written authorization from the Director of Graduate Studies and the GSAS Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid.

Doctoral Conferences "Colloquia"

The Department of English’s  Doctoral Conferences (commonly referred to as “Colloquia”) bring together students and faculty from Harvard and other institutions to discuss current research in literature. Colloquia meet regularly throughout the academic year, and all Harvard graduate students and faculty should feel free to attend any of them, regardless of primary field(s) of interest.

Careers and Placement Seminar

As students near the end of their dissertation writing, they may take a seminar preparing them to seek academic and other employment. Students learn about the job application process, develop cover letters and CVs, and practice presenting their work in interviews and job talks, all in a rigorous and supportive environment. Students should leave the seminar with strong materials for the job market, confident identities as the expert scholars and teachers they have become, and clear articulations of how they will contribute to literary studies in the years ahead. The seminar supplements and formalizes the extensive informal placement advising offered in the department.

Graduate Student Progress Timeline

This document  provides a year-by-year breakdown of requirements for satisfactory progress in our program.

• Guidelines for Admission
• Teaching Fellows
• Fellowships
• Graduate Prizes
• Resources for Grad Students
• English PhD Alumni Network & Placement Information

Department of English

Doctoral program.

• Graduate Studies

Brown's doctoral program in English offers professional training in literary criticism, critical theory, intellectual history, and all aspects of research and pedagogy in the humanities.

We promote the analysis of imaginative forms, cultural logics, and literary and visual rhetorics across the Anglophone world.  Our students are encouraged to think outside traditional conceptions of the discipline of literary studies, and often work with a diverse range of faculty, departments, and centers at Brown. Partner units include the Cogut Institute for the Humanities, the Pembroke Center, the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, the Center for Contemporary South Asia, the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America, the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, and the Departments of Modern Culture and Media, Comparative Literature, History, American Studies, Africana Studies, Literary Arts, French Studies, German Studies, Hispanic Studies, Brazilian and Portuguese Studies, the History of Art and Architecture, and Music.

The first two years of the doctoral program are devoted to course work and the fulfillment of the foreign language requirement. We expect graduate students to take the Qualifying Examination by the end of the third year. Their remaining time in the program is given to the writing of the dissertation. We expect this project to involve research and to demonstrate the potential to become a book or series of articles during the early years of the student’s career as a college or university professor.

Brown’s doctoral program trains graduate students to become teachers as well as researchers. Thus we require that, with some exceptions, our students teach for three years as assistants to members of the English Department faculty and as instructors of sections of ENGL0900 ( formerly ENGL0110 ) Critical Reading and Writing I: The Academic Essay, and ENGL0200 Seminars in Writing, Literatures, and Cultures. This teaching begins in the second year of the program. As part of their course work all students are required to take ENGL2950 Seminar in Pedagogy and Composition Theory. To help develop their teaching skills, we assign students to a variety of teaching positions, from assistant in a large course to instructor of a virtually autonomous workshop. We are convinced that the intellectual relationship between teaching and research is one that stands a college or university teacher in good stead for the duration of his or her career, and we try to establish this relationship early on by assigning graduate students, whenever possible, to teach courses related to their general area of research, and to work with faculty who may serve as appropriate mentors.

Course Requirements

Thirteen courses.

Candidates for the Ph.D. are required to take a minimum of thirteen courses. These courses are typically distributed as follows:

• Six courses in the first year (one of which is the required Proseminar*)
• Five in the second year. ENGL2950 Seminar in Pedagogy and Composition Theory is taken by all students during their second year of graduate studies.
• Two in the third year. The two courses taken in the third year can be independent studies designed to help students prepare for the qualifying exam.

Among the thirteen courses, students must take one in each of the following areas:

• Medieval and Early Modern Literatures and Cultures
• Enlightenment and the Rise of National Literatures and Cultures
• Modern and Contemporary Literatures and Cultures

Graduate students are also required to take one course during their first year of study that focuses on race and empire, which can also satisfy one of the three area requirements listed above.

*First-year graduate students are required to take ENGL2210. This Proseminar aims to familiarize students with contemporary critical debates and stances in the wider discipline, engage with current methodologies, theories, and analytical tensions and address issues of professionalization as they relate to the first years of graduate work.

Foreign Language

Foreign language competence and courses in particular areas of specialization are required.

Ph.D. candidates can satisfy the language requirement by demonstrating an ability to use a foreign language in their scholarly and critical work. The department offers its own language exams. Students may ordinarily choose any language  appropriate to their research interests, but some fields within English and American literature have specific requirements.

Professionalization Seminars

Throughout the year, the Department plans a series of seminars that address a variety of timely academic topics that are meant to enhance the students' professional development , as well as expose them to important elements of an academic career. The seminars are usually led by faculty members, and the topics are determined each year by the Graduate Committee. Students in all years are strongly recommended to attend the professionalization seminars since they are a constitutive part of graduate formation.

Learn about Professional Development

Masters from Another Institution

In their second year at Brown, students who already have an A.M. (or M.A.) in English or graduate credit from another institution may transfer up to one year’s coursework toward the requirements for the Ph.D. at the discretion of the department.

Qualifying Examination

The purpose of the Qualifying Examination is to certify your mastery of the scholarly field in which you have chosen to specialize. It consists of two components:

• Written Component—an essay of approximately 20 pages representing your best scholarly work to date and submitted to your committee by September 15 of your third year, and
• Oral Examination—the oral exam is given by a committee of three faculty members chosen by the candidate; it lasts approximately two hours. The exam is taken by April 15 of the third year. The foreign language requirement must be completed in order to take the exam. See the Graduate Student Handbook for detailed guidelines.

Dissertation

The dissertation is a substantial work of criticism and scholarship that makes a contribution to professionally recognized areas of literary study. The dissertation process begins when the candidate’s proposal and first chapter are approved by a committee in his or her field and accepted by the Director of Graduate Studies. It concludes when the completed dissertation is presented to a committee of three faculty members, including the dissertation director, and successfully defended in discussion with the committee and other interested members of the department.

See Past Dissertation Topics

Financial Assistance

The University offers incoming graduate students six years of guaranteed financial support, including a stipend, tuition remission, a health services fee, and a health insurance subsidy. Students are supported by a fellowship in the first year. In years two, three, five, and six, students are supported by a teaching assistantship, and in year four by a dissertation fellowship. Financial support is contingent upon students remaining in good standing in the program and making good progress toward the doctoral degree.

Applications & Deadlines

Applications must be submitted electronically via the  Graduate School's website .

• The deadline for applications is  December 15, 2023 .
• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general and subject tests are not required.
• Application materials should not be sent directly to the English Department.

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PhD Program

• Forms & Policies

Residence Requirements

General description, the proseminar, distribution of courses, research projects.

• The Project Proposal
• Project Examinations

The Departmental Colloquium

The language requirement, the dissertation, the dissertation advisory committee, the dissertation proposal, dissertation procedure, and defense.

