Research Culture

Research Centres

The Department is closely involved in interdisciplinary research. It has foundational links with the Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and is active in the Centre for Seventeenth-Century Studies and the Basil Bunting Centre.

At postgraduate level, our Research Seminars regularly bring scholars from throughout the UK to Durham in order to present a wide variety of research papers.

Institute of Advanced Study

The Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) was established in October 2006 to mark the 175th anniversary of Durham University. The IAS is a think-tank which brings together some of the world’s finest researchers from every discipline to examine themes of major intellectual, scientific, political and practical significance.  Some twenty fellows per annum are based in Cosin's Hall (a beautiful 18th-Century, Grade 1 listed mansion house, situated on Palace Green - a designated World Heritage site) for up to three months, working with Durham scholars to spark these investigations, set tomorrow's agenda and participate in a varied programme of activities. The Institute also serves as a top-level forum, enabling key-decision makers and experts to discuss pressing policy problems in an intellectually stimulating and unrestricted manner.

The English Department played a major role in establishing the IAS (Professor Michael O'Neill is one of its inaugural Directors) and supplying it with its first annual theme, 'The Legacy of Charles Darwin'. Both at staff and postgraduate levels, English continues to be closely involved in lecture series, events, and workshops sponsored by the IAS.