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Postgraduate Research

English research degrees

Choose a research programme

Mode and duration

Start date

The length of programme registration will be longer as it includes the maximum writing-up phase. See further details on how research degrees are structured at Hull and thesis submission expectations.

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How to applyHow to apply

We offer a PhD (English or Creative Writing) where you'll have access to the superb facilities of the newly refurbished Brynmor Jones Library, as well as our Graduate School and Postgraduate Lounge.

About our English research degrees

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.

Research is strongly interdisciplinary and enhanced by the research networks of its centre including the Larkin Centre for Poetry and Creative Writing. Training in subject-specific research skills and methodologies is provided by the department, on top of the University’s Postgraduate Training Scheme.

Research topics

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

The Postgraduate Training Scheme

It is now widely recognised by employers, professional bodies and research funding agencies that specialist expertise alone is not sufficient preparation either for research or a subsequent career. With this in mind, we require all our postgraduate research students to follow a research training programme relating both to their particular field of study and to generic skills; for example, information technology and communication skills.

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Programme structure

PhD structure


Full time	Part time
3 years of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required	6 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 thesis finalisation (also referred to as “writing-up”). Part-time is six years plus up to 24 months thesis finalisation if needed.

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

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

Thesis submission timelines

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

Doctoral degrees

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

Entry Requirements

What do I need?

You should normally have, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 Honours degree, or international equivalent, in a related discipline appropriate to your intended research.

Contacting your prospective supervisor before you submit your application is not essential but may be helpful.

Typical offer

2:1 in a relevant subject area