For students entering the PhD Program in English, six terms of full-time resident study at McGill University is the requirement for the degree. "Residence" means that the student is enrolled on a full-time basis during this period (the term is not connected with housing or accommodations). This designated period of residence represents the minimum time requirements necessary to obtain the degree. There is no guarantee that the work for the degree will be completed in this time. Students may register for additional terms to complete the Program (see Time Limitations). The Department may permit PhD students to register for a term in the summer to fulfill part of the residence requirements.

Students who are, in exceptional circumstances, admitted into the PhD program directly from a BA program, demonstrating an outstanding background, enter PhD1. In this phase students take Bibliography and Research Methods (ENGL 694) plus 5 other seminars. At the end of the first year, PhD1 students are evaluated by the Graduate Administration Committee (GAC) for satisfactory progress before being promoted to PhD2. In determining satisfactory progress, the GAC will consider GPA (minimum 3.5), and any other relevant information. A student whose performance has indicated that they have experienced difficulty in successfully completing PhD1 will be asked to transfer into the MA program.

Students who enter the program with an MA degree in English or the equivalent are admitted directly into PhD2. In PhD2 students complete the two compulsory PhD Proseminars (ENGL 787F and ENGL 788W) and take four other seminars. Exceptionally, students may also apply to the Director of Graduate Studies to substitute one 40-page Optional Research Project (ENGL 796W) for the two second-semester seminars (they must still take the PhD Proseminars). The proposal for such a project must be submitted by 1 December, and the written part of the project no later than 15 April (See 5.4 - 5.6 below). Exceptionally, students may, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, take one of their required seminars during PhD3. This may be done, for example, if a course with particular relevance to the student's area of specialty was not offered during PhD2. Usually, however, it is recommended that students complete their coursework in PhD2 so that PhD3 may be devoted to the CRP. At the end of the first year, the student's progress is reviewed by the GAC to make sure that they are ready to proceed in the program. All students complete the Compulsory Research Paper Proposal, in close consultation with their supervisor, during the winter term of PhD2, submitting it to the Department by 15 May of that year.

In the fall and winter terms of PhD3, students complete the 40-page Compulsory Research Project (ENGL 797F/W). The CRP proposal should be submitted to the Department by 15 May of PhD2; the project itself is submitted to the supervisor by 1 March of PhD3, and examined by 15 April. (See 5.4 - 5.6 below.)

In the summer of PhD3 students prepare the dissertation proposal in close consultation with the supervisor (ENGL 798F/W). Students submit the proposal to the Department by 15 September. At that time, GAC considers the candidate's dissertation proposal and reviews the candidate's dossier. If satisfied, the GAC declares the candidate ready to begin the dissertation. Thus, the beginning of PhD4 usually marks the beginning of dissertation work.

This and any subsequent years are devoted to the dissertation.

In PhD2 all students are required to take two PhD Proseminars (ENGL 787F and ENGL 788W).

The fall seminar (787) concentrates on some of the current issues in critical theory, and is assessed like regular seminars. In the second semester (788), more practical issues related to the profession are discussed. Invited faculty members talk about their research, as well as more general methodological, pedagogical and professional concerns. Students also present versions of their proposal for the Compulsory Research Project, which must be submitted by the end of the course. 788 is marked on a pass/fail basis.

Students entering the program in PhD1 (Accelerated PhD) take Bibliography and Research Methods (ENGL 694) plus  five seminars in their first year . They may take up to two 500-level courses in their first year, but all other courses must be at the 600/700-level. Beginning with their second year, their requirements are the same as those of students entering the doctoral program in PhD2.

Students entering the program in PhD2 take four seminars in addition to the two PhD Proseminars (ENGL 787F and ENGL 788W) in their first year. An optional research project may be substituted for two of the seminars in the winter term (students still take the winter Proseminar).

All PhD students should have a  primary  and a  secondary  area of concentration, to be determined in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. Students entering in PhD2 may count course work done at the MA level toward their areas of concentration. However, at least two courses taken at McGill must apply to the primary concentration, and at least one course taken at McGill must apply to the secondary concentration. Students entering in PhD1 should organize their courses as follows (bearing in mind that five seminars are taken in PhD1 and four in PhD2):

• 3 courses to be chosen in a given area to create a primary concentration. (For students doing a project in the second term of PhD2, such a concentration could be achieved, if desired, by 2 courses plus one project.)
• 2 courses to be chosen in a given area to create a secondary concentration. (For students doing a project in the second term of PhD2, such a concentration could be achieved, if desired, by 1 course plus one project.)
• 4 courses to be chosen in areas freely selected by the student. (For students doing a project in the second term of PhD2, there would only remain 3 courses to be so selected.)

PhD Program in English

Phase i (accelerated phd).

Phase II (Accelerated PhD continues; Regular PhD begins)

There are two kinds of research projects in the PhD: Compulsory and Optional. Each research project involves a well-defined original research topic carried out in a wider context of pertinent readings. It is the equivalent of two graduate courses, and is supervised by a project supervisor with whom the student works closely. It results in a written essay, and the student's command of the essay and its contextual material is evaluated in an oral examination by a committee consisting of the project supervisor and two other staff members (determined in consultation with the project supervisor).

Every PhD student must complete the 40-page Compulsory Research Project (CRP). It may, but does not have to, lead into the dissertation, e.g. as a preliminary investigation of the area of specialization or relevant background material. It may also be used to develop an adjacent area of expertise that is separate from the dissertation. The CRP is analogous to field or comprehensive exams set by other universities, and, in the oral exam, the student is expected to demonstrate a knowledge of the broader field related to the argument as indicated by the preliminary bibliography. For this reason, the candidate should establish a comprehensive list of readings with the advice of the supervisor. The proposal for the CRP is submitted by 15 May of PhD2. Once the proposal has been approved, work on the CRP itself begins. The CRP is submitted to the supervisor by 1 March of PhD3, and examined by 15 April.

A 40-page Optional Research Project (ORP) may be undertaken on an exceptional basis in the second term of PhD2 in place of two courses. It must have a suitably broad scope, satisfy the coverage requirement, and also fit in with the student's program of study as a whole. It must not duplicate the material or approach of the compulsory project. Students wishing to undertake the optional project must consult first with the Director of Graduate Studies. The proposal must be submitted by 1 December (see 5.1) and the project completed by 15 April of PhD2. If it is not completed within that time, the student will be asked to withdraw from the Optional Research Project and substitute two seminar courses. The Optional Research Project is examined by committee and assigned a grade.

The Project Proposal (Optional and Compulsory Research Projects)

In consultation with a supervisor, the student will prepare a project proposal and submit it to the Graduate Administration Committee for approval. The GAC will return comments, and the result of the decision will be either "Pass" or "Revisions Required" (i.e., revise and resubmit).

In the project proposal the area of concentration should be clearly defined and presented. The range and scope of the project should be explicitly stated. The hypothesis to be proven, or the thesis to be argued, should be prominently put forth, and the consequent methodology should be identified. Finally, an up-to-date bibliography, presented according to the standard MLA or Chicago format, should be appended (further suggestions are contained in the departmental guidelines for proposals).

It is understood that many of the elements in a project may change from its proposed form in the course of its execution. Such changes are natural and taken for granted; only in the case of a major and radical change need a new project proposal be presented.

