Doctoral (PhD) study in the School of Modern Languages

• Description

  A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is usually completed within four years - normally three-years of full-time research and up to a year to prepare and submit a written thesis of up to 80,000 words. Part-time study is also available. At St Andrews, 98% of research students are studying for a PhD.

  Your thesis must constitute a significant and original contribution to knowledge or understanding. The thesis is assessed in oral examination (sometimes referred to as a viva voce examination).

  As a doctoral student you will be supported by a supervisor and second supervisor. They will provide academic guidance to help you manage your research and prepare your thesis. You will also participate in the University's skills development programme for research students - helping you develop your academic, professional, and personal competencies.

  There may also be opportunities for you to undertake paid teaching within the School. Full training is provided to doctoral teachers.

• Entry requirements

  You must an undergraduate degree with first-class or upper second-class honours as well as a Masters degree in a relevant subject. 

  Applicants with qualifications gained outside the UK should consult the advice on equivalent international qualifications.

  English language requirements 

  If your first language is not English, you will be required to provide evidence of your English language proficiency - see the advice on postgraduate English language requirements.

• Finding a supervisor

  Before submitting an application, you must find a member of the School's academic staff who you can ask to be your supervisor. You should find someone whose research interests are related to the topic that you hope to study - see the list of School staff.

  The School is distinguished by the breadth of its research which spans language, literary, and cultural studies across eight distinct language areas – Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Persian, Russian, and Spanish – but also a range of cultural-historical epochs from the middle ages to the present day. This expertise is complemented by the School’s comparative literature scholarship.

  Applications relating to the following broad themes are particularly welcomed:

  • comparative studies
  • creativity and performance
  • environmental humanities
  • gender and sexuality studies
  • history, politics, and society
  • medical humanities and cultures of science
  • medieval and early modern studies
  • memory studies
  • postcolonial and transnational studies
  • translation studies and linguistics

  If you cannot find a possible supervisor, please contact the School Office for advice - email modlangs@st-andrews.ac.uk 

• Scholarships and funding

  The University offers a number of funded scholarships for doctoral students. These include University-funded awards made through St Leonard’s College and externally-funded awards made by the Scottish Graduate School for the Arts and Humanities.

  Most awards are made on the basis of academic merit and are open for applications from November to January – find scholarships and funding opportunities.

  Loans

  Loans for doctoral study are available and depend on the country where you normally live.

• Start dates

  You can start your degree in August, September, October, January, or May subject to supervisor availability.

  Most doctoral students start their degree in September or January.

• Applications

  Applications must be submitted online - apply now.

  Applications may be submitted at any time - but please note that specific deadlines may apply for funded scholarships.

  Your application must include:

  • A full curriculum vitae or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
  • A research proposal (up to 2,000 words). Your research proposal should describe the question(s) that your research will address, the method that you will use to do this, and the ways in which your research would make an original contribution to learning in your subject.
  • A sample of academic written work in English.
  • Contact details for two academic referees.
  • Academic transcripts and degree certificates. Please send certified copies only with official English translations if applicable. Do not send original documents as they cannot be returned.
  • Evidence of English language proficiency - see the postgraduate English language requirements.

• Contact

  Please contact the School Office if you have any questions about applying for admission as a research student - email modlangs@st-andrews.ac.uk