Department of English

Our department is a thriving community of scholars, with over 100 MA students, 35 PhD students and 25 members of staff, all engaged in a wide range of activities encompassing critical theory, historical scholarship, textual editing and innovative interdisciplinary projects across all periods, from Anglo-Saxon to the present. Most staff have international reputations as leading scholars in their field, as evidenced by a range of AHRC, Leverhulme and EU research grants and awards to the department. The range of our research interests is reflected in our varied taught MA programmes, as all our teaching at King's is research-led. We host a number of research seminars (for example, in medieval studies, literature and medicine, nineteenth-century studies, queer studies, and lifewriting) to which all graduates are invited and which consists of papers by leading academics discussing their recent work. Recent visiting speakers include James Shapiro, Edmund White, Lee Edelman, Hermione Lee, and Kate Flint, among others. There is also a dedicated student-led graduate seminar, which provides an opportunity for students to present their research in an informal setting, as well as to socialise with other graduate students. We are a friendly, inclusive department and we place the highest value on the interests and needs of our students.

All MA programmes have a critical methodologies component, usually in their compulsory module, which introduces students to a range of critical thinking and research issues. Taught students also participate in a series of workshops in research training as preparation for their dissertation and for possible doctoral work. Doctoral students attend the training programmes offered by the College's Graduate School, in addition to a range of seminars offered by the Department (on attending conferences, working with your supervisor, etc). Students are also able and encouraged to attend specialist training at the Institute of English Studies and elsewhere, as needed for their projects.

The Maughan Library has dedicated research space for Humanities graduates. The department has its own common room which serves as an ideal meeting place.

AHRC, Graduate School and School of Humanities studentships and bursaries.