A number of project proposals are kept on file in the Graduate Office for consultation. For further information, please consult the  Guidelines for PhD & MA Project Proposals  document.

Project Examinations (Optional and Compulsory Research Projects)

Projects are examined by the supervisor and two other faculty members, at least one of whom has some expertise in the area of the project. When the supervisor and student agree that the project is ready to be submitted for examination, copies of the project are sent to the two other committee members. Any member who believes that the project is not ready for examination must convey this opinion in writing to the supervisor within three weeks of receiving the project. If, within those three weeks, a majority of the exam committee members (i.e., at least two members of the three-person committee) agree that the project is ready to be examined, then the supervisor will schedule the preliminary meeting. A member's failure to express reservations about the project's readiness constitutes, by default, agreement that the exam should proceed. If two committee members judge that the project is not ready for examination, the supervisor will convene a special meeting of the committee with the student. At this meeting, members will clearly identify those features of the student's work that they believe to be unsatisfactory. If only one exam committee member judges that the project is not ready, then these reservations can be presented during the preliminary meeting as areas for further reading and/or for questioning and discussion during the exam. The purpose of the preliminary meeting is to establish the range, scope, and date of the examination.  Committee members will indicate what kinds of questions will be appropriate and make any other decisions related to the form of the examination. They may wish to ask the student to expand the bibliography slightly. At this time, the student will articulate their own preferences regarding the form of the examination. A date for the examination will be set, normally no earlier than two weeks hence. When the preliminary meeting has been completed, the supervisor will submit a “Report on Preliminary Meeting” form to the Graduate Coordinator, stating the areas for questioning, describing any additional readings that have been agreed upon, and recording the exam date.  

During the Project Examination, committee members may question the candidate on any relevant aspect of the project. The committee then agrees on a final mark. For Compulsory Projects the marks are Pass, Fail, or Delay until additional work is completed. For Optional Projects a letter grade will be assigned: A to B- are passing marks. At the conclusion of the project examination, the candidate is then informed of the result of the examination and a “Report on Examination” form is submitted to the Graduate Coordinator.

Late in the fall term of PhD3, students will give a twenty-minute summary of their Compulsory Research Project to an audience consisting of staff members in the Department and other students in the program. After each presentation there will be a brief discussion. Not only does the colloquium offer students an opportunity to present their research in a public forum and receive feedback on it, but it also provides information to the Department about the kinds of research that are currently of interest to graduate students.

Scholarship requires reading primary and critical texts in languages other than English. Thus, doctoral students are expected to show reading competence in one foreign language as part of their program. The language chosen to fulfill the departmental requirement should have a specific connection to the student's research and dissertation topic.

There are two ways to satisfy the language requirement.

First , the student may complete two years of study at the university level (12 McGill credits or their equivalent) in the chosen language, to at least the intermediate, if not advanced, level. A minimum pass of B is required for all courses. The student may have some language training as an undergraduate; those undergraduate credits can be combined with further courses at McGill to achieve a minimum of 12 credits or their equivalent. No exemptions or exceptions to this rule are allowed. For instance, 6 credits or 9 credits are not sufficient to fulfill the language requirement. The student must demonstrate currency: the language credits should be relatively recent to justify the student's competence. If the student has enough credits, he or she should notify the Director of Graduate Studies. The proof of satisfying the language requirement through course work will be verified through transcripts.

Second , students may opt to satisfy the requirement by passing a translation examination administered by the English Department. The examination lasts no more than three hours. During that time, students are expected to translate 2000 words of non-fiction prose. Examinations in ancient Greek and Latin are, exceptionally, 1000 words long. The English translation should demonstrate that the candidate has a highly reliable reading knowledge of the foreign language. Accurate and idiomatic representation of the original language will be the main criteria for the translation; the English version will not be evaluated for its stylistic or literary qualities. No matter what the language being translated, the student may use a bilingual dictionary during the examination. If the student does not pass the examination, the student may attempt it again. There is no penalty for not passing or for taking the examination more than once. No other translation examination may be substituted for the departmental examination. For example, an examination taken at another institution in fulfillment of another degree, such as an MA, does not fulfill the requirement at McGill. Language examinations will take place at three times each year: 15 September, 15 December, and 15 April. Students should notify the Director of Graduate Studies at least three weeks in advance of their intention to sit the examination, so that suitable arrangements can be made. The DGS will contact a professor at McGill to administer the exam. Once the student has passed the exam, the person assessing it will notify the Director of Graduate Studies.

When the language requirement has been fulfilled by one of the two acceptable means, the Director of Graduate Studies notifies GPSO. The student's transcript will reflect that the requirement has been fulfilled.

The foreign language requirement must be passed before the submission of the dissertation proposal; the GAC will not review dissertation proposals until the language requirement has been fulfilled.

With the successful completion of the Compulsory Research Project, the student is ready to enter Phase III, consisting of the preparation and the defense of the dissertation.                                                                                                                                                                                   

The supervisor of the Compulsory Research Project in the area of the dissertation normally, but not always, becomes the thesis supervisor.

After the CRP and before submission of the dissertation proposal, the doctoral student consults with the dissertation supervisor about assembling a Dissertation Advisory Committee. Committees consist of a supervisor as chair plus two other members, one of whom could be from outside the Department or even, when appropriate, outside the University. Once the student and supervisor agree on a plan, the student approaches, or has the supervisor approach, prospective committee members.

The committee officially comes into existence as part of the process of submitting the dissertation proposal, which committee members read and sign. After this, the committee will hold annual meetings to sign tracking forms and negotiate a schedule for the upcoming year, including expected exchanges with individual committee members. Non-supervisors on the committee serve an advisory function. There is no expectation that all committee members will read drafts of all chapters of the thesis, but typically each committee member will read drafts or advise on some appropriate sections of the project. Supervisors remain responsible for overseeing the entire project and read drafts of every chapter. They help the student navigate differing views that may arise about the project.

All members of the Dissertation Advisory Committee (not to be mistaken for co-supervisors) typically serve on the Oral Defense Committee. One of the non-supervisors serves as the McGill Examiner and writes the report as required by GPS. Committee members are disqualified from serving as the McGill Examiner only in the case of the following serious conflicts of interest:

The student is a close family member, past or present spouse or partner, or past or present business partner.   The student has established specific prospects, contingent upon the PhD, with this professor as a future supervisor or employer.   The student has co-authored work with this professor.

A committee member’s having already provided feedback on portions of the dissertation does not constitute a conflict of interest for the purpose of serving as the McGill Examiner (unlike in the case of an External Examiner). On the Nomination of Examiners form, to be submitted at the time of initial thesis submission, usually only the Supervisor, Internal (McGill) Examiner, and External Examiner are listed. Other members of the Oral Defense Committee are not to be included on this form, as they are not technically "examiners" (in the sense of submitting examination reports).  To prevent serious delays in processing, students must consult with the Graduate Coordinator, Maria Vasile, before submitting the thesis and accompanying forms . Thesis submission guidelines are provided by  GPSO .

