City

What you'll study

The PhD in English is a predominantly research-based degree centred on the completion of an original thesis under individual supervision. You will develop a substantial research project in areas such as modern and contemporary literature, nineteenth-century studies, literary theory, cultural studies, book history, print and digital cultures, and interdisciplinary paths that connect literature with media, history or the arts.

Alongside supervised research, you will follow a programme of research training that typically includes seminars on research methods, ethics and professional development, advanced bibliographic and archival skills, and opportunities to present work in departmental research seminars and conferences. Many students also take or audit relevant optional modules or short courses across the university—for example in digital humanities, publishing, or cultural policy—to build methodological breadth.

Assessment is primarily by the doctoral thesis and its viva voce examination. In addition, research degree milestones normally include a probationary review and annual progress reviews, and candidates are expected to contribute to the research culture of the department through presentations, workshops and occasional teaching or demonstrating where appropriate.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a strong master’s degree in English, literary studies or a closely related discipline (or an equivalent combination of qualifications and research experience). A good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject (usually at least upper second-class honours) is generally required as a foundation for doctoral study.

Applications should include a clear and feasible research proposal that demonstrates originality and awareness of relevant scholarship, a sample of academic writing (such as a master’s dissertation chapter or a journal-length article), academic references, and a curriculum vitae. Candidates whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of English proficiency; the department asks for a level of competence consistent with successful independent doctoral research and teaching in English.

Career prospects

Graduates of an English PhD pursue a range of academic and non-academic careers. Typical academic routes include postdoctoral research posts, lectureships and roles in higher education teaching and research. Outside academia, PhD holders find roles in publishing, editing, literary and cultural organisations, archives and libraries, arts administration, policy and cultural heritage, as well as communications, marketing and research-oriented positions in the public and private sectors.

The programme’s emphasis on critical analysis, advanced research skills, written and oral communication, and project management equips graduates for jobs that require high-level analytical thinking, independent research and dissemination of complex ideas.

Why study at City

City’s English research community offers close supervision from staff working across a wide range of periods and approaches, and encourages interdisciplinary work that can connect literature with journalism, media, creative writing and cultural policy. Being in London provides exceptional access to national and specialist libraries, archives, galleries and publishers, which many students draw on for archival and reception-based research.

The department supports doctoral training with research seminars, reading groups and opportunities to present work to peer and scholarly audiences. Students benefit from a compact departmental environment that fosters regular contact with supervisors and fellow researchers, while also being part of a wider university with professional links across the city’s cultural and creative sectors.