Doctoral study

Hone your research skills. Explore a topic of particular interest within comparative or transcultural global studies.

A student on a laptop in the Storey in front of a stained glass window

Our staff are active researchers and many are recognized as thought-leaders in their chosen field. Much of our research crosses disciplines.

The latest research excellence assessment (REF2021) highlighted our collaborations with Art and Design, English Language and Literature, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Sociology, and Theology and Religious Studies.

Research innovation

How to apply

To submit an application, simply create an account on the My Applications website and then select ‘Create a new application’ from your homepage once you are logged-in.

Using your account on the My Applications website, you are able to submit applications for the programme(s) which you wish to study, upload supporting documentation and provide us with information about referees.

The supporting documentation screen will provide you with a list of required documents. These will usually include:

  • Degree certificates and transcripts of previous higher education (college/university) degrees or other courses that you have completed/for which you are currently studying. Note that, for transcripts in languages other than English, a certified English translation will be required
  • Personal Statement
  • References
  • For those for whom English is not their first language, copies of English language test results (Please note that an application can be made before these results are available, and if a place is then offered this will be conditional upon providing the appropriate results)

If you are a current Lancaster student, or you have recently graduated from Lancaster, we can reduce the amount of information that you will need to provide as part of your application.

Go to the My Applications website and select the option for current students. We will submit an application for you using the information in your student record. If we need any further information we will let you know.

Please see specific MA programmes for application deadlines. If you wish to be considered for funding, are applying from overseas or require on-campus accommodation, we recommend you apply as early as possible.

For further information see the following pages

Applying for postgraduate study

Writing a research proposal

After you've applied for postgraduate study

If you have any queries during the application process, please Contact the admissions team.

Funding opportunities

Lancaster has generous scholarships for both home and international students.

Please contact the Director of Postgraduate Studies for more information about the awards and the supervision the school can offer.

Languages blog

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The power of transcultural friendly agreement

As we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between France and the United Kingdom, we are reminded of the importance of transcultural understanding.
A square surrounded by opulent baroque buildings and people wandering around.

An Insight into Conference Interpreting - A Day at the European Commission

Final Year Student Emily Lock had the fantastic opportunity to visit the European Commission in Brussels recently. In this blog post, she shares her experience of the day and reflect on the insights she gained into the work of interpreters.
Person standing in front of a sign that says 'Queer Medical Humanities Network Seed Meeting'.

How can languages and cultures research help improve LGBTQIA+ healthcare?: Building a Queer Medical Humanities Network

Lecturer in French Studies Benjamin Dalton discusses how his own languages and cultures research engages with the Medical Humanities and how, after realising the strong dialogue between Queer Theory and the Medical Humanities, this inspired him to create the Queer Medical Humanities Network.

The title of the conference on a blue coloured background

Report from the international colloquium 'Los territories de la poesía hispanoamericana' / 'Territories of Hispanoamerican poetry'

As a long-term member of the research project POEPOLIT II, Cornelia Gräbner attended the colloquium Los territories de la poesía en el mundo ibérico y latinoaméricano (1990-2023) at the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium. In this blog, she reports on three excellent days of discussions and readings, which were held in Spanish, Portuguese and Galician – a counterpoint to the dominance of English in academia.

A man standing outside on some steps with the background of a brick building.

My Experience of a PhD Internship: Exploring Cultural Studies at Lancaster University

Francisco Welligton Barbosa Jr, a PhD student at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, recently completed a three month PhD internship with the Department of Languages and Cultures. In this blog post, he reports on his time at Lancaster University and how this experience benefitted him.
Looking up at the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.

“Hep Brezhoneg Breizh Ebet!”: Three Facts You Didn’t Know About Breton

In this blog post, Modern Languages Student Jack Shiers discusses how his fascination with the coexistence of both national and regional language during his International Placement Year in Britanny led him to contribute an article to the The Linguist about the Breton language.

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