Medieval and Modern Languages

The DPhil programme enables you to acquire the research skills necessary to complete a substantial piece of original research. You will work under the guidance of a supervisor who is a specialist in their subject. In cases where two areas of expertise are essential, joint supervision will be arranged.

The faculty groups a large number of research-active staff with an exceptionally wide range of interests. The faculty is therefore able to offer supervision in most fields, covering not only modern and contemporary literature, film and cultural history in each language, but medieval and early modern literature and cultural history as well. Areas of particular strength include:

• Enlightenment studies
• women’s writing and gender studies
• life writing
• Walter Benjamin and Modernism
• Dante studies
• the Spanish Golden Age
• Latin American (including Brazilian) studies
• Russian cultural studies.

Please note that the Celtic language options are no longer available for entry in 2018-19.

All applicants for research degrees are admitted first as Probationer Research Students (PRS). Full-time DPhil students spend up to four years completing a thesis of not more than 80,000 words. Part-time students spend up to eight years completing their thesis.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages.

Many doctoral students go on to take up academic positions in the UK and overseas. Other graduate destinations include teaching, journalism, law, publishing and the civil service.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses suggested by the faculty

English DPhil
History DPhil

All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages

Medieval and Modern Languages DPhil

Modern Languages MSt

Modern Languages MPhil

Slavonic Studies MPhil

Slavonic Studies MSt

Yiddish Studies MSt

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Entry requirements