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PhD

The English Department here at King’s, one of the largest and oldest in the UK, was ranked 8th in the UK for the quality and quantity of its research in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.   

The Department of English is home to a large and diverse body of postgraduate researchers. Students are fully integrated into the intellectual and social life of the Department as researchers and teachers. Many of our students study part-time, commute or have caring responsibilities and the programmes allow flexibility.

Our expertise is split across research clusters, covering the full chronological range of literary periods. Current and recent research projects include: Indian writing of WW2; the bedchamber in late medieval literature; African migrant literature and US politics, and telegraphy and Victorian culture.

In second year (or part-time equivalent) students have the opportunity to work as Graduate Teaching Assistants and are supported in this through a full programme of training and mentoring events.

Students can undertake joint PhD programmes with King's and our partners in Humboldt Universität in Berlin and the National University of Singapore, spending time in each location to work with supervisors and to access the resources and expertise of both institutions. On completion, students receive a qualification awarded by both universities.

We offer a staged and comprehensive programme of training from the initial Research Workshops, through our ‘Skills Lunches’ and then final year professionalization workshops on applying for jobs or further funding. Doctoral students play a full role in organising the postgraduate seminar, ‘The Abstract’, and an annual postgraduate conference. The PhD in Creative Writing also places emphasis on professionalisation through guest lectures, a 'Thesis Workshop' and the 'Agents and Editors in Residence' scheme.

Our graduates have gone on to academic positions (recently at the University of Birmingham, the Universität Bonn and UCL) and careers in media, creative arts, teaching and publishing.

We are part of the London Arts and Humanities Partnership which offers scholarships as well as training.

Please browse our webpages, identify a potential supervisor(s) and get in touch with an initial query. Alternatively, send an inquiry to the PGR Lead via the Department office (english@kcl.ac.uk).

 

 

Qualification(s): PhD 
Duration: Expected to be MPhil two years FT, three years PT; PhD three years FT, four-six years PT; October to October

Take our new PhD in creative writing in Department of English at King's College London.

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Qualification(s): MPhil  PhD 
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

MPhil/PhD English Research from the Department of English at King's College London, option of joint PhD with Hong Kong University or National University of Singapore or Humboldt.

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Research & Expertise

Research & Expertise

Dive into research projects, publications and expertise in our world-leading Department.

First King's Creative Writing PhD graduate publishes debut novel

Scott Preston's novel The Borrowed Hills, published in April 2024, formed the main part of his Creative Writing PhD thesis. As the first graduate of the programme, Scott left with an impressive portfolio of creative and scholarly work, as well as valuable teaching experience.

Scott Preston feature image 231204

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