KBS_Icon_questionmark link-ico
Study at King’s

Go to…

English Research MPhil/PhD, option of joint PhD with HKU/NUS/Humboldt

Apply now

Overview

King’s is one of the oldest English departments in the country and is home to a lively and supportive group of academics and students engaged in the exploration of literary cultures from the 7th to the 21st centuries. Our PhD students are at the very centre of our research culture and we welcome applications from prospective doctoral students working on any aspect of literary and cultural studies from the medieval to the contemporary, as well as to our unique, practice-led and recently launched PhD in creative writing. Our research is fuelled by our proximity to many of London’s artistic and cultural institutions and staff and students in the Department work in collaboration with our many cultural partners. PhD students in English at King’s have access not only to expert and attentive supervision, but also a full programme of training in addition to the opportunity to teach.

Latest REF rankings: The most recent Research Excellence Framework confirmed the world-class standard of research undertaken in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and its leading international reputation. The Department of English is ranked 8th in the UK and 2nd amongst Russell Group universities according to the framework's "power" metric, which takes into account both the quality and quantity of research activity.

Research income: AHRC/Leverhume/British Academy combined: £1,245,000
Current number of academic staff: 57
Current number of research students: 122

Recent publications:

  • Paul Gilroy, Darker Than Blue: On the Moral Economies of Black Atlantic Culture
  • Lucy Munro, Archaic Style in English Literature, 1590-1674 Clare Lees (ed), The Cambridge History of Early Medieval Literature
  • Alan Read, Theatre in the Expanded Field
  • Anna Snaith, Modernist Voyages: Colonial Women Writers in London 1890-1945
  • Zoe Norridge, Perceiving Pain in African Literature
  • Seb Franklin, Control: Digitality as Cultural Logic
  • Clara Jones, Virginia Woolf: Ambivalent Activist
  • Kelina Gotman, Essays on Theatre and Change: Towards a Poetics Of (Routledge 2018) and Choreomania: Dance and Disorder (Oxford Studies in Dance Theory, Oxford University Press 2018)
  • Lara Shalson: Theatre & Protest (Palgrave 2017) and Performing Endurance: Arts and Politics since 1960 (Cambridge University Press 2018)

Current research projects:

  • Scrambled Messages: The Telegraphic Imaginary 1857-1900 (AHRC funded)
  • Behind Enemy Lines: Literature and Film in the British and American Zones of Occupied Germany 1945-49 (ERC funded)
  • Modern Moves: Kinetic Transnationalism and Afro-Diaspora Rhythm Cultures (ERC funded)
  • Ego Media: The Impact of New Media on Forms of Self-Presentation (ERC funded)

Current and recent doctoral projects:

  • The ‘Unstageable’ in Contemporary Performance
  • ‘Things’ in Anglo-Saxon Literature and Culture
  • Shakespeare’s Plays in Germany, 1933-1945
  • Indian Soliders and the Second World War
  • Beyond Bloomsbury: London’s Queer Artistic Networks, 1910-1957
  • Programming Pro-Gamers: How Computational Control Codes the Gamer/Subject
  • The Material World of Fashion in the Work of James Joyce


Partner organisations:

  • Shakespeare's Globe
  • Courtauld Institute
  • Royal Society of Literature
  • Imperial War Museum
  • British Library
  • British Museum
  • We welcome applications for projects involving supervision at one of our cultural partners or at an institution within the London Arts & Humanities Partnership (LAHP) consortium

Joint PhDs available: Exciting opportunities to gain a joint PhD with either the National University of Singapore or Hong Kong University or Humboldt.

Key information

Duration Expected to be MPhil two years FT, three years PT; PhD three years FT, four-six years PT; September to September, January to January or April to April

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London/King's and HKU/NUS/Humboldt for joint programme

Faculty Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Department Department of English

Locations

 

Explore campuses

Applying for an Arts & Humanities PhD at King's

In the heart of London

Watch our video to get tips and advice on applying for an Arts & Humanities PhD at King's College London.

Watch more videos

Course detail

Description

English at King's is characterised by an exceptionally wide range of research activities reflected at all levels of its teaching programme. Academics in the department have cross-period interests in visual and material cultures; literature, medicine and science; gender and sexuality; colonial, postcolonial and transnational cultures; creative writing, life writing and performance; text, history, politics.

All members of staff are actively involved in research: most have gained an international reputation for the quality of their scholarship and are frequently called on to contribute their specialist knowledge to newspapers and other media Staff in the department regularly attract large-scale research grants from the European Research Council, Wellcome Trust, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Leverhulme Trust.

