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English Literature PhD

University of Surrey

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University of Surrey

Course options

8 options available

  • Qualification

    PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

  • Location

    University of Surrey - Stag Hill campus

  • Study mode

    Full time

  • Start date

    12-OCT-26

  • Duration

    4 Years

Course summary

Our English Literature PhD will train you in critical and analytical skills, research methods, and knowledge that will equip you for your professional or academic career. It normally takes around three or four years to complete our full-time PhD. You’ll be assigned a primary and secondary supervisor, who will meet with you regularly to read and discuss your work and progress. For us, writing is essential for understanding and developing new perspectives, so you’ll be submitting written work right from the start of your course. In the first year of your PhD, you’ll refine your research proposal and plan the structure of your work with the guidance and support of your supervisors. As you go into your second and third year, you’ll gradually learn to work more independently, and your supervisors will guide you on how to present at conferences and get your work published. After 12-15 months, you’ll submit a substantial piece of work for a confirmation examination. The confirmation examination will be conducted by two internal members of staff not on your supervisory team and will give you the opportunity to gain additional guidance on your research-to-date. The final two years of your PhD will be devoted to expanding and refining your work ready for submission of the final thesis. 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.
• Our research-active staff are at the forefront of knowledge in English literature, creative writing, film studies, translation studies, theoretical and applied linguistics, and literary and cultural studies.
• Our research concentrates on a range of periods, themes and subjects, spanning Medieval literature, Shakespeare and the Renaissance, Romanticism, Victorian and 19th-century literature, Modern and contemporary literature, creative writing and film studies.
• We’re part of TECHNE, an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded doctoral training partnership, which provides access to comprehensive academic and professional training programmes, as well as the possibility of funding for your studies.
• 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, in terms of reach and significance (4). Our submission to REF included contributions from the Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

Application deadline

12/07/2026

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Tuition fees

Students living in United States
(International fees)

£ 21,800per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University of Surrey

University of Surrey

  • University League Table

    19th

  • Campus address

    University of Surrey - Stag Hill campus, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom

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Subject rankings

  • Subject ranking

    English

    23rd out of 93 1

  • Entry standards

    / Max 212
    121 57%

    50th

  • Graduate prospects

    / Max 100
    79.0 79%

    21st

    9

  • Student satisfaction

    / Max 4
    3.35 84%

    19th

    12

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