English - Integrated - Research

OVERVIEW
English offers pathways in Literary Studies, Creative Writing or Language and Linguistics.

Proposals are welcomed in all areas from Medieval to Modern. Areas of expertise in a School that brings together award-winning writers and critics working across British, Irish and American Literature include Poetry; Irish Literature; American Literature; Shakespeare and Renaissance Studies; Literature and Place; Culture, Geography and Identity, from the local to the global, from earliest writing to the contemporary; Literature, Crime and Conflict; and, Science, Medicine and Culture. The School's Centre for the Americas, its involvement in the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies and the Institute of Irish Studies, and the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry - an internationally-recognised centre of excellence for the study and production of literature – mean that your project in literary studies, creative writing or linguistics will be supported by dynamic research groups and experts in the field.

Details of current staff expertise can be found on the School of Arts, English and Languages website.

Mode of study/duration

Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD (or part-time equivalent).

Learning Outcomes
A research degree in English offers students an opportunity to foster their capacity for independent research, creative writing and critical thought. It allows students to explore an area of interest and to make an original contribution to the field. Undertaking a research degree can enhance a student's written and oral communication skills and a PhD is almost always a formal requirement for an academic post.

Course structure
The Integrated PhD is designed to prepare you for doctoral-level study by providing a year of taught modules and focused supervision before you move on to your PhD research. The Programme is suitable for all those wishing to engage in research but should appeal to those who have the basis of a research project but require additional support to develop this into a feasible PhD study.

During Year 1, in addition to completing taught modules, students will also enrol on a year-long non-credit-bearing Independent Study Module. At the end of your first year your research proposal will be considered for progression to PhD study.

Following that you will register as an 'undifferentiated PhD student' which means that you have satisfied staff that you are capable of undertaking a research degree.

Differentiation takes place about 9-12 months later for full time students and about 18-30 months for part time students: You are normally asked to submit work to a panel of up two academics and this is followed up with a formal meeting with the 'Differentiation Panel'. The Panel then make a judgement about your capacity to continue with your study.

To complete with a doctoral qualification you will be required to submit a thesis of approx. 80,000 words and you will be required to attend a viva voce [oral examination] with an external and internal examiner to defend your thesis.

An PhD Programme runs for 1 + 3-years full-time or 2 + 6 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing up year should it be required.

Graduate
A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. While a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) is not essential, it is desirable and applicants without this qualification will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

HOW TO APPLY
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal go.qub.ac.uk/pgapply and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a supervisor
If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

Application Process:
Please review the eligibility criteria on the webpages. If you believe that you meet these criteria then follow the steps below:

Select one potential supervisor from our list of Academic Staff (https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ael/Connect/Staff/#as-english) and send an email containing

A brief CV (1-2 pages maximum)
A concise statement that you are interested in studying for a PhD, stating when you would start, and how you would plan to fund the research
A brief statement of the research question or interest, and how you think the question could be investigated

Our academic staff welcome approaches from prospective students; staff can liaise with applicants to develop a research proposal of mutual interest. The potential supervisor should get back to you within a couple of weeks. They may invite you to meet with them or they may invite you to apply formally.

The closing date for applications is 31st August each year, for part-time and self-funded full-time study. For full-time candidates who wish to compete for a studentship, the deadlines are much earlier in the year. Available scholarships and closing dates are detailed at http://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/PostgraduateStudy/FundingandScholarships/PHDStudentshipAwards/

4 academic years full-time.

Career Prospects
Introduction
For further information on career opportunities at PhD level please contact the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Career Development Team on ahssdevoffice@qub.ac.uk / +44 28 9097 5175 Development Officers Cathy Wilson and Aileen Carson will be happy to provide further information on your research area career prospects.