English and creative writing research degrees

An overview of our postgraduate research in English and creative writing and entry requirements for PhDs and other research degrees.

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English provides a nurturing environment for both individual and collaborative research: its permanent academic staff, together with a number of teaching and research fellows, cover a wide range of interests and periods.

Our openness to new critical theories and emerging areas of the discipline encourages a multiplicity of approaches. Main research interests include:

  • Old and Middle English
  • Early Modern to Contemporary Drama
  • 18th- and 19th-Century Poetry and Fiction
  • 20th- and 21st-Century Literature and Film
  • Gothic Literature and Science Fiction
  • Comics and Graphic Novels
  • Postcolonial Literature
  • American Writing
  • Scottish and Irish Writing

Details of staff research interests are available on our English staff profile pages.

There is a lively research culture in the programme, including a regular postgraduate forum, visiting speakers, and an annual postgraduate conference held in Dundee. English hosts an annual conference of the Scottish Word and Image Group as well as a Comics Conference.

Research postgraduates are advised and trained, not only on the development of their ideas but also on matters of publication and career planning.

For more information about Research in English at Dundee, please visit the Humanities webpage.

Propose your own PhD topic

If you want to propose your PhD topic, you can use the contact details below to contact a staff member to discuss your proposal.

How to write your best postgraduate research proposal

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree at 2.1 or above, and/or a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS (overall) Reading Listening Speaking Writing
7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

We also accept other English language qualifications

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of certain countries.

Don't meet the English language requirements?

English language programmes

Prepare for university study and benefit from extra English tuition with an English language programme.

English and creative writing PhD tuition fees

Academic year of entry Scottish/Rest of UK fee status International fee status
2023/24 £4,712 
per year of study		 £20,895 
per year of study
2024/25 £4,786
per year of study		 £21,940 
per year of study

Tuition fee per year of study (subject to a 3% annual increase for Scottish/Rest of UK students and a 5% annual increase for International students).

Part time study, where available, is charged on a pro-rata basis.

Scottish/Rest of UK fee status annual increase

Each year, UKRI sets a recommended fee and stipend level for Scottish/Rest of UK students, which we use as the basis for fees charged to this group.

UKRI usually increases its fee and stipend levels in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator. 

Therefore, the Scottish/Rest of UK fees detailed in this table for 2025/26 (and beyond) can only be estimated according to the typical increase. 

The fee charged to you may differ, though only slightly, from the figure given.

Apply for a research degree

You can apply for a PhD or other postgraduate research degree using our Direct Application System.

We have three start dates per academic year.

PhD English

PhD English (part time)

Humanities (non-graduating) (research)

See also: Humanities (Professional Doctorate) DProf

The University of Dundee welcomes applications from disabled students.

Enquiries