PhD American and Canadian Studies
Course Overview
This PhD program offers a unique opportunity to undertake advanced research in North American Studies within the UK's only department to combine American and Canadian expertise. You will be supported in producing a substantial thesis that examines the United States and Canada through transnational, historical, and cultural lenses, with a particular focus on themes of race, gender, and sexuality. The program is designed to train you for an academic career through comprehensive research training, teaching experience, and a strong, supportive scholarly community.
Key Program Highlights
- Produce a 100,000-word thesis under the guidance of expert supervisors with specialized knowledge in North American histories and cultures.
- Join a vibrant research community through weekly work-in-progress seminars, research retreats, and a program of visiting speakers.
- Gain valuable professional experience through opportunities in teaching, conference organization, and academic publishing.
- Receive dedicated support for public engagement, including organizing events for LGBT and Black History Months.
- Access tailored guidance on research proposals and funding opportunities before you apply.
Course Overview
This PhD program offers a unique opportunity to undertake advanced research in North American Studies within the UK's only department to combine American and Canadian expertise. You will be supported in producing a substantial thesis that examines the United States and Canada through transnational, historical, and cultural lenses, with a particular focus on themes of race, gender, and sexuality. The program is designed to train you for an academic career through comprehensive research training, teaching experience, and a strong, supportive scholarly community.
Key Program Highlights
- Produce a 100,000-word thesis under the guidance of expert supervisors with specialized knowledge in North American histories and cultures.
- