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English Studies

We are one of the leading English Departments in the UK, and among the top 50 in the world, offering teaching and research of the highest quality.
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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
  • 60 academic staff
  • 10 post-doctoral researchers
  • 10 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 UK for English according to the Complete University Guide 2023
Athena Swan Bronze Award
Athena Swan Bronze Award Recognising our work to address gender equality
Top 50
Top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
World leading research 90% of our research activity was judged to be 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent' in REF 2021

Study with us

  • Undergraduate study

    Our department combines a strong research profile and excellent publication record with a long-standing and continuing commitment to its undergraduate teaching. 

    Students working together at computer

  • 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 in English and Creative Writing. 

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Undergraduate study

Our department combines a strong research profile and excellent publication record with a long-standing and continuing commitment to its undergraduate teaching. 

Students working together at computer

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 in English and Creative Writing. 

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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
Postgraduate Photography

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Our work and academic community

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

Follow our research blog and discover more about our latest insights and publications.
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What's new?

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  • 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.
    Research news
    Photograph of a castle standing above a river. The text REF20201 Research Excellence Framework is on the front of the image.

  • Lumiere 2021 – In conversation with Kayo Chingonyi

    For this year’s biennial Lumiere light festival Durham University have brought together the producers, Artichoke, and regional writing development agency New Writing North, on an exciting collaboration that will see new works from some of the UK’s leading poets light up Durham Castle. Among them is prize winning writer Kayo Chingonyi, an Assistant Professor in our Department. Here Kayo talks about his involvement and how poetry has been a central part of his life.
    Research news
    Image of Kayo Chingonyi

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.

Research news
This is the card image's alt text.

Lumiere 2021 – In conversation with Kayo Chingonyi

For this year’s biennial Lumiere light festival Durham University have brought together the producers, Artichoke, and regional writing development agency New Writing North, on an exciting collaboration that will see new works from some of the UK’s leading poets light up Durham Castle. Among them is prize winning writer Kayo Chingonyi, an Assistant Professor in our Department. Here Kayo talks about his involvement and how poetry has been a central part of his life.
Research news
Image of Kayo Chingonyi
Read more news

  • 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.
    Research news
    Photograph of a castle standing above a river. The text REF20201 Research Excellence Framework is on the front of the image.

  • New issue of our Postgraduate English journal

    We’re delighted to announce the publication of volume 43 of Postgraduate English, our groundbreaking journal which has been publishing worldwide early-career literature scholars since 2000.
    Research news
    Word cloud of keywords used in this issue of Postgraduate English. literature 0th-century Charlotte Dacre gender Irish Jean Rhys Marina Carr Norman Nicholson Shakespeare 9th-century classical reception colonialism contagion Cumbria desire exile Greek landscape moral neo-Victorian place poetry political power race spatial Tempest theatre tragedy

  • Lumiere 2021 – In conversation with Kayo Chingonyi

    For this year’s biennial Lumiere light festival Durham University have brought together the producers, Artichoke, and regional writing development agency New Writing North, on an exciting collaboration that will see new works from some of the UK’s leading poets light up Durham Castle. Among them is prize winning writer Kayo Chingonyi, an Assistant Professor in our Department. Here Kayo talks about his involvement and how poetry has been a central part of his life.
    Research news
    Image of Kayo Chingonyi

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.

This is the card image's alt text.

New issue of our Postgraduate English journal

We’re delighted to announce the publication of volume 43 of Postgraduate English, our groundbreaking journal which has been publishing worldwide early-career literature scholars since 2000.
Word cloud of keywords used in this issue of Postgraduate English. literature 0th-century Charlotte Dacre gender Irish Jean Rhys Marina Carr Norman Nicholson Shakespeare 9th-century classical reception colonialism contagion Cumbria desire exile Greek landscape moral neo-Victorian place poetry political power race spatial Tempest theatre tragedy

Lumiere 2021 – In conversation with Kayo Chingonyi

For this year’s biennial Lumiere light festival Durham University have brought together the producers, Artichoke, and regional writing development agency New Writing North, on an exciting collaboration that will see new works from some of the UK’s leading poets light up Durham Castle. Among them is prize winning writer Kayo Chingonyi, an Assistant Professor in our Department. Here Kayo talks about his involvement and how poetry has been a central part of his life.
Image of Kayo Chingonyi

Studying English at Durham

What has it been like to study English during the pandemic?

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Upcoming events

Get in touch

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

  • General enquiries
  • Postgraduate admission enquiries

    • Department of English Studies

    Hallgarth House  

    77 Hallgarth Street  

    Durham City  

    DH1 3AY 

    Tel: +44 (0)191 334 2500 

    Fax: +44 (0)191 334 2501 

    Questions about studying here?

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

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