Research degrees
Postgraduate research in Modern Languages
Our research, and research supervision, ranges across a wide variety of disciplines including European Literature and Culture, Film, Linguistics, Medieval Studies, Gender Studies, and Translation, and reaches across time from the medieval to the contemporary.
Sarah Foxen
Thesis title: Living on the edge: accent and identity in the (Franco-)Belgian borderland
Supervisors: Dr Zoë Boughton, Prof. Aidan Coveney
Funding: AHRC funding
Exeter is one of the leading institutions in the UK for French linguistics, with research specialisms in sociolinguistics and dialectology. Modules I took with the esteemed scholars Zoë Boughton and Aidan Coveney during my undergraduate studies sparked a passion for French linguistics that has endured. There is only one place I would want to do a PhD in French linguistics, and that’s at Exeter under the supervision of Zoë Boughton and Aidan Coveney.
Sandra Daroczi
Thesis title: Reception of Contemporary French Women Writers
Supervisors: Dr Fiona Cox, Dr Maria Scott
Funding: College of Humanities Studentship
I chose Exeter for my PhD due to the expertise, and support of the Modern Languages department. My supervisors are always helpful and encouraging, and I felt included in the research community from day 1. There are numerous opportunities for personal and professional development, and the College are incredibly supportive when it comes to student projects and initiatives.
Giada Alessandroni
Thesis title: Representations of Female Homosociality in French Belle Epoque Popular Culture (1880-1914)
Supervisors: Dr Maria Scott, Dr Fiona Cox
Funding: College of Humanities PhD studentship (Home/EU)
On top of the excellent supervision provided by my supervisors, I experience a great sense of community and appreciate all the training, networking, and financial opportunities that we are given in order to conduct our researches at a world class level. I chose the University of Exeter because I knew that in this dynamic and stimulating environment I could grow both as a researcher and as a person.
Russ Sanchez
Thesis title:
Supervisors:
Funding:
'Quote'
Maria Selezneva
Thesis title: The role of the translator in creating cultural identity (an examination of English and Russian texts for tourists in Australia, China, Finland and regions of Russian Federation)
Supervisors: Richard Mansell, Muireann Maguire
Funding: Self-funded
For me to study in the University of Exeter means to get a high standard degree. The University of Exeter is not only highly valued internationally but its rank is among the world's best institutions in humanities subjects. To be awarded a doctorate degree by the University of Exeter means that my future will be successful and challenging. There are also a very small amount of universities (even around the world) which have a high quality of translation studies programme (Exeter University is among them).
Researchers in Modern Languages are actively engaged in projects across a broad range of subjects, including linguistics and translation studies, film, visual arts, and literary culture.
Our research-active academic staff, supported by a team of language teachers which includes native-speaker teachers, are highly successful in winning prestigious research awards from funding bodies including the AHRC, British Academy, EU, Leverhulme, and Marie-Curie.
Our wide range of expertise offers postgraduates the possibility of preparing for research degrees in one or more areas. We attach particular importance to the quality of research supervision and training in research methodology and to the integration of our postgraduates into the Department’s academic and research community. Scholars of international repute are frequent visitors.
Explore our research centres and research projects to find out more about our current research topics.
Visit our Modern Languages staff profiles for details on individual staff research interests and publications.
Our current PGRs
We're proud of the research carried out by our PhD students. There are currently around 15 PhD students in the Department, many of whom maintain an online personal profile detailing their research activities. Follow the links below to find out more about them and their research projects.
| Student | Research title | First supervisor | Second supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giada Alessandroni | Female Friendship and Sociability in Nineteenth-Century French Literature | Dr Maria Scott | Dr Fiona Cox |
| Maria Anesti | Oriental Arcadia: The entangled histories of living with nature, China and Europe | Dr Yue Zhuang | |
| Sandra Daroczi | Reception of contemporary Francophone women writers | Dr Fiona Cox | Dr Maria Scott |
| Laura Dragomir | Die Neue Frau im sozialen Milieu: Literarische Darstellungen erotischer Emanzipationsansprueche von der Jahrhundertwende zur Weimarer Republik. | Professor Ricarda Schmidt | Professor Ulrike Zitzlsperger |
| Sarah Foxen | Historical and contemporary perspectives on Belgium and the Franco-Belgian border. | Dr Zoë Boughton | Professor Aidan Coveney |
| Russell Sanchez | The Nature of Trade: Idelogical Dispositions Towards Nature, and their Impact on Dutch Chinese Trade in the Late 18th Century | Dr Yue Zhuang | Professor Emma Cayley |
| Maria Selezneva | The role of the translator in creating cultural identity (an examination of English and Russian texts for tourists in Australia, China, Finland and regions of the Russian Federation) | Dr Richard Mansell | Dr Muireann Maguire |
Supervisors - 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 over three to four years (full time PhD) or six to seven (part-time PhD) to develop, investigate and write-up a project at the cutting edge of theological research.
Visit our staff profiles for more information about individual research interests or use the search box on the right of this page to find a supervisor.
Mentor - each student will also be assigned a mentor who will take on a pastoral role and mediate on any problems that arise during the period of study. Your mentor will keep in regular contact and will provide background stability and support.
Graduate School Office - the College of Humanities has a dedicated Graduate School Office that supports our postgraduate research students during their study with us. The Office promotes intellectual and social contact between research students in all our disciplines to foster a vibrant research community within the College.
