English PhD / MPhil
The Department of English conducts research in all the main branches of our discipline: literature, creative writing, language, applied linguistics and TESOL. We aim to support world-leading work in all these 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 fields including literature, language, applied linguistics and TESOL, 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, corpus linguistics, applied linguistics. Our TESOL MAs are taught by experts in fields such as Second Language Acquisition (SLA), spoken discourse and English for Academic Purposes (EAP). 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 our list of individual potential supervisors organised by their research specialisms.
Research themes
The following Research Clusters are established in the department:
- Editing and Adaptation
- Drama and Performance
- Global Literatures
- Literature and Mental Health
- Northern Voices
- Pragmatics, Stylistics and Discourse Studies
- Language Acquisition, Learning and Teaching
- Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism
- Gender and Sexuality.
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 Health, Arts, Society and Environment (CHASE)
- Language, Data and Society (LANDS).
Enquiries
Literature and Creative Writing related enquiries
- Professor Sarah Peverley: s.peverley@liverpool.ac.uk.
English Language, TESOL and Applied Linguistics related enquiries
- Dr Emma Moreton: emma.moreton@liverpool.ac.uk.
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
Literature and Creative Writing
Medieval Literature and Culture
Early Modern Literature and Drama
Eighteenth-Century Literature
Romantic Literature
Victorian Literature
- Professor Josie Billington
- Dr Matthew Bradley
- Dr Natalie Hanna
- Dr Eleanor Lybeck
- Dr Simon Marsden
- Dr Melissa Raines
Twentieth-Century Literature
- Dr James Bainbridge
- Dr David Hering
- Dr Eleanor Lybeck
- Dr Daniel O'Connor
- Dr Sophie Oliver
- Professor Sandeep Parmar
- Professor John Redmond
- Professor Deryn Rees-Jones
- Dr Frank Shovlin
- Dr Will Slocombe
- Dr Samuel Solnick
Contemporary Literature
- Dr Julian Ferraro
- Dr David Hering
- Dr Lucienne Loh
- Dr Daniel O'Connor
- Professor Sandeep Parmar
- Dr Melissa Raines
- Dr Will Slocombe
- Dr Samuel Solnick
Science Fiction
Creative Writing
- Dr David Hering
- Dr Hannah Greenstreet
- Dr Daniel O'Connor
- Professor Sandeep Parmar
- Professor John Redmond
- Professor Deryn Rees-Jones
- Dr Will Slocombe
Irish Studies
American Literature
Global Literatures
Theatre and Performance
- Dr Daniel Abdalla
- Dr Alex Coupe
- Dr Michael Davies
- Dr Andrew Duxfield
- Dr Hannah Greenstreet
- Dr Katie Knowles
- Dr Esme Miskimmin
- Professor Sarah Peverley
- Professor John Redmond
- Dr Eleanor Lybeck
- Dr Samuel Solnick
Literature and Science
Environment and Blue Humanities
- Dr Daniel Abdalla
- Professor Greg Lynall
- Professor Sarah Peverley
- Professor Deryn Rees-Jones
- Professor Jill Rudd
- Dr Samuel Solnick
Literature and Visual Culture
- Dr Julian Ferraro
- Dr Natalie Hanna
- Dr David Hering
- Professor Sarah Peverley
- Dr Sophie Oliver
- Professor Deryn Rees-Jones
- Dr Will Slocombe
- Dr Samuel Solnick
Literature and Religion
Literature and Film
Literature and Health
Literature and Philosophy
Children and Children's Literature
Editing and Adaptation
- Professor Paul Baines
- Dr Michael Davies
- Dr Andrew Duxfield
- Dr Julian Ferraro
- Dr Natalie Hanna
- Professor Greg Lynall
- Professor Sarah Peverley
- Dr Melissa Raines
Theoretical Linguistics
Language, TESOL and Applied Linguistics
TESOL/Applied Linguistics: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
TESOL/Applied Linguistics: Spoken Discourse
TESOL/Applied Linguistics: English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
Corpus Linguistics
- Dr Mark McGlashan
- Dr Ursula Kania
- Dr Emma Moreton
- Dr David Oakey
- Dr Christian Jones
- Dr Annarita Magliacane
Discourse Analysis
- Dr Mark McGlashan
- Dr Emma Moreton
- Dr Shuang Gao
- Dr Sofia Lampropoulou
- Dr Paul Cooper
- Dr Ursula Kania
Sociolinguistics
- Dr Mark McGlashan
- Dr Emma Moreton
- Dr Shuang Gao
- Dr Sofia Lampropoulou
- Dr Annarita Magliacane
- Dr Paul Cooper
- Dr Ursula Kania
Historical Linguistics
Pragmatics
Semiotics
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- Postgraduate Support Team
- Email: pgarts@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.