Our research
Find a PhD
Use our research finder to find the right PhD for you. Studying for your PhD at
Essex gives you a chance to investigate your topic with depth and understanding.
You develop new high-level skills, enhance your professional development and build networks, opening doors to many careers.
World-class language and linguistics research
We are one of the largest and most prestigious English language and linguistics departments in the world,
and our international reputation for research excellence spans a variety of fields.
The most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE, December 2008)
ranked Essex fourth in the UK for English language and linguistics research, with the highest proportion of
research that is world-leading. By joining us, you become part of a large and thriving research community, supported
by excellent facilities and surrounded by
academics who are leaders in their fields.
A culture of collaboration
We have a strong culture of collaboration with seventeen research groups covering many different
areas.
Lively research seminars and events
We run a weekly departmental seminar during term time, where invited
speakers from other universities join us to discuss their work. These events are open to the public who are welcome to
join us on campus for a lively and informative discussion.
We regularly arrange special events. For example, our Language and Asylum Research Group recently
held a series of four seminars funded by an ESRC grant to look at the issues involved in evaluating language data from
asylum seekers. Linguists and professionals from around the world who are involved in language analysis for the determination
of origin (LADO) attended, as well as participants from legal and government backgrounds engaged in refugee status determination.
Our conferences and workshops are open to staff, students and people from outside our University.
Publications
In recognition of the quality of the research undertaken by our Department, a number of our staff work on leading
academic journals and have published authoritative textbooks .