French_and_English

Faculty of Arts, Cultures and Education

English research degrees

Postgraduate - Research

PhD

Looking for a funded PhD?

Check out our current PhD scholarship opportunities now

About our programmes

English at Hull is friendly, inclusive and supportive, and characterised by the internationally excellent research that informs our postgraduate degree supervision. Our academic staff have expertise in all literary periods, from Early Modern to 21st century literature. We have renowned expertise in medieval literature and medievalism, Shakespeare and Renaissance drama, early modern literature and politics, 19th-century studies (particularly the novel and the visual arts), modern and contemporary literature (particularly poetry and fiction), genre fiction (gothic, crime and science fiction), and creative writing.

We offer two research options for postgraduate students – MRes English (Literature and Creative Writing pathways) or a PhD (English or Creative Writing). You have access to the superb facilities of the newly refurbished Brynmor Jones Library, as well as our Graduate School. PhD students have exclusive use of the library’s Postgraduate Lounge. Research is strongly interdisciplinary and enhanced by the research networks of its centre including the Andrew Marvell Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Training in subject-specific research skills and methodologies is provided by the department, on top of the University’s Postgraduate Training Scheme.

Apply for research programmes in English and Creative Writing

 

Details

Open for admission in 2024/25

Qualification Full time Part time
PhD 3 years* 5 years*

* The length of programme registration will be longer as it includes the maximum writing-up phase.

Start in January, May or September

Research

Our academic experts welcome applications for postgraduate research across a broad range of topics. Research fits into six key themes:

Medieval

Research in medieval literature at the University of Hull encompasses a complementary but diverse range of specialisms, with particular expertise in Chaucer, late medieval drama, and representations of the Middle Ages in film, media and television.

Staff:

Early Modern

The Renaissance and Early Modern cluster has strong research and teaching expertise in Shakespeare; Andrew Marvell; sixteenth and seventeenth-century drama and poetry; literature and politics; Renaissance intertextualities; drama and visual culture; and the literature of ruins. Research is supported by the Andrew Marvell Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, which hosts a range of events, including the annual Andrew Marvell Lecture. 

Staff:

18th and 19th Century

The eighteenth- and nineteenth-century cluster constitutes a lively and enterprising research culture at the cutting-edge of international and interdisciplinary scholarship.

Staff:

Modern and Contemporary

Research expertise includes work on: D.H. Lawrence; R.S. Thomas, crime fiction; gothic, horror and science fiction; women's writing; and literature and the life cycle (age, youth, children's literature).

Staff:

Creative Writing

Our creative writers have expertise in creative non-fiction, crime fiction, the novel, short fiction including flash fiction, and poetry. Research is supported by The Philip Larkin Centre for Poetry and Creative Writing, which has hosted many of the world's finest writers such as Hilary Mantel, Christopher Hampton, Edna O'Brien, and Kate Mosse.

Staff:

Fees and funding

Home


Full time:
£4,712 per year

Part time: £2,356 per year

International


Full time:
£17,300 per year

These fees are for all research degree programmes on this page. For courses lasting more than one year, annual increases apply. For more information, please visit the fees and funding page. 

Postgraduate research programme structures


PhD

  • Full-time: 3 years of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 5 years of research, with up to 20 months of writing up if required

Masters

  • Full-time: one year of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 2 years of research, with up to 24 months of writing up if required

Writing-up and thesis submission


A standard full-time PhD programme comprised three years of research plus up to 12 months of writing-up. Part-time is five years plus up to 20 months writing-up if needed. Full-time standard Masters programmes are comprised one year of research plus up to 12 months of writing-up if needed; and part time Masters programmes have two years of research with up to two years of writing-up.

For full-time students, the writing-up phase typically takes about three months but may be extended to one year without further paperwork. For part-time students, writing-up typically takes one year, but may be extended to two years without further paperwork. The maximum writing-up period is included in your overall programme length, which means that international PGRs will not need to apply for an additional visa to cover the writing-up phase.

If you need to move into the writing-up period of your research degree, you must enrol for this phase and you will be liable to pay a continuation fee.

The fees for the writing-up period for 2023/24 are:

Full time

  • Writing-up fee £345
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Part time

  • Continuation Fee £170
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Thesis submission timelines


It is expected that you will submit your thesis within the timeframes outlined below:

Masters degrees

  • Submission by one year and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 2 years and 6 months part-time.

Doctoral degrees

  • Submission by 3 years and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 5 years and 6 months for part-time.

Doctoral Loan

UK students who haven’t secured a scholarship can take out a Doctoral Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. They provide up to £29,390 for full-time and part-time PhDs in all subject areas.

EU students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance. Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Additional costs

There are some extra costs that you may have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary:

  • Student visas (international students).
  • Books (you’ll have access to many books through the University library, but you may want to buy your own copies).
  • Optional conference/field/archive/library trips (Faculties support some travel and conference attendance financially. Details vary. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want to buy your own).
  • Printing and photocopying (There is a printing allowance in place for all students, currently £20 a year. Some Faculties grant PGR students access to printing and photocopying as staff. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Professional-body membership.
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography).

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few.

For information about bursaries and how to fund your studies see our money page, or take a look at our PhD scholarships page for specific funded PhD opportunities.

Watch: find out more about postgraduate study at the University of Hull.

The University’s Postgraduate Training Scheme (PGTS) provides a range of generic and discipline-specific modules to support research students through their programme.

The library has an exclusive lounge for postgraduate research students and a dedicated Skills Team to provide a wide range of study and research skills help.

The Doctoral College provides support to postgraduate research students. Offering skills development opportunities and dedicated facilities, the school is here to help you achieve your potential.

Research at Hull tackles big challenges and makes an impact on lives globally, every day. Our current research portfolio spans everything from health to habitats, food to flooding and supply chain to slavery.

Entry requirements

You should normally have, or expect to obtain, at least 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject.

You should submit a sample of your written work in the relevant subject of at least 4000 words (for MA by Research) and at least 10,000 words (for PhD).

With your application, you should also submit a research proposal that should be tailored to your research area and should include the following:

  • project title,
  • project synopsis (of c. 500 words),
  • series of research questions,
  • discussion of research context,
  • consideration of the research methods and methodology to be employed,
  • bibliography

Research proposals should not exceed 1500 words in length (excluding bibliography). 

International students

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

  • For 2024 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each competency.
  • For 2025 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each competency.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

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