PhD students are at the heart of our Department and its research culture. We have over 100 doctoral students from all over the world working on a wide range of projects. Many are AHRC-funded and some are working on collaborative doctoral projects with our cultural partner institutions. Together with our community of  postdoctoral fellows, our early career researchers both organise and participate in our thriving seminar and conference culture.

Course study environment

We place great emphasis on pastoral care and are a friendly and welcoming department. Our home in the new Virginia Woolf Building offers many spaces for postgraduate students to work and socialise. Studying in London means students have access to a huge range of libraries from the Maughan Library at King’s to the Senate House Library at the University of London and the British Library. In addition, archives and special collections abound: for instance The Women’s Library at LSE. The department hosts a number of vibrant research seminars series and symposia open to all graduate students. In addition, there is a student-led graduate seminar series called ‘The Abstract’  and an online journal which allow students to present, discuss and publish their work. We also organise an annual graduate conference attended by students and staff in the department which provides a friendly and supportive forum in which research students can give papers on their work. Students are encouraged to organise their own events, with Departmental and College support.

Postgraduate training

There is a range of induction events and training provided for students by the Graduate School, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the English Department. A significant number of our students are AHRC-funded through the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) which also provides doctoral training to all students. All students take the ‘Doctoral Seminar’ in their first year. This is a series of informal, staff-led seminars on research skills in which students can share and gain feedback on their own work. We run a series of ‘Skills Lunches’, which are informal lunch meetings with staff, covering specific topics, including Upgrading, Attending Conferences, Applying for Funding and Post-Doctoral Awards, etc. Topics for these sessions are generally suggested by the students themselves, so are particularly responsive to student needs. We have an Early Career Staff Mentor who runs more formal workshops of varying kinds, particularly connected to career development and the professions (for example, ‘Applying for Jobs’ and ‘How to Write an Academic CV’). Furthermore, individual research groups within the department also provide various forms of trainings, including ‘Work in Progress’ sessions, in which students raise research/methodology questions related to their own projects.

Through our Graduate Teaching Assistantship Scheme, doctoral students are given the opportunity to teach in the department (usually in their second year of study) and are trained and supported as they do so.

 

Joint PhDs - Benefits of collaboration

Exciting opportunities are available to undertake a joint PhD programme either with Hong Kong University (HKU), the National University of Singapore (NUS) or Humboldt in Berlin. There are a number of areas where research expertise at King’s overlaps with our partnerships with these international institutions, enabling excellent supervisory teams for students. The fields of post colonialism, performance studies/drama, modernism, and 18th-19th century literature are especially strong across all our partners, but the full breadth of literary studies can usually be accommodated via our joint programmes. In undertaking a joint degree, students have access to studying in vibrant international contexts, making the research experience a rich and rewarding one. FAQs about joint PhDs can be found on the King’s Worldwide web pages.

Head of group/division

Dr Adelene Buckland

Contact for information

Postgraduate Admissions, Admissions Office tel: +44 (0) 20 7848 1649 fax: +44 (0) 20 7848 7200

Contact email

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

English Res Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements  

  • A Bachelor's degree with 1st Class honours in English

  • or a Master of Arts in English with High Merit - 65% or higher in the UK system
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band C Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Those applying for one of the joint degrees are encouraged to contact an academic at King's to develop research links with the partner institution. Students applying for the joint PhD programme with Humboldt University may be required to hold a Master’s degree in order to meet the requirements of Humboldt University.

Application procedure

Before submitting an application, it is best to make informal email contact with a potential supervisor. Please consult the ‘People’ section of our website for details of staff expertise and publications. Then you can gain some initial feedback on your proposed topic, see who in the Department might be best placed to supervise your project and find out whether they are taking on new students. If you are unsure who to contact, please get in touch with the Postgraduate Research Lead on english@kcl.ac.uk.

Admission to our research programmes will initially be for the MPhil but we expect students to transfer to the PhD after between 12 and 18 months (or part time equivalent)  by agreement with their supervisor and the Departmental Postgraduate and Research Committee. This process is called the ‘upgrading’ and involves submission of a dossier followed by an informal interview with their second supervisor and another member of the Department. 

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

English research checklist
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages).
Research Proposal Yes Please see guidance below
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
Writing Sample Yes Ideally, an essay of no more than 5,000 words, preferably on a topic related to your chosen reserch topic. If you have completed your MA or BA more than 10 years ago, you will normally be expected to submit a new piece of work.
Travel Plan Yes (Joint programme only) If applying for the joint programme, please include the names of your supervisors from both institutions and include a completed travel plan form.
Other Optional You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

A key part of your application is your research proposal. Here are some guidelines on writing a successful proposal:

Writing your PhD Proposal….

