English Literature

PhD

  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • Duration Full time 3 - 4 years, Part time 4 - 7 years
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Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Our rich literary connections extend from Lancaster's LitFest and medieval Castle to Grasmere's Wordsworth Museum

  • Enjoy literary events in Lancaster's Castle Quarter

  • World Top 40 QS World Subject Rankings 2025 (English Language and Literature)

Why Lancaster?

  • Develop your own scholarly, theoretical, critical, or even critical-creative, voice through one-to-one support from widely published scholars and critics.
  • Join a large diverse community of PhD students studying literature and/or related texts from the Medieval to contemporary
  • Enjoy our rich programme of free literary events on campus and in Lancaster’s historic Castle Quarter
  • Study online or join us in Lancaster on the doorstep to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since
  • Study on campus in the University Library’s bespoke Postgraduate Study Space
  • Benefit from our partnerships with The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere and Lancaster’s long-running LitFest

Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

You will have access to a rich array of libraries, archives and special collections, enabling you not only to develop as a scholar, or critic but also, if you wish, to develop skills relating to work as an archivist, librarian, or curator.

Support and events

You will meet regularly on a one-to-one basis with your tutor to discuss your work, and this can be either online or in person.

  • Our literary connections are embedded in the city and nearby Lake District. Many of our special literary events, such as talks from visiting scholars and authors, take place in The Storey, Lancaster’s Victorian Art Centre or at Lancaster’s spectacular medieval Castle.
  • The archive-rich Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere is usually the venue for our annual study retreat day, and the Department’s May Gathering, a social event, is usually held at Lancaster’s ancient Priory, as is our annual October Lecture.
  • It is entirely possible to complete this PhD programme online via distance learning
  • We seek, when possible, to offer students the opportunity to undertake limited, but paid, undergraduate teaching at some point during their programme of study.

Supervision

Before formally applying, we would encourage you to learn more about our many areas of research interests, and get in touch us with by email.

Careers

With our extensive links with not only the academic world but also publishers, literary festivals, and museums, we can help you prepare for the future that best suits you.

Many of our students go on to publish their doctoral work and some go into academic posts at universities.

Others have gone on to successful careers in other areas, including:

  • Publishing
  • Arts management
  • Archival work
  • Media
  • University administration

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

Master's degree, or equivalent, in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs.

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages.

Additional Requirements

  • A viable research proposal. Guidance can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.
  • A sample of written work such as an essay or dissertation chapter of approximately 3000-5000 words.

Details of the research areas can be found on the Department’s 'Find a Supervisor' webpage. If you are interested in applying for one of our PhD programmes, you may wish to informally contact a potential supervisor for guidance on the proposal prior to submitting your application.

If you submit an application you should include the names of any potential supervisors that you have identified.

English Language Requirements

We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test.

We also consider other English language qualifications and if your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Pre-master's programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2026-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Check our current list of scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.