Key Information
Duration:
- Full-time: 48 months
- Part-time: 96 months
Start dates & application deadlines:
- Starting January 2027 — Apply before Oct 2026
- Starting April 2027 — Apply before Jan 2027
- Starting July 2027 — Apply before Apr 2027
- Starting October 2027 — Apply before Jul 2027
Language: English
Delivered: On Campus, Online
Campus Location: Guildford, United Kingdom
Disciplines: Language Studies, Literature
Overview
Surrey's diverse mix of subject specialities means we are a vibrant and imaginative community with lots of opportunity for intellectual exchange. The research-active staff at the University of Surrey are at the forefront of knowledge in English Literature, creative writing, film studies, translation studies, theoretical and applied linguistics, and literary and cultural studies.
What you will study
- This English Literature PhD from University of Surrey
- will train you in critical and analytical skills, research methods, and knowledge that will equip you for your professional or academic career. It normally takes around three or four years to complete our full-time PhD.
- You'll be assigned a primary and secondary supervisor, who will meet with you regularly to read and discuss your work and progress. For us, writing is essential for understanding and developing new perspectives, so you'll be submitting written work right from the start of your course.
- In the first year of your PhD, you'll refine your research proposal and plan the structure of your work with the guidance and support of your supervisors. As you go into your second and third year, you'll gradually learn to work more independently, and your supervisors will guide you on how to present at conferences and get your work published.
- After 12-15 months, you'll submit a substantial piece of work for a confirmation examination. The confirmation examination will be conducted by two internal members of staff not on your supervisory team and will give you the opportunity to gain additional guidance on your research-to-date. The final two years of your PhD will be devoted to expanding and refining your work ready for submission of the final thesis.
- As a doctoral student, you'll receive a structured training programme covering the practical aspects of being a researcher, including grant-writing, publishing in journals, and applying for academic jobs.
Visit the programme website for more information
Programme Structure
Research themes
- Women's writing (especially Medieval women's writing, early modern women's drama and Victorian women writers)
- Medieval romance
- Romanticism
- Victorian studies
- Modernism and modernity
- Travel and mobility
- Western and global esotericisms
Visit the programme website for more information
Admission Requirements
Academic requirements
GPA: Upper Second Class
English requirements
- Duolingo English Test: 130
- TOEFL iBT: 95 (or new TOEFL iBT 1-6 score: 5)
- PTE Academic: 76
- IELTS: 7
Other requirements
Applicants are expected to hold a good first degree (a minimum 2:1 or equivalent) and an MA in a relevant topic.
IELTS Academic: 7.0 or above with a minimum of 6.5 in each component (or equivalent).
Visit the programme website for more information
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees (shown in AUD per year)
- International: 39,676 AUD/year (≈ 21,000 GBP/year)
- Domestic: 9,896 AUD/year (≈ 5,238 GBP/year)
Additional Details
Part-time: UK £2,619; Overseas £10,500
Living costs in Guildford, United Kingdom: 1,247-2,154 AUD per month. The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
