The Department also offers an MPhil degree which is a research-based Masters and is completed in one year in full-time mode or two years part-time, and provides an opportunity to research and write a 60,000-word thesis on a topic of your choosing and fits with the research interests of the Department. If you are interested in undertaking an MPhil please contact the Department directly, acceptance to study would be conditional upon the department having appropriate staff to supervise an approved topic of study.

PhD proposals should include the following information:

Literary Studies (c. 3,000 words) 

• Synopsis of project (your project’s primary research ideas/aims, key texts, and theoretical perspectives) (250 words)  
• Contribution to knowledge (what your work will contribute to the relevant field of study) (250 words) 
• Research questions (outline the two primary research questions that will drive your project, and briefly explain how your research will address them) (250 words) 
• Full research proposal (detailed description of your planned research, including an outline plan of the proposed sections of the thesis) (2,000 words)  
• Your work to date in this or related areas (250 words)
  

You should also submit a sample of your critical work of c. 5000 words 

Creative Writing (c.3,000 words)   

• Synopsis of project (an outline of your project’s central creative ideas, proposed stylistic engagements, key critical engagements, and theoretical perspectives) (250 words) 
• Contribution to creative and critical practice (what your work will contribute to the relevant creative and critical fields) (250 words) 
• Creative Aims (outline the two primary creative aims that will drive your project and explain how your work will address them) (250 words) 
• Full proposal (detailed description of your planned work, including outline plans of both the creative and critical components) (2,000 words)
• Your work to date in this or related areas (250 words)
  

You should also submit a sample of your creative work of c. 5000 words of prose or 100 lines of poetry