Funding opportunities available to students on our research degree programmes in Modern Languages:*
| Award | Value | Application deadline | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Research PhD Studentships - EPSRC DTP Funded | 3.5 year studentship: UK/EU tuition fees and an annual maintenance allowance at current Research Council rate. Current rate of £15,285 per year. | Mon 25th Jan 2021 | EPSRC Funded studentships available for September 2021 entry. The studentship will provide funding of fees and a stipend which is currently £15,285 per annum for 2020-21. |
| Social and Behavioural Life and Environmental Science Research PhD Studentships - EPSRC DTP Funded | 3.5 year studentship: UK/EU tuition fees and an annual maintenance allowance at current Research Council rate. Current rate of £15,285 per year. | Mon 25th Jan 2021 | EPSRC Funded studentships available for September 2021 entry. The studentship will provide funding of fees and a stipend which is currently £15,285 per annum for 2020-21. |
| South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership AHRC PhD Studentship | UK tuition fees for eligible students and a maintenance grant of £15,285 (2020/21) | Mon 25th Jan 2021 | UK tuition fees for eligible students and a maintenance grant of £15,285 (2020/21) |
| 2021/22 PhD Global Excellence Studentship - College of Humanities | International tuition fees and an annual maintenance allowance at current Research Council rate of £15,009 per year (2019/20 rate) | Mon 1st Mar 2021 | Exeter’s College of Humanities is offering one fully-funded PhD Global Excellence Studentship (open to International candidates only) for study commencing in September 2021, across any of its areas of research expertise. |
| Al-Qasimi PhD Studentship in Arab and Islamic Studies, Islamic Studies, Middle East Politics, Ethno-Political Studies, Kurdish Studies or Palestine Studies. | International tuition fees and an annual maintenance allowance at current Research Council rate of £15,285 (for 2020/21 entry) per year | Mon 1st Mar 2021 | We are looking for PhD proposals in humanities and social sciences with reference to the Middle East and the Islamicate world. |
| University of Exeter Global Commitment Scholarship 2020/21 | £2,000 reduction in the first year tuition fee | There is no application for this award. You will be automatically considered. | A tuition fee discount for students starting a postgraduate taught Masters or research degree with us in 2020/21 |
| Shame and Medicine, Art History & Visual Culture - PhD (Wellcome Trust Funded) | UK/EU tuition fees and an annual maintenance allowance (£19,919 for year 1) | Tue 4th May 2021 | Fully funded PhD studentship in Art History and Visual Culture as part of the Wellcome Trust funded Shame and Medicine Project based at the University of Exeter in the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health. |
| Sanctuary Scholarship | Full tuition fee waiver plus annual living cost grant | Fri 21st May 2021 | The Sanctuary Scholarship scheme enables individuals seeking asylum and refugees who are not able access student finance to study at the University of Exeter. |
| Sports Scholarship Scheme | up to £3,000 plus additional support services worth £3,500 | Mon 31st May 2021 | Sports scholarships are awarded to students of outstanding sporting ability who show evidence of achievement at international level in their chosen sport. |
| University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship 2021/22 | 10% reduction in the first year tuition fee | There is no application for this award. You will be automatically considered. | A tuition fee discount for University of Exeter alumni who start a postgraduate degree with us in 2021/22 |
| University of Exeter Class of 2021 Progression Scholarship | 10% reduction in the first year tuition fee | There is no application for this award. You will be automatically considered. | A tuition fee discount for current University of Exeter students completing a degree in 2021 and progressing directly to a standalone postgraduate programme with us in 2021/22 |
| Fulbright Scholarships: Postgraduate Student Awards - 2021/22 competition | Full tuition fee waiver for one year of Masters / PhD & living stipend | Deadline passed (Tue 13th Oct 2020) |
Our UK Partnership award with Fulbright is available for Masters or Doctoral students who are USA or dual USA:UK citizens wishing to study at the University. The award takes the form of a tuition fee waiver for the first year of graduate study (either Masters or PhD) and a living stipend. We also accept scholars in receipt of Fulbright 'Open Awards' (also referred to as the All Disciplines Award). |
| University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship with the Global Commitment uplift 2020/21 | 20% reduction in the first year tuition fee | There is no application for this award. You will be automatically considered. | A tuition fee discount for all University of Exeter alumni who start a postgraduate degree with us in 2020/21 |
| University of Exeter Class of 2020 Progression Award with the Global Commitment uplift | 20% reduction in the first year tuition fee | There is no application for this award. You will be automatically considered. | A tuition fee discount for current University of Exeter students completing a full degree in 2020 and progressing directly to a standalone postgraduate programme with us in 2020/21 |
| UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence: Data Science & AI for Sustainable Futures | UK/EU tuition fees together with a yearly stipend at UKRI rates (£15,285 for 2020/21) | Deadline passed (Mon 18th Jan 2021) |
UKRI Funded studentships available for Autumn 2021 entry. The studentship will provide funding of Home/EU tuition fees and a stipend of £15,285 per annum for 2020-21. |
The College of Humanities works closely with the University’s Career Zone to help you gain the skills, experience and expertise employers are looking for. There are a wide range of opportunities to enhance your employability, along with the support you need to make important career decisions.
We have our own Employability Officer who works to develop close links with employers and arranges careers events.
Employers
Aktuel TranslationsCo-operative Group
DSTL
MBE Training and Translation
Middlesex University
Swansea University
University of Exeter
Walber International
WikiTranslate.org
Occupations
AnalystDepartmental Portfolio Manager
English and French Tutor
Modern Foreign Languages Supply Teacher
Paralegal Assistant
Project Manager and Translator
Project Officer
Sustainability Projects Officer
Translation Internship
Translator
Translator/English Trainer
Visiting Lecturer
*Employment destination information sourced from the DLHE surveys 2013/14 and 2012/13