German (Research)

Make an original, positive and lasting contribution to German studies. A PhD is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise as part of an active research community making impact across the globe. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city.

German was one of the first European languages to be offered at the University of Edinburgh. Since 1894, our subject area has grown into one of the University’s largest in Modern Languages and a significant centre for research.

We support a broad range of cultural and literary research themes in German studies, from the medieval period to the present. We engage innovative theoretical approaches to explore literature and film within and beyond the traditional German studies canon. Our research aims to generate new insights into the historical context of texts as well as their contemporary relevance to both the German-speaking and wider world.

Over the course of your PhD, you will complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of at least two supervisors. Your thesis will be around 80,000 words.

The University of Edinburgh contains exceptional resources for study in German, including the expansive Karin McPherson collection of German Democratic Republic (GDR) writing. Our programme includes access to skills training, including research methodologies specific to German studies.