Postgraduate Study
Whether you are new to Durham University, or are one of our current or former students, we welcome you to our postgraduate pages.
Why do postgraduate study in MLAC?
Postgraduate study in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures offers a wide range of benefits and attractions:
- A range of exciting taught MA programmes, and an opportunity to carry out research degrees at MA and PhD level in a variety of areas
- Departments which are consistently rated amongst the top Departments in the country by the Good University Guide and academics who are internationally recognised as experts in their fields
- A range of funding opportunities. For an overview of postgraduate funding in MLAC, go to our funding page. To search the University's postgraduate funding database, go here
- A relaxing postgraduate life beyond your studies
- A collegiate environment
- A stunning location: Durham is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK. The School of Modern Languages and Cultures is situated next to the River Wear, near Durham Castle and Cathedral - a UNESCO world heritage site
A Thriving Postgraduate Community
MLAC postgraduates join a lively, welcoming and supportive student community. We have over 50 postgraduates, working on topics as diverse as translation, literature, theatre, cinema, and photography, and participating in a variety of postgraduate activities, including dialogue days and research seminars. Our students have also organised successful conferences, a number of which have resulted in publications.
Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Research
Our research encompasses all the traditional areas of Modern Languages and Cultures, as well as a number of less orthodox topics. Unlike many UK universities, we offer expertise ranging from medieval manuscripts to the modern media, including film and photography. What connects these is an over-arching interest in the relationship between the textual, the historical and the visual. Moreover, an exciting culture of interdisciplinary and collaborative research has taken shape in the School over the past few years. This has been fostered in particular by the creation of three major research centres: the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CMRS) and the Durham Centre for Advanced Photography Studies (DCAPS). These Centres provide a home to many of our postgraduates and allow for progression from taught MAs to doctoral work with specialist supervisors. The research centres attract major academics to Durham to supplement our regular research seminar series. Similarly, our researchers are in great demand for seminars at other universities, institutes and international conferences, and as a graduate student, you will be encouraged to present your own findings both at home and abroad. Finally, you will discover that our successful postgraduates are in high demand, with the majority finding employment right away, either in universities or in the culture industries (media, publishing, teaching etc.).
Entry requirements
The University's entry requirements for postgraduate study are a good 2.1 degree or equivalent at undergraduate (BA) level. Students for who are non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate that they have proficiency in the language (IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a score of no less than 6 in each component).
How to apply
Apply online here for postgraduate study at Durham.
