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University of Essex homepage Departments Literature Film and Theatre Studies Research degrees
Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

Research degrees

Female student facing to the left adjusting the lens of a film camera on a tripod

Theoretical exploration and creative innovation

As a postgraduate research student in our department, you will be part of a large and active research community where graduate students and staff work together in a creative and intellectually challenging environment.

We are a uniquely interdisciplinary department, running weekly research seminars with speakers across different disciplines invited from the UK and abroad.

Our research students organise and present at our annual PhD conference and we regularly invite writers to give talks and readings as part of our Writers at Essex series, as well as to lead master classes with our students.

A research degree allows you to produce original research on a subject of your choice and, depending on your chosen research subject, can also include a creative practice component.


Explore our postgraduate research degrees
Why choose us?
  • Join a forward-thinking community of researchers
  • Internationally recognised research specialisms across literature, film, creative writing and drama
  • Leading academic specialists, as well as writers, poets, playwrights, filmmakers and journalists talk about their work in our weekly research seminar series

So, what do we have to offer?

“The LiFTS department encourages prospective PhD researchers to apply for all available streams of funding. The support from my department has been a huge part of my reason for staying at Essex to continue to PhD study. From the administrators in the general office, to the lecturers, and my supervisors – each one has helped to nurture my confidence and development. The LiFTS department is a very special place that nurtures discovery, no matter how old you are, in a way that only creativity can.”
Ruth Raymer PhD Creative Writing
Fees and funding
We have a range of scholarships and bursaries available to support talented students from all backgrounds achieve their doctoral study ambitions.
Our research community
At Essex you join an internationally-recognised research community, ranked top 20 in the UK for research excellence in the latest Research Excellence Framework.
How to apply
Applying to study your PhD at Essex is simple. Our online application takes about 20 minutes and our Graduate Admissions team offer advice on what you'll need and what happens after you apply.
Also see
Subject area: Creative writing
Subject area: Film studies
Subject area: Journalism
Subject area: Literature
How to write a research proposal (pdf 381kb)
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