Medieval and Modern Languages

In the DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages programme, students complete a major piece of original research. Supervision is offered in most fields, covering not only modern and contemporary literature in each language, but medieval and early modern literature as well.

Many doctoral students go on to take up academic positions in the UK and overseas. Other graduate destinations include teaching, journalism, law, publishing and the civil service.

The DPhil programme enables you to acquire the research skills necessary to complete a substantial piece of original research. You will work under the guidance of a supervisor who is a specialist in their subject. In cases where two areas of expertise are essential, joint supervision will be arranged.

The faculty groups a large number of research-active staff with an exceptionally wide range of interests. We are therefore able to offer supervision in most fields, covering not only modern and contemporary literature in each language, but medieval and early modern literature as well. Areas of particular strength include:

• Enlightenment studies
• women’s writing and gender studies
• life writing
• Walter Benjamin and Modernism
• Dante studies
• the Spanish Golden Age
• Latin American (including Brazilian) studies
• Russian cultural studies.

Please note that the Celtic language options are no longer available for entry in 2017-18.

All applicants for research degrees are admitted first as Probationer Research Students (PRS). Full-time DPhil students spend up to four years completing a thesis of not more that 80,000 words. Part-time students spend up to eight years completing their thesis.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in the relevant modern language for their proposed study, or a similar course of academic study with substantial course components in the area of modern language to be studied.

Entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a high first-class degree or the equivalent. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.75 out of 4.0.

Applicants are also expected to be predicted or to have achieved a very good result or a Distinction in a master's degree in a relevant subject. Degree level competence in at least one modern language is a requirement for admission.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Research proposal:Up to 1,200 words
• Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme