Literature, Culture and Thought University of Cambridge

Overview

Existing alongside PhD pathways in French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Slavonic Studies, and Spanish and Portuguese, this doctoral degree in Literature, Culture and Thought at University of Cambridge offers an opportunity for students to pursue research projects that at their core traverse conventional disciplinary or linguistic boundaries, but to do so inside the rigorous and supportive environment of MMLL. 

Our academic community consists of scholars who produce highly specialised research in a variety of literary, intellectual, and cultural traditions, but who also drive such broader fields as critical theory, translation studies, philosophy, visual studies, intellectual history, postcolonial studies, and comparative literature. Students drawn to this PhD will have projects centred in such fields with relevant proposed supervisors, allowing for research in cultural texts and trends across a wide range of language areas beyond English, at least one of which they will be required to study in the original language.

The course aims to train students to be excellent researchers, writers, and scholars. The degree will prepare them to engage primary texts and secondary scholarship with critical dexterity, to synthesise research, and to expand the research horizons of their defined specialist area. The PhD also offers the opportunity for students to hone--to an advanced professional level--their presentation and public speaking skills. Students with an interest in pursuing careers in higher education will also be offered teaching opportunities and relevant pedagogical training. Students will graduate with the ability to produce publishable research of an excellent standard.

Learning outcomes

• expert knowledge of a defined area of specialist research

• knowledge of the methodology or methodologies appropriate to their field

• a set of research skills appropriate to their field

• the ability to produce scholarly writing in English of a sufficiently high standard

• an appropriate set of transferable skills, such as work planning and time management