We host a thriving community of around 60 taught and 60 research students who work across a wide variety of fields, reflecting the breadth of world-class expertise within our academic staff. We offer taught and research degrees in English literary studies, and in creative writing.
Postgraduates are integrated into the research culture of the Department through events, publishing opportunities, and a comprehensive programme of training and induction.
My highlights of studying at Durham were: the cosy English Department, with a friendly cohort of like-minded students; the scope of the MA English Literary Studies course, which allowed me to study a wide range of texts, from Renaissance Humanism to Post-War Drama; and, the beautiful city, witnessing it change through all four seasons.
We're ideally located close to the main University library, as well as the medieval Cathedral and Palace Green archives. You'll mainly be taught in small staff offices or in technologically-equipped seminar spaces.
I attended many of the skills sessions available to me through the library and the university, strengthening my understanding of things such as digital skills, health and wellbeing, and time management. All of these put me on excellent ground to go into my PhD studies with more confidence in my academic abilities, and a portfolio of academic and vocational skills and knowledge which would aid me through the next stage of my career.
The following opportunities may be available to you as a postgraduate student. Some of these are exclusively for PhD researchers, others are open to all and a chance to get involved in the wider life of the whole Department. For MA students, much training also happens as part of your MA Dissertation module, where you will take seminars on fundamental skills such as digital information management and using scholarly archives.
We help produce around 80 different events each year, ranging from public lectures to specialised academic seminars and conferences. You can also get involved in the activities of the University's research centres and institutes.
Find out more about the various regular lecture and seminar series, such as Inventions of the Text which is convened by postgraduates. Postgraduates and staff also run a number of specialised reading groups to support your research or widen your interests.
Training in core research skills, and personal and career development, is available through a central postgraduate programme.
Taught MA students receive training in preparation for a research career through their dissertation programme. Our ongoing induction for PhD researchers offers training in skills such as information management, digital, and conference presentation.
We host possibly the world's longest-running online journal for early-career English, which is edited by two PhD students each year.
PhD researchers and MA students are able to publish articles, reviews, interviews, podcasts and more on our popular blog, and to build skills in research dissemination and impact.
Offer research students the chance to contribute to active research projects. Students are paid £500 to support staff.
The Department may offer research students the chance of some paid teaching experience, usually in their second or third year of research, subject to the approval of supervisors.
The balance between coursework, extra-curricular lectures, pursuing publication or conference participation, and socializing has been ideal.
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