PhD

We are happy to receive applications for research projects focusing on Literary Studies or Creative Writing and the Department welcomes enquiries from students who wish to pursue a PhD in any of the areas in which members of staff have expertise.  

 Part of what makes Aberystwyth special is our thriving research culture: you’ll get to join an engaging and interactive community where staff, students, and guest speakers come together to share and showcase their research. You’ll also work alongside researchers who are recognised internationally for their contributions to knowledge and the furthering of the discipline.  

Department Expertise 

The Department’s particular areas of expertise include: 

  • Contemporary poetry 
  • Crime fiction 
  • Life writing
  • Horror
  • Nature writing
  • Black diaspora literature
  • Postcolonial fiction
  • Women’s writing
  • Children’s literature
  • Literary geography and ecocriticism
  • LGBT writing
  • Welsh writing in English
  • Literatures of surveillance
  • Literature and disability
  • Irish writing
  • Gothic literature and ghost stories
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Late Medieval secular literature
  • Contemporary medievalism
  • Romanticism
  • Victorian literature
  • Modernism and late modernism
  • Postmodernism.

 

What does a PhD in the  Department of English and Creative Writing involve? 

A PhD in literary studies is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a thesis of 80–100,000 words followed by a viva voce examination.  

 A PhD in creative writing has two parts: the creative work (comprising 75–80,000 words of prose or 60 pages of poetry) plus a 20,000-word critical commentary. Award of the PhD in creative writing is subject to satisfactory completion of this twin written element, followed by a viva voce examination. 

 For both literary studies and creative writing PhDs, the normal period of registration is three years (full-time) or five years (part-time). For full-time students, it is expected that the thesis will be submitted within four years of initial registration. For part-time students, submission is expected within seven years of initial registration. Full-time research students are expected to be based in Aberystwyth. Part-time research students can pursue their studies at a distance but may need to be available to attend sessions on campus on occasion. 

 Each research student is assigned two supervisors, who offer support and advice at every stage of the research project. The primary supervisor works closely with the student and will be a specialist in the chosen field of research/creative writing. 

 All full-time doctoral candidates are required to undertake a selection of research skills and professional development modules that are provided by the Aberystwyth University Graduate School. These modules are undertaken over the first two years of study. Under the guidance of their supervisors, students will be expected to develop advanced skills in handling a sustained project, which makes an original, rigorous contribution to the candidate’s chosen field of literary studies or creative writing practice. 

For further information, or to discuss options for the shorter MPhil research degree, please contact us directly on english@aber.ac.uk  

Guidelines for PhD Proposals  

PhD proposals should include the following information: 

Literary Studies (c. 3,000 words)  

  • Synopsis of project (your project’s primary research ideas/aims, key texts, and theoretical perspectives) (250 words)   
  • Contribution to knowledge (what your work will contribute to the relevant field of study) (250 words)  
  • Research questions (outline the two primary research questions that will drive your project, and briefly explain how your research will address them) (250 words)  
  • Full research proposal (detailed description of your planned research, including an outline plan of the proposed sections of the thesis) (2,000 words)   
  • Your work to date in this or related areas (250 words) 

You should also submit a sample of your critical work of c. 5000 words.  

 Creative Writing (c. 3,000 words)    

  • Synopsis of project (an outline of your project’s central creative ideas, proposed stylistic engagements, key critical engagements, and theoretical perspectives) (250 words) 
  • Contribution to creative and critical practice (what your work will contribute to the relevant creative and critical fields) (250 words) 
  • Creative Aims (outline the two primary creative aims that will drive your project and explain how your work will address them) (250 words) 
  • Full proposal (detailed description of your planned work, including outline plans of both the creative and critical components) (2,000 words)
  • Your work to date in this or related areas (250 words) 

You should also submit a sample of your creative work of c. 5000 words of prose or 100 lines of poetry.