  • takes time! You should expect to write it over a number of weeks, involving fresh research, feedback from friends and a tutor, and careful polishing. There is no specific format for the proposal, but around 2-4 pages (1000-2000 words) is recommended.

  • is a crucial part of your application, which is mainly judged on the quality of your ideas, more than on any personal qualities or previous experience.  Your independent development of a strong proposal is the first test of your ability to do a successful PhD.

  • need only be indicative: you don’t need to have written the book before applying for the PhD. Everyone knows that applicants are expressing an interest in an area rather than mastery of it, and that projects change a lot over the three years of studying. But you should describe a project that excites you personally at the time of applying.

Things to include:

  1. Title: is it clear and appealing? Does it contain keywords and suggest your project’s place in a recognisable field of scholarship? Would it point us to a suitable supervisor without too much difficulty?

  2. Clear statement on what you want to work on and why it is important and exciting. What questions will you be addressing? Is there a lack in the existing research area that you can identify? Are you showing an ambition to make an intervention in the broader field of English studies?

  3. Background knowledge and clear reference to existing research in this area. If you have found a research ‘gap’ you could say where the other relevant debates appear to stop.

  4. Some discussion of the methods you might use, and why you are using them

  5. An indication of the research strategy and a rough timeframe of key milestones

  6. Key primary and secondary references, presented according to an academic convention. This can either be throughout the text, in footnotes, or in a final short bibliography.

Funding

Many of our incoming students apply for AHRC funding via the London Arts and Humanities Partnership.  Please see their website (www.lahp.ac.uk) for more detail of deadlines, application procedure and awards available. Also the ‘Student Funding’ section of the Prospectus will give you more information on other scholarships available from King’s.

Course intake

No set number.

Joint PhDs - Application advice

Applicants for the Joint PhD programme must contact the relevant departments at both universities before submitting an application in order to discuss the suitability of their topic for the joint programme and to locate potential supervisors. Applications should initially be submitted to the proposed home institution only, ie where the student will start and finish their programme. Students should note that acceptance onto the programme may take slightly longer than for single-institution PhDs because of the additional steps involved. Further details, including FAQs, can be found on the King’s Worldwide web pages.

Applicants who choose King’s as their home institution should apply through the online system, selecting the appropriate Joint PhD option from the drop-down list. In addition to the standard supporting documentation, applicants should submit a Travel Plan form indicating how they intend to divide their time between the two partner institutions. Students must spend a specified amount of time in each institution, details of which can be found in the ‘Notes’ section of the Travel plan form.

It is recommended that students submit applications for the Joint PhD programme by the end of March to begin the following September.

Application closing date

The deadlines for applications are detailed below. Please note that funding applications deadlines may be earlier. We will open applications for the corresponding intake in 2021 after the final deadline passes in 2020.

  • October 2020 entry – 31st July 2020 for International students and 28th August 2020 for Home/EU students
  • Feb 2021 entry – 23rd October 2020 for International students and 23rd November 2020 for Home/EU students
  • June 2021 entry – 12th April 2021 for International and Home/EU students

Applications for 2021/22 academic year will open from October 2020.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

UK/EU Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:

£5,300 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£5,300 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin/University of Hong Kong/National University of Singapore) 

Part time tuition fees:

£2,650 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£2,650 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)

International Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:  £19,850 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£19,850 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin/University of Hong Kong/National University of Singapore) 

Part time tuition fees:

£9,950 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£9,950per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin

UK/EU Tuition Fees 2020/21

Full time tuition fees:

£5,550 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£5,550 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin/University of Hong Kong/National University of Singapore) 

Part time tuition fees:

£2,780 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£2,780 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)

International Tuition Fees 2020/21

Full time tuition fees:  £20,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£20,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin/University of Hong Kong/National University of Singapore) 

Part time tuition fees:

£10,410 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research)

£10,410 per year (MPhil/PhD, English Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin

Students starting their programme in 2019/20 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2020/21.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

 

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Testimonials

Rodolphe

Rodolphe

I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

Next steps

Upcoming events

Full list of student events

View our postgraduate guide

Learn more about postgraduate degree programmes at King's. Download our guide in PDF format or order a copy.

Download guide

Order guide

Sound like the course for you?

Apply now

Explore King’s

Accommodation Take a look at our comfortable, safe residences to suit your budget, located close to King's teaching campuses. 
Student life Art, food, music, shopping – you'll never find yourself with nothing to do in the world's most vibrant city.
Extra-curricular Discover the huge variety of extra-curricular opportunities at King’s, from MOOCs to language courses.
London living With four campuses by the River Thames and one in south London, King's is right in the heart of the capital.