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Welcome to English Studies at Durham

We are one of few university English departments in the world who teach and research in literature produced in Britain from the early medieval period to the present day as well as in anglophone literature from across the globe. We also offer Creative Writing at MA, PhD, and MLitt level.

Our subject range is made possible by our large and thriving community of around:

  • 700 undergraduates
  • 60 taught postgraduates
  • 60 PhD researchers
  • 80 academic, postdoctoral, and administrative staff

Explore our various courses, or engage with us on social media to discover our research.

Find out more about us
3rd in the Guardian University Guide 2024
Athena Swan Bronze Award
Athena Swan Bronze Award Recognising our work to address gender equality
29th
29th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 English Language and Literature
World leading research 90% of our research activity was judged to be 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent' in REF 2021
Jeremy Vine stands with two young women in Durham City Centre.

Jeremy Vine Scholarship in English Literature for British students of Black heritage 

This scholarship has been established to assist a UK student of Black Heritage, in need of financial support, throughout their undergraduate English Literature degree studies. The scholarship is available thanks to a generous donation from Durham alumnus Jeremy Vine.

Find out more

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Study with us

Advance your studies or research with our world-class community of scholars and students.

Undergraduate Study

Our Department combines a strong research profile with a long-standing and continuing commitment to undergraduate teaching.
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Postgraduate study

We offer taught MA degrees in English Literary Studies, and Creative Writing. We support a large research community of PhD and MLitt students.
Small group of students sat working at their laptops together

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Our research

Our research is at the forefront of developments in the discipline. We regularly publish influential academic books and essays that are drawn on by students and other researchers around the globe, and we publish acclaimed creative work in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Our research has regional, national and international impact.
Find out more about our research
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Discover more

  • Diversity and inclusion

    See how we provide an inclusive and supportive working and teaching environment for all.

    Student working outdoors
  • Our staff

    Find out more about the varied interests and expertise of our academic staff.

    Postgraduate Photography 2011

Diversity and inclusion

See how we provide an inclusive and supportive working and teaching environment for all.

Student working outdoors

Our staff

Find out more about the varied interests and expertise of our academic staff.

Postgraduate Photography 2011
  • Events

    Find out more about what's on and join us at one of our many online or on-site public events.

    Sacred and Profane July 2016
  • Current research

    Find out more about some of our current research initiatives and projects.

    Incandescent bulb and colourful notes

Events

Find out more about what's on and join us at one of our many online or on-site public events.

Sacred and Profane July 2016

Current research

Find out more about some of our current research initiatives and projects.

Incandescent bulb and colourful notes

Follow us on Social Media

Find out about our latest research by following our social media feeds READ: Research English At Durham

Highlights

READ blog

Read our research blog and discover more about our latest insights and publications.
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Follow English Studies on LinkedIn

Support your career with our LinkedIn community of academics, students, and alumni
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What's new?

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New interdisciplinary health research awarded £9m grant

Our cutting-edge Institute for Medical Humanities (IMH) has been awarded a £9m Discovery Research Platform Award to develop a new Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities (DRP-MH).
Wellcome trust grant

Strengthened connections with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

We are delighted to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
A group of people standing in front of a sign that says Indian Institute of Technology Madras

‘Something that speaks to you in the quiet of the night’: Horror writing with Naomi Booth

This Halloween, Dr Naomi Booth, Associate Professor in the Department of English Studies and award-winning fiction writer tells us about horror writing and the Boggart, a forgotten folklore monster.
Farmhouse on open moorland

Recognition for the Department’s Research Excellence

Our outstanding research environment and our impact on public life, community, and culture have been recognised in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
Photograph of a castle standing above a river. The text REF20201 Research Excellence Framework is on the front of the image.

Unravelling the Windrush myth: the confidential government communications that reveal authorities did not want Caribbean migrants to come to Britain

Assistant Professor in Black British Literature, Dr Henghameh Saroukhani, explores the misconceptions, and racism, surrounding Windrush.
HMS Windrush ship

New Professor in Practice: Nick Barley

The Institute for Medical Humanities (IMH) and the Department of English Studies are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Professor in Practice, Nick Barley.
Nick Barley in front of Edinburgh International Book Festival marketing materials

Durham English Student Produces Into the Woods

Student theatre offers a great way for English students to expand and apply their literature skills. Third-year Eleanor Summer has written a blog about her experience producing a new show.
Durham theatre students posed in tree branches

Students Share their Stories during National Storytelling Week

During National Storytelling Week, 30 January – 5 February, we have been hearing from three budding writers who are currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing in the Department of English Studies.
Kings Cross Station

Short story award success for Durham academic

An Associate Professor in our English department has followed in the footsteps of some of her favourite short story writers by winning the Edge Hill Short Story Prize Readers’ Choice Award.
Dr Naomi Booth

How A.S. Byatt’s northern identity and anger over climate change informed her fiction

Dr Barbara Franchi a Teaching Fellow in our Department of English Studies explores how, in her later fiction, A.S. Byatt used northern locations as emblems of the climate crisis and how human actions have detrimental effects on the whole planet.
Filey beach in Yorkshire

Upcoming events

QS World University Rankings 2024

World-leading status affirmed in QS World University Rankings 2024

Durham is now ranked 78th in the world top 100 universities. We are also ranked joint 30th in a new category of Sustainability, and 50th in the Employer Reputation category.

Learn more about the QS World University Rankings

Get in touch

Contact us to find out more about our courses and research.

Department of English Studies

Hallgarth House  

77 Hallgarth Street  

Durham City  

DH1 3AY 

Tel: +44 (0)191 334 2500 

 

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

Your Durham prospectus

Order your personalised prospectus and College guide here.