Creative Writing PhD

About the course

Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. A research degree provides the opportunity to investigate a topic in depth, and contribute new knowledge to your discipline. A PhD involves demonstrating through original research or other advanced scholarship the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge at the forefront of an academic discipline or professional practice, the ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the general of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline. Both full-time (3 years) and part-time (6 years) study routes are available.

Once you have identified your potential supervisor, please use the contact details for enquiries. You may also approach your potential supervisor directly.

Welcoming environment for research students

We welcome practice-based proposals for all kinds of writing that demonstrates originality, a commitment to generic advance or reinvention, and a high standard of artistic accomplishment. We offer our graduates expert support in professional preparation for a literary career and encourage them to begin to establish a publication record.

Creative Writing at Brunel organises a hugely successful annual series of public writer readings by some of Britain's most exciting authors, which provide an opportunity for all students to debate and mingle with professional writers. Additionally, we annually publish anthologies of students' writing.

Research strengths

English at Brunel has gone from strength to strength over the last decade to the point where it is now regularly ranked in the top ten English departments in the UK in the Guardian league tables.Our particular areas of strength, which include modern and contemporary literature, Shakespeare, Renaissance studies, Victorian literature and culture, and world literature in English.
Creative Writing at Brunel University London is a leader in the field. We have a thriving graduate community in the subject, and welcome PhD applications in our particular areas of expertise.

The writers at Brunel are all actively publishing and specialists in many areas of writing including:

all aspects of modern literary fiction
all aspects of contemporary commercial fiction
poetry, including for performance
women's and multicultural writing
horror and thriller writing
all aspects of fantasy fiction
post-colonial fiction
children's/ YA fiction
non-fiction
screenwriting
screen adaptation
comedy writing
writing for radio
writing for opera
autobiographical writing
female genital mutilation in Africa and the UK
the Fusion of creative writing and dramatherapy
creative writing for therapeutic purposes
autobiographical writing
female genital mutilation in Africa and the UK
the fusion of creative writing and dramatherapy
creative writing for therapeutic purposes.

Employability
Careers and your future

Paid work available to research students
Undertaking teaching and learning support duties represents an important professional and career development opportunity for postgraduate research students. Brunel offers two levels of paid work available to Postgraduate Research students. The first level post is as a Demonstrator and the second level post is as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA). Teaching and learning support duties will vary between Departments and research students should not rely on such opportunities being available.