The dissertation proposal is submitted for approval to the Graduate Administration Committee. The proposal itself does not differ significantly from a Compulsory or Optional Research Paper proposal, except in scope, range, and originality. As a proposal it should answer the same kinds of questions concerning its area of study, the particular thesis it wishes to present, and the methodology it is adopting. An exhaustive bibliography should be appended. It is extremely useful to have a chapter-by-chapter outline of the dissertation itself, indicating very specifically how the argument is to develop. The proposal should follow accepted scholarly standards of presentation and documentation as set forth in the most recent editions of  The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers  or  Chicago Manual of Style . Further guidelines and examples of dissertation proposals are kept on file in the Graduate Office (Arts 155), and may be consulted by students. Proposals should be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator by 15 Sept. of PhD4.

In September of PhD4, the Graduate Administration Committee considers the candidate's dissertation proposal, reviews the candidate's dossier, and if satisfied declares the candidate ready to begin the dissertation stage. Thus, the beginning of PhD4 usually marks the beginning of the dissertation work. The GAC will return comments on the proposal, and the result of the decision will be either "Pass" or "Revisions Required" (i.e., revise and resubmit).

Upon completion of the dissertation, the supervisor will propose to the Director of Graduate Studies the names of three experts in the field, outside the University, who may serve as external examiners. The Director will contact the student to make sure she/he has no objections to the names proposed. The appointment of the examiners and communication with them is the responsibility of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Coordinator.  Under no circumstances should any examiner contact the external examiner .

When the Supervisor has decided that a dissertation is ready to be examined, the dissertation is submitted to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. The dissertation must be passed by both the external and the internal examiner in order to proceed to an oral examination. Guidelines concerning thesis preparation and submission should be obtained from the Graduate Coordinator in Arts 155 or on the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website .

The thesis for the PhD degree must display original scholarship expressed in good literate style and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. The oral examination is chaired by a Pro-Dean, representing the Dean of the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. Other members of the PhD Oral Committee are the Chair of the Department or the Chair's Deputy (normally the Director of Graduate Studies), the supervisor of the dissertation, two members of the department and one member from a Department not that of the candidate. The oral examination is usually introduced by a 10 or 15 minute statement from the student, followed by questioning from the committee members, after which the committee  in camera  decides on a grade, which covers not only the dissertation, but also its defense, as well as the student's overall career as a graduate student at McGill.

More detailed regulations concerning PhD dissertations are available from the  Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office .

Department and University Information

Department of english.

• Writer-in-Residence
• Land Acknowledgement

English Language and Literature MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

One of the highest-ranking English departments in the UK ( The Guardian University Guide 2023 - English ), UCL English provides excellent opportunities for PhD students to study in the heart of literary London, with access to vast quantities of resources and research materials, and a high number of academic staff working on a diverse range of specialist research topics.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

An undergraduate degree in English Literature or a related subject is a pre-requisite for this programme, and a UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard will normally be required. Research degree students are expected to start in September, but may request to start in January if there are exceptional reasons to do so. Applicants who wish to be considered for AHRC/ LAHP funding must have submitted a complete application by 5 January 2024.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

With access to vast collections of research materials and supervision from world-leading experts* in a wide range of literary periods and topics, UCL provides an exceptionally strong environment in which to study for an English PhD. UCL English Department has specialists in every period of English and American literature, as well as English language, with an outstanding record of internationally recognised scholarship and publications. A PhD in English at UCL will allow you to pursue original research and make a significant contribution to your field. 

Students accepted for admission are given a principal supervisor with whom they will work closely during the course of the degree. A subsidiary supervisor is also appointed to provide additional advice. Great importance is attached to matching student and supervisor, and ensuring that students' progress is well monitored. Students meet either one or other supervisor approximately ten times during the academic year.

Graduate students initially register for the MPhil degree, but usually upgrade to full PhD student status in the second year, if progress is satisfactory. (The English Department does not offer a standalone research Master's programme, nor is it possible to be admitted as a PhD student directly.) In addition to the upgrade review in the second year, progress is also reviewed at the end of each year. Students who are making good progress will usually be offered opportunities to gain teaching experience from the second year onwards.

There are normally about 45 students undertaking research degrees in the department. They form a diverse, friendly, and vibrant intellectual community. There is a full programme of departmental research seminars at which papers are given by invited speakers and graduate students, and students also have access to a wide range of seminars and research events across UCL and the University of London. Research skills training is provided both within and beyond the department.

PhD students at UCL have access to an incomparable range of libraries, including the British Library and Senate House Library (the library of the University of London). They can also apply to spend a period as a visiting scholar at Yale as part of the UCL-Yale Collaborative Partnership.

Who this course is for

This programme is suitable for applicants with a strong interest or background in a wide range of literary periods or in English Linguistics, and who want to do complete research alongside specialists in literature in English and linguistics of the English language. The programme is suitable for both recent Masters graduates as well as early or mid-career professionals who have achieved the stated entry requirements.

What this course will give you

As one of the most respected academic institutions in the world ( QS World University Rankings 2023 ), UCL is an excellent place to study for a PhD in English. Our PhD students benefit from specialist supervision by world-leading researchers* as well as access to the outstanding range of research resources available to them in London.

The clear structure of the PhD programme, with regular progress reviews, supports successful completion, while the training courses offered by the department and UCL enable the development of both specific research skills and the professional skills needed for an academic career.

The relatively small department also offers many opportunities for formal and informal intellectual exchanges and collaborations, supported by our programme of research seminars. Many of our students also make the most of UCL’s partnership with Yale to spend a period of study there.

PhD students in English at UCL acquire advanced skills of the highest calibre as researchers, writers, and presenters of their work. They will also usually gain experience of teaching (both tutorials and seminars).

*UCL English has an outstanding research record, with 94% of our research outputs being graded as 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent' in the REF 2021.

The foundation of your career

The English Department is proud of its PhD alumni and values its ongoing relationship with them. We welcome alumni to departmental events, and encourage them to keep in touch with us at [email protected] . For more information on UCL’s wider alumni community, please see our website .

Employability

Our PhD graduates have an excellent record of securing employment in institutions of higher education and have progressed to academic positions here at UCL, at Oxford and Cambridge, in the wider University of London, at other universities across the UK, and in international destinations including the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. They are also well placed to pursue careers outside academia, as the skills in research, analysis, writing, and communication obtained during the PhD transfer easily to high-level work in many sectors.

Networking both among students and with academic staff and visiting speakers is facilitated by our lively programme of departmental research seminars, as well as our various reading groups and events. Beyond the department, extensive opportunities to meet fellow specialists and exchange knowledge and ideas are offered by the events programmes of the UCL Institute for Advanced Studies, the University of London Institute of English Studies, and numerous other research institutions near UCL and across London.

Teaching and learning

The MPhil/PhD degree programme primarily consists of independent research and self-directed study, and the central work of defining a thesis topic, and planning the stages of research and writing, is undertaken in close consultation with the primary supervisor. You will also undertake skills training that may take the form of seminars, workshops, and conferences. 

Graduate students initially register for the MPhil degree, but upgrade to full PhD student status at the start of the second year, if progress is satisfactory.

