English (Research)

94% of our research overall in English Language and Literature was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

From Medieval and Renaissance writing to the 18th century to the present, from the novel to poetry to modernism, postmodernism and the contemporary scene – we’re strongly committed to the interdisciplinary study of literature.

We’re one of the strongest postgraduate communities in the country, with an outstanding research culture. You’ll benefit from expert supervision, teacher training and research workshops.

You have the opportunity to examine literature using a range of critical methods. Your project might examine textual form or literary history through some of the following frames and methods:

• genre theory

• postcolonial theory

• feminist, gay and lesbian, and queer studies

• psychoanalysis

• Marxist criticism and political economy

• environmental and “blue” humanities

• science and technology studies/science and literature

• book history, bibliography and print culture

• material culture

• digital criticism and cultural analytics

• games as literature

• disability studies

• affect studies and phenomenology

• sociology of literature and institutional criticism

• poetics.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.