English PhD

Program Overview

The University of Sussex English PhD program is a research-intensive program that delves into literary periods and genres. Emphasizing interdisciplinary study, the program encourages exploration of connections between literature and philosophy, visual culture, and other fields. The program fosters a large graduate community, offering expert supervision, teacher training, and a diverse range of theoretical frameworks for literary analysis.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The English PhD program at the University of Sussex is a research-based program that allows students to delve into various literary periods and genres. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary study, encouraging students to explore connections between literature and other fields like philosophy, visual culture, and the history of ideas.

Objectives:

The program aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct independent research and contribute original scholarship to the field of English Language and Literature.

Program Description:

The program offers a diverse range of research areas, including:

• Medieval and Renaissance writing
• 18th-century literature
• The novel
• Poetry
• Modernism
• Postmodernism
• Contemporary literature
The program boasts a large graduate community with over 200 students and 50 faculty members. Students benefit from expert supervision, teacher training, research workshops, and a vibrant annual schedule of symposia, conferences, and guest lectures.

Teaching:

The program emphasizes a combination of:

• Expert supervision
• Teacher training
• Research workshops
• Symposia
• Conferences
• Guest lectures

Other:

The program highlights the following:

• The University of Sussex's English Language and Literature research was assessed as "world leading or internationally excellent" in the REF 2021.
• Students have the opportunity to explore literature in relation to philosophy, visual culture, and the history of ideas.
• The program offers a range of theoretical frameworks for literary analysis, including:
• Postcolonial theory
• Feminist theory
• Gay and lesbian criticism
• Queer theory
• Psychoanalytic criticism
• Marxist criticism
• Poststructuralist criticism
• New historicist criticism
• The program emphasizes the importance of original research and contribution to knowledge.
• Students can choose to study full-time or part-time.
• Students can choose to pursue a PhD or an MPhil degree.
• The program provides opportunities for students to engage with the wider academic community through symposia, conferences, and guest lectures.