In addition to the upgrade review at the start of the second year, progress is also reviewed at the end of the first year, in the first-year review, where the student submits a portfolio to their supervisory team, and at the Higher Degrees Sub Committee (HDSC) in their third year, where a submitted portfolio is assessed by a panel of senior academics in the department. A successful performance at the HDSC normally means the student will achieve Completing Research Student (CRS) status. Students who are making good progress will usually be offered opportunities to gain teaching experience from the second year onwards.

The MPhil/PhD degree programme consists of independent research and self-directed study. There are no set contact hours for the programme, but it is expected that your hours of study will mirror that of staff engagement as closely as possible (and this should be pro-rata for part-time study). If you have external funding, you should also ensure that you meet the Terms & Conditions of your funder in this regard. You will typically meet with your supervisory team up to ten times per academic year, and you will also undertake skills training that may take the form of seminars, workshops, and conferences.

Research areas and structure

We offer expertise in a wide range of topics within the field of English literature and language. Some areas in which the department would particularly welcome applications are:

• Old and Middle English literature and manuscript studies
• Relations between English and insular and continental French writings from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries
• Post-medieval bibliography and palaeography
• History of the book, textual and editorial theory and practice in all periods
• Shakespeare studies, including Shakespeare’s London
• The literature of the Elizabethan court
• Women writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
• Classicism in seventeenth and eighteenth-century literary culture
• Literature and science in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
• Revolutionary Writings in the Romantic period
• Homosexuality and literary history
• Literature and technology in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century literature
• Victorian and Edwardian writings on sexuality and adolescence
• Contemporary poetry
• Postmodern fiction
• London in literature/urban literature
• English grammar
• English language
• The history of the English language
• Corpus linguistics

You can read about our staff research interests on our website .

Research environment

UCL English has, throughout its history, been a pioneer in the study of English language and English literature, from Old English to contemporary texts. The department comprises a dynamic community of scholars with a breadth of expertise across literary periods and topics, as well as in language and linguistics. The comparatively small size of the department creates a friendly, inclusive research environment, with close contact between staff and students and many opportunities for intellectual exchange and collaboration.

Members of the English department have expertise in a wide range of approaches to English literature and language. Many of our literary research activities are organised around the key themes of The City, Editions, and Intercultural Exchanges, while our research in English Language is co-ordinated by the renowned Survey of English Usage. The department hosts regular research seminars at which PhD students, members of staff, and visiting speakers present their work; these include a themed strand of seminars on Race, Power, and Poetics. There are also many more seminars, reading groups and research events, both within the department, at the UCL Institute of Advanced Studies, and at the University of London’s Institute of English Studies. The department’s PhD students organise an annual Graduate Conference, where UCL speakers are joined by others from across the UK and beyond to share their research. They also publish Moveable Type, a peer-reviewed journal of academic articles, poetry and prose fiction.

UCL Library has outstanding physical and digital collections for literary research, as well as specialist materials in its excellent Special Collections department. Among these are the George Orwell Archive; Little Magazines; the Routledge and Kegan Paul Archives (publishing history); the Brougham Papers and papers of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (19th-century liberalism); and the Chadwick Papers (19th-century sanitary reform). UCL Library also has superb holdings in London history. We enjoy unrivalled proximity to the British Library, with its vast collections, and Senate House Library (the library of the University of London), as well as other rich research resources including the Institute of Historical Research, the Warburg Institute, and the Wellcome Collection.

The period of registration for the MPhil/PhD degree programme is 3 years for full-time study. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade review 9-18 months after initial registration.

Throughout your period of registration, you will meet regularly with your supervisory team, receiving feedback on work-in-progress. Regular completion of an online research log will help you and your supervisors to assess your specific training needs. The English Department provides a course in PhD Skills Training; many further training opportunities are also offered by the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme and LAHP (the London Arts and Humanities Partnership).

To ensure timely and successful completion of the thesis, the English Department formally reviews each student’s progress at regular intervals (usually the end of each year) by requiring submission of a dossier of work which is discussed in an interview. The most important of these reviews falls during your second year (9-18 months from registration) and will assess your readiness to transfer from MPhil to full PhD student status.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration, you may apply for a further period of 1 year as a Completing Research Student (CRS) to prepare your thesis for submission. The final degree assessment takes the form of an oral examination based on the thesis and is conducted by two examiners, usually one internal and one external.

The period of registration for the MPhil/PhD degree programme is 5 years for part-time study. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade review 15-30 months after initial registration for part-time study.    Throughout your period of registration, you will meet regularly with your supervisory team, receiving feedback on work-in-progress. Regular completion of an online research log will help you and your supervisors to assess your specific training needs. The English Department provides a course in PhD Skills Training; many further training opportunities are also offered by the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme and LAHP (the London Arts and Humanities Partnership).   To ensure timely and successful completion of the thesis, the English Department formally reviews each student’s progress at regular intervals (usually the end of each year) by requiring submission of a dossier of work which is discussed in an interview. The most important of these reviews falls during your second or third year (15-30 months from registration) for part-time study, and will assess your readiness to transfer from MPhil to full PhD student status.   Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration, you may apply for a further period of 2 years (for part-time students) as a Completing Research Student (CRS) to prepare your thesis for submission. The final degree assessment takes the form of an oral examination based on the thesis and is conducted by two examiners, usually one internal and one external.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Additional costs may include expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying, and conference registration fees.

The Department has some funds which can be applied for, to help offset the cost of travel to conferences or archives in the UK or overseas.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

AHRC grants are available for UK/EU English PhD applicants who are applying to start a research degree in 2024. Applications are made directly to the London Arts and Humanities Partnership, who administer the awarding of AHRC funding at UCL. AHRC funding covers all fees, as well as providing a stipend for living expenses, for three years. If you have any questions about the application process please contact [email protected] .

UCL's Research Excellence Scholarships are available for UK/EU/Overseas applicants starting in 2024 and provides full funding including a stipend for living allowance for the length of the programme.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Quirk PhD Scholarship

Deadline: 26 January 2024 Value: Fees and maintenance (3yrs) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

We recommend that applicants look at our list of staff on the UCL English website before submitting an application. Whilst potential supervisors are unable to accept a PhD student without a formal application form, we attach great importance to the match between supervisors and students, so please check that we have a member of teaching staff who could potentially supervise your project before applying. Applicants who are interested in applying for AHRC funding via the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) must submit completed applications (including references) by 5 January 2024 (you will also need to complete a LAHP application form: see the LAHP website for details).

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

English Language and Literature

[email protected]

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Doctoral Programme in Language Studies

The Doctoral Programme in Language Studies covers a wide range of linguistic fields, including various synchronic and diachronic approaches to language, translation studies and language technology.

25 new doctoral researchers are admitted each year. We're an international community, and the programme is multilingual: you can complete a degree in either Finnish, Swedish or English.

Want to know more? Visit our profile & activities page to learn more about the key research areas and activities in the programme.

The University of Helsinki (UH) annually allocates funding to doctoral programmes for salaried positions (employment contract). These doctoral candidate positions are designated as full-time work. The aim is that doctoral candidates employed by the University will pursue a post-graduate doctoral degree, which should be completed within four years.

