Ashoka University

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced coursework, research methods training and independent dissertation work. In the early years candidates typically take core seminars in literary theory, research methods, and historiography of literature, alongside elective seminars that reflect faculty strengths and current research themes such as postcolonial studies, modern and contemporary literatures, nineteenth- and twentieth-century studies, comparative and world literature, gender and sexuality studies, performance and theatre studies, and digital humanities approaches to textual analysis.

Students also participate in research colloquia and work closely with supervisors to develop a sustained, original research project. The degree culminates in a doctoral dissertation based on original archival, theoretical or field research. Alongside disciplinary study, the programme emphasises pedagogy and professionalisation through opportunities to gain teaching experience, present at conferences, and prepare articles for peer‑reviewed journals.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant master’s degree (such as an MA in English, Comparative Literature, Cultural Studies or a closely related humanities discipline) with strong academic records. A clear research proposal that demonstrates familiarity with relevant scholarly debates, a writing sample of substantial academic work, and at least two academic references are required.

Shortlisted applicants are usually invited for an interview or an oral viva to discuss their proposal and readiness for doctoral study. Where English is not the first language of instruction in an applicant’s previous degree, demonstration of adequate English language competence may be requested. Ashoka also considers evidence of prior research experience, publications, or relevant professional experience in lieu of some formal qualifications in exceptional cases.

Career prospects

Graduates from the PhD in English pursue a range of careers in academia, including tenure‑track and teaching positions at universities and colleges. The skills developed during the programme — critical thinking, advanced research, academic writing, and teaching — also prepare alumni for roles in publishing and editing, cultural organisations and museums, policy and research institutes, digital content and archival projects, and higher education administration.

Many graduates also work as independent researchers, consultants, public intellectuals or writers, contributing to public-facing scholarship, journalism and creative projects that bridge the academy and broader cultural audiences.

Why study at Ashoka University

Ashoka University offers a liberal-arts environment with an emphasis on interdisciplinary enquiry and close faculty mentoring. The English doctoral programme benefits from an active research culture where students engage across departments and research centres, and from regular seminars, guest lectures and workshops that bring national and international scholars to campus.

Students have access to university research resources, including library collections, digitised archives and computing facilities for digital humanities work, as well as opportunities to gain teaching experience and to participate in conferences and publication initiatives. The department’s commitment to small-group supervision and a collegial atmosphere helps doctoral candidates develop rigorous, original scholarship and prepare for diverse academic and non-academic careers.