English PhD / MPhil
The Department of English conducts research in all the main branches of our discipline: literature, language, and creative writing. We aim to support world-leading work in all three areas and to foster and develop strategic partnerships, particularly with local and national cultural organisations, to reach those who can benefit from our research.
Why study with us?
There is a close postgraduate community within the department. There is always someone around to talk to about your research and plenty of activities to get involved in including, reading groups, lectures by visiting speakers and conferences.
Emma Hayward - English PhD student
10th
in the sector for outstanding research impact in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
4
members of the department are AHRC/BBC Radio 3 New Generation Thinkers
100%
of research environment was classified as 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
Overview
The Department of English has an outstanding international reputation. Students benefit from strong research-led teaching covering a wide range of literary, linguistic and applied linguistic fields, which equips students with the critical and communication skills and the capacity for adaptable intelligence which are in demand in all areas of modern life.
Our world-leading expertise in English and related literature spans all periods from medieval to contemporary. We also have expertise in many aspects of language study including sociolinguistics, pragmatics, stylistics, philosophy of language, discourse analysis and applied linguistics. Our creative writing degrees are supervised by published and award winning writers with particular expertise in critical and creative writing, especially in the area of poetry and/or poetics, and international poetics in translation. There is also the possibility of students sharing their time between the University of Liverpool and Paris-Diderot University and receiving a dual award.
Read more about the PhD dual award with Paris from graduate Alice Monter.
We particularly welcome research proposals that match those of our researchers; see list of individual potential supervisors below.
Research themes
The following Research Clusters are established in the department:
- Editing and Adaptation
- Drama and Performance
- Literature and Religion
- Global Literatures
- Literature and Mental Health
- Northern Voices
- Creative Writing
- Historical Variation and Change
- Stylistics, Pragmatics and Discourse Studies
- Language Teaching, Learning and Assessment
- Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism
Facilities
We have access to a variety of subscription databases, such as Early English Books Online, Eighteenth-Century Collections Online, Literature Online and the Burney Collection of Newspapers.
In addition the Special Collections and Archives department of the library houses:
- Literary manuscripts, including papers by Seamus Heaney, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes
- The Science Fiction Foundation collection, including the archive of John Wyndham
- Rare and early printed books
- Medieval manuscripts
- Poetry archives from the Romantic period to the present day.
Research groups
Staff in the department are active members of the following Research Groups:
- Liverpool Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- Literature and Science Hub
- Eighteenth Century Worlds
- Stapledon Centre for Speculative Fictions
- Centre for New and International Writing
- Centre for Humanities and Social Science of Health, Medicine and Technology
Enquiries
English Language and TESOL related enquiries
- Prof Sarah Peverley - s.peverley@liverpool.ac.uk.
English Language and TESOL related enquiries
- Dr Emma Moreton - emma.moreton@liverpool.ac.uk
- Telephone: 0151 795 1213 - Ext. 5
Study options and fees
The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year
| MPhil / PhD | Duration | UK students | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 2-4 years | £4,786 |
|
| Part time | 4-6 years | £2,393 |
|
The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.
* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.
^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.
Entry requirements
PhD students are expected to have an MA in a related area of study, with an overall average of at least 65%.
English language requirements
| IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT | 7.0 average with 7.0 minimum in each component |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT requirement | Minimum 100 overall with L 24 R 24 W 24 and S 26 |
| C1 Advanced CAE requirement | Overall 185 with no less than 185 in any paper |
| PTE Academic requirement | 69 with minimum scores of 69 in each component |
| Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) | ISE II with an overall pass with pass in components |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
Additional requirements
How to apply
Research degree applications can be made online. You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.
Applications are open all year round.
More about applying for research degrees
Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal
Find a supervisor
View supervisors in this area
- Professor Paul Baines
- Dr Matthew Bradley
- Professor Siobhan Chapman
- Dr Paul Cooper
- Professor Nandini Das
- Dr Michael Davies
- Dr Andrew Duxfield
- Dr Julian Ferraro
- Dr Shuang Gao
- Dr Victorina Gonzalez-Diaz
- Dr Caterina Guardamagna
- Dr David Hering
- Dr Christian Jones
- Dr Ursula Kania
- Dr Sofia Lampropoulou
- Dr Lucienne Loh
- Dr Greg Lynall
- Dr Simon Marsden
- Dr Hitomi Masuhara
- Dr David Oakey
- Professor Sandeep Parmar
- Professor Sarah Peverley
- Professor John Redmond
- Professor Deryn Rees-Jones
- Dr Jonathan Roberts
- Professor Jill Rudd
- Professor David Seed
- Dr Karl Simms
- Professor Paul Simpson
- Dr Will Slocombe
- Dr Samuel Solnick
- Dr Emma Moreton
- Dr Nektaria Efstathia Kourtali
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- Postgraduate Support Team
- Email: sscARTS@liverpool.ac.uk
Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects
Related Doctoral Training Partnerships
Doctoral Training Partnerships support future researchers with funding and a rewarding learning environment where you can collaborate with leading researchers.
Find a scholarship
We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.