Both current University of Helsinki doctoral candidates and new applicants planning doctoral studies are eligible to apply for these positions. 

Please read the application instructions carefully before applying. If you are also planning to apply for the right to pursue a post-graduate doctoral degree, remember to read the instructions related to applying for a doctoral study right .

Salaried doctoral candidate positions are aimed at enabling full-time work on dissertations and postgraduate studies, with the goal of completing a doctoral degree in four years. The exact duration of employment, its’ start and end dates are determined in the employment contract. 

The salary and other further details concerning the employment relationship are available in the call for applications .

Applications for a salaried position in a doctoral programme are submitted by completing an electronic form and enclosing the required attachments. 

If you already have the right to pursue a post-graduate doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki and you are applying for a salaried position in your doctoral programme:  

• Read the application instructions regarding salaried positions
• Complete the electronic application form 

According to the guidelines of the University of Helsinki, individuals recruited to salaried doctoral candidate positions must gain admittance to doctoral studies (doctoral study right) within the six-month trial period of the employment. 

If you already have the right to pursue a post-graduate doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, you may apply for a salaried position from another doctoral programme that suits your research profile. If you receive a salaried position from another doctoral programme, you will need to change your doctoral programme. Please note that you may need to reapply for post-graduate study rights if your faculty or target degree change in relation to an awarded salaried position. This application should be made in the spring at the latest, but please note that this may affect the start date of your potential employment. 

If you are applying for a salaried position in more than one doctoral programme, please complete a separate application form for each one.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about your subject

PhD Translation and Intercultural Studies

Year of entry: 2025

• View full page
• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all  required supporting documents  at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  13 January 2025.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self–funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

• For September 2025 entry:  30 June 2025
• For January 2026 entry:  30 September 2025

Programme options

Programme overview

• Join an international research community in one of the world's leading centres for translation and intercultural studies. 
• Access expert supervision from staff renowned in their fields. 
• Benefit from a wide range of research specialisms and approaches, which include: intersections between translation studies and book history; literary translation; ethics; corpus approaches; media translation; heritage language maintenance; multilingualism, language and identity, public service interpreting and translation; critical race theory; social media and migration.  
• 92% of our research activity was recognised as 'world leading' or `internationally excellent' REF2021.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up our email alerts.

Fees for entry in 2025 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2024 were as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply for University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 13 January 2025.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more funding information, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry

Contact details

See: About us

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview, english language.

International applicants must provide one of the following:

• IELTS test minimum score – 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing.
• TOEFL (internet based) test minimum score – 100 overall, 25 in all sections.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) UKVI/SELT or PTE Academic minimum score – 76 overall, 76 in writing.
• To demonstrate that you have taken an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a majority English speaking nation within the last 5 years.
• Other tests may be considered.

English language test validity

Other international entry requirements.

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country.

The University requires you to reside within a commutable distance from Manchester during your time as a registered student, unless you are on approved fieldwork/a formal placement or are on a period of Submission pending. This is to ensure that you are able to meet attendance expectations and participate in wider research activities within your discipline area and/or School.

Other entry requirements

Application and selection, how to apply, advice to applicants.

Before you start your application, you should:

• Develop your own research proposal and project title.
• Find a supervisor by browsing our academics’ profiles, and reach out directly to discuss if they are interested in supporting your research.
• Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor.

When you submit your application, you must include each of the below required documents:

• A 1,500 word PhD research proposal . Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
• A copy of your Bachelor's academic transcript and certificate.
• A copy of your Master's academic transcript and certificate. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
• If you have completed more than one Bachelor's or Master's degree, please provide evidence for each. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide an official English translation. If your weighted average mark or GPA is not included on these documents, please also include an official document from your university verifying this information.
• An up-to-date academic CV summarising your academic record, employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
• The names of two academic referees, including one from your most recent institution. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following the submission of your application form. You may wish to notify your referees to submit their references promptly, as this is part of the review process.
• A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency. Applications can be considered without this evidence but any offer would be conditional on meeting minimum requirements.

Interview requirements

As part of the offer making process applicants will be required to undertake an interview assessment. This may be in the form of an in–person interview, or video call. 

The interview is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the broad topic area, the viability of your proposed research and its intellectual contribution, alongside the fit of your project with the supervisory team. You also may be asked to identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research, and discuss how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance.

The interview panel will consist at minimum of your primary supervisor and an independent interviewer.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful, you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard programme entry criteria for that year of entry.  

 In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen programme.

Programme details

Programme description.

The Centre for Translation and Intercultural Studies (CTIS) attracts visiting scholars and postgraduate students from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. 

CTIS provides an excellent environment for research and organises regular scholarly events for the benefit of postgraduate students. These include a seminar series, which attracts a large national and international audience of researchers, students and practitioners.

The Centre also provides specialist research training for doctoral students in the form of masterclasses and dedicated career development workshops. 

Our students have regularly benefitted from supervisory expertise and events across the humanities to support interdisciplinary dimensions of their work.  

Recent major research projects include: 

• Genealogies of Knowledge: The Evolution and Contestation of Concepts across Time and Space (2016-2019), a large AHRC-funded project which explored how translation has impacted the transformation of key concepts in political and scientific thought as these concepts have travelled across centuries, languages and cultures. 
• Translating Asylum (2018-2020), an AHRC-funded project which explored the role of translation and interpreting provisions in supporting refugee arrivals in Britain between the 1940s and the 1980s. 
• Wiki[Alt]Med project (2021-2023), an AHRC-funded project which explored the mediation and negotiation of (alternative) medical knowledge in the English-language Wikipedia using a corpus-based methodology.

Find out more about our research , our staff and what our current postgraduate research students are working on.

Additional programme information

Humanities Doctoral Academy

Our Humanities Doctoral Academy combines the strengths of our four schools to bring expertise, knowledge, support and high quality services for postgraduate researchers.

We are a community of academic leaders and postgraduate researchers across all levels in the Faculty of Humanities. The Doctoral Academy Hub houses our specialist professional service teams who support postgraduate researchers throughout the programme journey. This includes admissions, registration, student experience, progression, examination and graduation. We collaborate closely with other University directorates including Manchester Doctoral College, Researcher Development team, and the corresponding Doctoral Academies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Together we provide the best experience and support for your studies and research.

Equality, diversity and inclusion  is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. 

We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. 

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status. 

All appointments are made on merit. 

The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Teaching and learning

The PhD is the major postgraduate research degree. It involves three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study and the preparation of a thesis of not more than 80,000 words that makes a significant contribution to knowledge.

A satisfactory PhD topic is one that a suitably qualified and properly supervised student can bring to completion within the permitted timeframe. 

