139 PhD programmes in Area & Cultural Studies in Europe

The DPhil in Area Studies (Japan) is a research-based course exploring Japan through interdisciplinary approaches, covering topics such as history, politics, sociology, language, and the labour market. The Area Studies (Japan) programme is offered at University of Oxford.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest academic award for which a student can be registered. This Cultural and Media Studies (Distance Learning) programme at the University of Huddersfield allows you to explore and pursue a research project built around a substantial piece of work, which has to show evidence of original contribution to knowledge.

We offer supervision in Refugee Care at University of Essex, allowing you to undertake research that introduces a therapeutic dimension and psychosocial perspectives to your work with asylum seekers, refugees and other involuntarily dislocated persons.

Culture Studies from Catholic University of Portugal is a four-year research program in the Humanities and Social Sciences aimed at graduates and professionals from the cultural sector who wish to advance their university education within a theoretically solid and groundbreaking framework. 

The Cornish Studies MPhil/PhD programme from The University of Exeter staff in the History department research political, economic, social, cultural, religious, medical, maritime, military, humanitarian, environmental and international history. We range in time from the early medieval period to the late 20th century.

This Black Studies PhD programme from the University of Nottingham is a place for the study of the history, literature and culture of black people (variously defined) in North America, as well as through their historical, cultural and political links to Africa, Britain, and other global sites.

The Baltic and East European Graduate School (BEEGS) is located at Södertörn University in southern Stockholm, Sweden. BEEGS is part of the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies, CBEES.

The Cultural and Social Psychology (CUSP) research strand at The Open University UK brings insights from cultural and social psychology to real-world issues.

Embark on a scholarly journey at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities with the Culture, Religion Studies, and Literary Studies doctoral programs.

As a PhD student in Languages, Cultures and Religions at the University of Stirling you’ll contribute to a research culture that cuts across the disciplinary units of English, Modern Languages, Global Cinema and Religion, and foregrounds their intersections.

In the Gaelic Studies programme from University of Aberdeen we offer leading research and teaching in Gaelic literature, society and culture.

The University of Liverpool has pioneered the study of the Egyptology for more than 130 years and has an international reputation for excellence in both teaching and research. 

Through the Lusophone Studies MPhil/PhD programme from The University of Exeter all students have a primary and a secondary supervisor who provide regular, high quality advice, support and direction in their academic endeavours. You will work closely with your supervisors to develop, investigate and write-up a project at the cutting edge of research.

The Culture and Aesthetics programme offered by Stockholm University develops advanced research expertise in artistic, cultural, and intellectual traditions across multiple disciplines.

The Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis is a research institute and doctoral school at the University of Amsterdam dedicated to the critical and innovative study of culture from a broadly interdisciplinary perspective grounded in the humanities but increasingly extending to non-humanities fields.

The East Asian Studies programme offered by Freie Universität Berlin develops advanced expertise in regional dynamics, cross-cultural engagement, and Asia-focused scholarly analysis.

​​This Cultures and Creative Practice programme from University of Nottingham will be particularly relevant to creative practitioners from a broad range of fields who wish to utilise the time and resources offered by doctoral study to develop and critically reflect on their practice and enhance their careers in a relevant creative sector.

Literature, Culture and Thought at University of Cambridge supports interdisciplinary projects that by virtue of their design clearly transcend or stand outside any one Section in the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics. 

The DPhil in Area Studies (Middle East) is a research-based course exploring the Middle East through interdisciplinary approaches, covering politics, history, religion, literature, and social anthropology. The Area Studies (Middle East) programme is offered at University of Oxford.

The Kurdish Studies MPhil/PhD programme from The University of Exeter is an Area Studies department grounded in multidisciplinary approaches to research and training.