German PhD
As well as our established strengths in twentieth-century and contemporary German literature and cultural studies, our world-leading researchers offer specialist supervision on German and comparative topics at the forefront of a number of important interdisciplinary fields: cultural sociology, film studies, sociolinguistics, language pedagogy, and translation studies.
Why study with us?
I've found a lively research community here, planning workshops, publishing four articles, and taking part in the Eighteenth-Century Worlds Research Centre. Thanks to fellowships and grants, I've been able to travel as far as Georgia and Texas for research, and to Downside Abbey Archives & Library.
Helga Müllneritsch - German studies PhD student
4th
in sector overall for research classified as 'world leading (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
19/62
in the Guardian League Table for Modern Languages and Linguistics for 2018.
100%
of research environment classified 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
Overview
German research interests in MLC focus in depth on the twentieth century and contemporary period from a broad range of cultural, historical and linguistic perspectives. Colleagues in German are actively involved in cross-departmental research groups and contribute to supervision across a wide range of interdisciplinary or multilingual topics.
Colleagues in German are actively involved in cross-departmental research groups and contribute to supervision across a wide range of interdisciplinary or multilingual topics.
Our research interests reflect our research themes:
- Cultural history of the 20th Century
- Contemporary late 20th and 21st-century literature and film
- German sociolinguistics and pedagogy
- Translation Studies.
Research themes
We would particularly welcome proposals for postgraduate study in German in the following areas in which we have substantial expertise:
- Cultural history of the 20th Century: Memory practice and especially musealisation of National Socialism and the GDR; Cultural politics and artistic practice in the German dictatorships; Images and memories of 1968; Periodical culture, especially literary and political magazines
- Contemporary late 20th and 21st-century literature and film, including writing by women and non-native speakers of German; Berlin literature in German and English; Representations of the military in film and literature; Literature of the fantastic and unreal; Autobiography/life-writing
- German sociolinguistics and pedagogy, in particular allochthonous and autochthonous minority languages; Emerging German varieties – multi-ethnic, urban and youth varieties; Language policies and language change; Trends in German language teaching
- Translation studies, especially sociological approaches and literary translation.
Facilities
The University of Liverpool has excellent research facilities within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. For postgraduate researchers, these include designated shared office space and access to a vast repository of sociolinguistic journals (including e-journal), through the Sydney Jones Library.
As a postgraduate researcher at the University of Liverpool, you will become part of the Liverpool Doctoral College. The LDC supports all postgraduate researchers across the University to thrive in their doctoral programme with our dedicated team of esteemed supervisors, professional services staff, and student peers, ensuring that our students succeed in their studies.
Research groups
- Media Histories
- Image, Sound, Performance
- Conflict, Memory and Heritage
- Place, Space and Belonging
Study options and fees
The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year
| 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
Applications are welcomed from both full-time and part-time students. For research degrees, we would normally expect applicants to have a BA or BSc degree of 2:1 standard (and also an MA) in a subject relevant to the proposed field of research.
English language requirements
| IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT | Overall 6.5 no band below 6.0 |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT requirement | Minimum 88 overall with L 19 W 19 R 19 and S 20 |
| C1 Advanced CAE requirement | Overall 176 with no less than 169 in any paper |
| PTE Academic requirement | 61 with minimum scores of 59 in each component |
| Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) | ISE II with an overall pass with merit 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 169 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 169 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 169 in components |
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
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- Postgraduate Enquiries
- Phone: pgrecruitment@liverpool.ac.uk
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