Recent thesis titles include:

• Theatre Translation, Communities of Practice and the Sri Lankan Conflicts: Renarration as Political Critique
• Analysing Fragmented Narratives: Twitter Reporting of the 3 July 2013 Events in Egypt
• Managing Translation Projects: Practices and Quality in Production Networks
• A Narrative Perspective on News Translation by Non-Professional Virtual Communities: The Case of Yeeyan
• Re-narrating the City: A Genetic Investigation into the Narrative Impact of the Translation Practices of Wikipedia Volunteers
• Hegel's 'Phenomenology' in Translation: A Comparative Analysis of Translatorial 'Hexis'
• Investigating the Cultural Determinants of Advertising Style in the UK and Greece
• The Phenomenon of Self-Translation in Puerto Rican and Puerto Rican US Diaspora Literature Written by Women
• The Translation of Children's and Adolescents' Literature in Iran: A Structurationist Approach
• Theorising Translation as a Process of Cultural Repatriation: The Greek Civil War Narrative Translated into Greek
• Making Knowledge Move: Translation and the Travel of Technical Textbooks in Meiji-era Japan, 1868-1894
• Amateur Translation and the Development of a Participatory Culture in China: A Netnographic Study of The Last Fantasy Fansubbing Group
• Transgressive Textualities: Translating References to Gender, Sexuality and Corporeality in Contemporary French and Francophone Women's Writing
• Connecting Protestantism to Chinese Ruism: Religion, Dialogism and Intertextuality in James Legge's Translation of the Lunyu

Please note that all PhD students are required to undertake research training as part of their PhD programme.

Coursework and assessment

Your research will normally be supervised by two members of staff at the University. Your supervisors will most likely be members of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, but if your research requires it, we may arrange for supervision by someone outside the School.

Supervisory arrangements at Manchester are governed by a Code of Practice which is available on the University's website.

Regular meetings will be held with the supervisors, and details of each of the meetings will be recorded.

Research panels (consisting of at least three academic staff, including the supervisors) are held once per semester to monitor progress.

Please note that the first year of the full-time programme is probationary. This means you will be required to show evidence of satisfactory progress to proceed with the programme.

Related research

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) Translation Studies was assessed as part of The University of Manchester's 'Modern Languages and Linguistics' submission.

The University of Manchester was ranked in the top 10 in the UK in terms (by grade point average) among the 47 departments assessed under Unit of Assessment 26.

92% of our research was judged to be in the highest two categories (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'.

Our research environment was also judged to be strong, with 100% judged to be (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'.

Find out more about our Modern Languages research at Manchester.

What our students say

Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.

We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research. There are extensive computing facilities across campus, with access to standard office software as well as specialist programmes, all connected to the campus network and internet.

Every student is registered for email, file storage and internet access. If more demanding computer access is required, our specialist computing division can provide high-end and specialist computing services.

Find out more about facilities for Translation and Intercultural Studies students.

Disability support

Career opportunities.

The interdisciplinarity nature of PhD programmes in Modern Languages and Cultures and Translation and Interpreting Studies prepares our graduates successfully to apply to a wide range of academic posts. In addition to those in European and Middle Eastern Languages and Translation/Interpreting, our graduates have been appointed to permanent academic positions in Film Studies; History; Journalism and Political Communication; and Sociology. Recent examples include:

Dr Abi Bharat (PhD French Studies), tenure-track assistant professorship, the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan, USA

Dr Ignacio Aguiló (PhD Latin American Studies), lectureship in Latin American Cultural Studies, University of Manchester

Dr Ibrahim Alfraih (PhD Middle Eastern Studies), lectureship, King Saud University, Saudi Araba

Dr Liwen Chang (PhD Translation Studies), senior lectureship, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr Chonglong Gu (PhD Translation Studies), lectureship in Translation and Interpreting, the University of Liverpool

Dr Leanne Dawson (PhD German Studies), lectureship in German and Film, the University of Edinburgh

Dr Melanie Foedisch (PhD Translation Studies), lectureship in Translation Studies, the University of Manchester

Dr Eleanor Jones (PhD Portuguese Studies), lectureship in Portuguese and World Literatures, University of Southampton

Dr Sue-Ann Harding (PhD Russian Studies), senior lectureship in Translation and Intercultural Studies, Queen's University, Belfast

Dr Emma Heywood (PhD Russian Studies), lectureship in Journalism, Politics and Communication, University of Sheffield

Dr Paulina Henry-Tierney (PhD French Studies), lectureship in French Translation, Newcastle University

Dr Mila Milani (PhD Italian Studies), senior lectureship in Italian Studies, Warwick University

Dr Gozde Naiboglu (PhD German Studies), lectureship in Film Studies, University of Leicester

Dr Bryan Roby (PhD Middle Eastern Studies), assistant professorship at the Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, University of Michigan

Dr Neil Sadler (PhD Translation Studies), lectureship in Translation Studies, Queen's University, Belfast

Dr Elisabeth Schimpfoessl (PhD Russian Studies), lectureship in Sociology, Aston University

Dr Ewa Stanczyk (PhD Polish Studies), lectureship in East European Studies, University of Amsterdam

Dr Joseph Twist (PhD German Studies), lectureship in German Studies, University College Dublin

Dr Denis Volkov (PhD Middle Eastern Studies), associate professorship in Iranian Studies and Middle Eastern history, Higher School of Economics, Moscow

Dr Ilya Yablokov (PhD Russian Studies), lectureship in Russian Studies, University of Leeds

Research and communication skills which our PhD programmes help developing also position our graduates to get highly competitive posts outside academia, including in civil service, media and business.

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The School of English at the University of Hong Kong offers full- and part-time research postgraduate programmes for the degrees of MPhil and PhD.

The School of English at HKU has an international academic staff and postgraduate student body, working in these areas:

• Literatures in English
• Cross-cultural Studies in English
• English Language and Linguistics

For PhDs, we would particularly encourage applications in the following areas:

• Postcolonial Literary Studies
• Cross-cultural Writing
• Law, Language and Literature
• Psycholinguistics, Phonetics, and Phonology
• Sociolinguistics, Discourse Analysis and Pragmatics
• Integrational Linguistics

Literary and cultural research in theoretical and textual studies in the School of English concentrates on work from the 16 th century through to the 21 st century. We have particular strengths in cross-cultural studies; post-colonial theoretical, literary and cultural studies; Hong Kong and other Asian literatures in English; literature and the law; and travel writing.

Most of the linguistic research going on in the School of English can be situated in the interdisciplinary areas of sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. Linguistic research in the School of English focuses on English language data. Specific areas of expertise include World Englishes, linguistic anthropology, the politics and ideology of language, language in workplace and institutional settings, language and the law, language and gender, cognitive sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, applied linguistics, phonetics and psycholinguistics.

Take a look at the staff profiles to learn more about individual scholars in the School. Staff members have indicated they are particularly interested in research proposals related to the following specific areas and topics of ongoing research:

You can click on the staff name to find more details.

Dr Anya Adair : Book History; Digital Humanities; Law And Literature; Legal History; Manuscript Studies; Medieval English Literature; Old English; Old Norse. Dr Ricky Chan : Experimental Phonetics; Forensic phonetics; Prosody; Psycholinguistics; Second language acquisition; Implicit and explicit language learning; English in Hong Kong. Dr Hanwool Choe : Discourse Analysis; Interactional Sociolinguistics; Digital Discourse; Language and Food; Family Interaction; Life Stories. Dr Brandon Chua : 17th and 18th Century British Literature; Literature and Jacobitism; Critical Theory; History of Sexualities; Religion and Literature; History of the Novel; Shakespeare Adaptation Studies. Dr Anjuli Gunaratne : Global Anglophone and World Literature; Postcolonial Literature and Theory; Law and Literature; Literary and Critical Theory; Trauma Theory; Ecocriticism; Psychoanalysis. Dr Elizabeth Ho : Contemporary literature; Postcolonial theory and fiction; Neo-Victorian studies; Comics and graphic novels; Global literatures in English; Geo-humanities. Professor Christopher Hutton : Language and politics; Sociolinguistics; Language and law; History of linguistics. Professor Kendall Johnson : American literature, colonial through early-twentieth centuries; Native American literatures; race studies; Law and literature; Anthropology and literature; Visual aesthetics; Postcolonial theory; History of the novel; Transnational dimensions of the China Trade. Dr Brian King : Discourse analysis; Critical sociolinguistics; Gender; Sexuality; Linguistic landscapes; Health communication (particularly in relation to intersex and differences of sexual development). Professor Don Kulick : Interspecies communication; Disability studies; Language shift and language death; Language socialization; Language and sexuality; Queer studies; Sex work; Trans studies; Language and psychoanalysis; Melanesia. Professor Tong King Lee : Intercultural and nonverbal communication; East Asian Englishes; Translanguaging and translation.

Professor Janny Leung : Language and the law; legal bilingualism and multilingualism; language politics and language rights; legal and political communication; law, digital governance, and linguistic minorities; translation and interpreting; cognitive approaches to meaning and conceptual organisation; implicit learning of language. Dr Nicholas Luke : Shakespeare; Early modern literature; Drama; Literary theory; Religion and literature; Law and literature; Aesthetics. Dr Daniel Weston : Gatekeeping; Linguistics and education; Dialectology; Historical sociolinguistics; World Englishes. Dr Olga Zayts : Discourse analysis; (Interactional) Pragmatics; Conversation analysis; Intercultural communication; Professional communication (in particular, in healthcare and business contexts); Politeness; Identity; Leadership. Dr Nan Zhang : 19th and early 20th century British Literature; Global modernism; Cosmopolitan studies; History of political thought; Aesthetics and ethics; Economics

The next round of admissions is for the academic year 2024/25, with entry in September 2024. The deadline for submission of applications in the Main Round is 1 December 2023.

How do I apply? There are three application deadlines for MPhil or PhD studies: early December, end April, and end August. Most people apply in the first round, in December, when the majority of places are assigned. The second and third rounds, in April and August, are clearing rounds, and very few places are available at these times.

At present, successful applicants for the PhD programme can commence their studies on the first day of any calendar month. Most, however, prefer to start in September, at the start of the academic year. A September starting date also suits the department best, since studentship holders will be assigned their teaching duties at that time.

You can apply through the Graduate School website at https://gradsch.hku.hk/prospective_students/application/how_to_apply .

What about funding? Composition fees for full-time MPhil and PhD students, which are subject to revision, are currently HK$42,100 per year. Applicants for full-time study normally apply at the same time for a Postgraduate Studentship (HK$18,390 per month w.e.f. 1 September 2023). Studentship holders will be required to do up to 100 hours per year tutoring work, or research assistantship, in the School.

Where can I find out more? Full details about application and admission procedures, awards and financial assistance, and the amenities and services provided by the University, can be found at the Graduate School website .

In addition to the coursework programmes MA in English Studies (MAES) , the MFA in Creative Writing in English , and the MA in Creative Communications (MACC) , the School of English also accepts postgraduate students for research studies leading to the degrees of MPhil and PhD.

The MPhil and PhD are research degrees. Their chief component is the production of a scholarly thesis of original work in some area of English studies. Of the two, the PhD is the senior degree, requiring a more substantial thesis of publishable quality.

If you are thinking of applying to join our MPhil or PhD programme, you should begin by studying the information given here online. We also give important advice below about the application process, the qualifications needed, and the research proposal you must submit. In planning your research proposal, you should bear in mind the research strengths and interests of potential supervisors, shown below. You can also find out about our teaching staff and undergraduate teaching programmes .

All students in these programmes have to attend and pass certain courses offered by the Graduate School . They must also take a number of courses in the School, as well as writing their thesis.

Research students are assigned a supervisor, or sometimes two, to act as their advisor, help them plan their research project, meet for regular discussion of their work, and oversee and comment on their writing. MPhil students taking courses in the School will have regular contact with the teachers of those courses, and often postgraduates find other teachers (and students) in the School with whom they can discuss aspects of their work. Staff from the Graduate School offer instruction in research methods, thesis writing and other matters.

There is a regular School research seminar, at which staff and research students get together to share and discuss their work, and sometimes to hear distinguished visiting scholars. The School also has a Research Postgraduate Advisor who can offer further help and support. However, research degree students have to take responsibility for their own work. In the end, their success in the programme depends on their own resources of hard work, discipline and intellectual creativity.

The period of full-time study for MPhil students is 24 months, and for PhD students it is normally 48 months. In exceptional cases the School will accept students who wish to do research studies on a part-time basis.

Research students are from Hong Kong, but we also have international research students. In recent years they have come from Belgium, Canada, Iran, Japan, Macau, Mainland China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

What qualifications do I need?

Candidates for admission to our research programmes must have a good first degree in a relevant discipline from a reputable university. Normally, candidates are not admitted straight into PhD studies unless they have some research experience in a postgraduate programme. If you have a first degree from a university where the language of teaching and examination is not English, you must have obtained an overall score of 85 or above in the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language - Internet-based test - taken within 2 years) and a score of 25 or above in the Writing section. We also accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS - Academic Module - taken within 2 years) but you must have at least a score of 7 with no subtest lower than 6. You will be expected to have good academic references. Applicants for both MPhil and PhD studies are required to submit a research proposal (see below), and the School may ask for further information from you, in an interview or in writing.

This may not be enough! Entry is competitive and places are limited. Sometimes the School is not able to accept a well-qualified applicant because there are no places, or no appropriate supervision, available at the time.

What is required for the research proposal?

The research proposal for MPhil studies should be 1000-1500 words in length. Your proposal should present your idea for an MPhil research project, including a description of the project, why you think it is important, a literature review, and a bibliography. It should also include a brief account of how your academic background prepares you to complete this project and why you want to undertake your research at HKU. We understand that your proposal at this stage will be provisional, but it should show that you have some knowledge of the field, have started the relevant reading, and have a sense of the project’s methodology and the resources it will require. You should append a preliminary bibliography; the bibliography is not included in the word count.

The research proposal for PhD studies should be 1500-2500 words in length. It should outline a clearly considered and defined research topic, with an account of the research questions and methodology proposed, an explanation of the value and originality of the research, a chapter-by-chapter description, and a bibliography. The bibliography is not included in the word count.

If you have questions about research studies in the School of English that are not covered in the information above, you can direct them to the Postgraduate Advisor, Dr Nan Zhang , by e-mail at [email protected] .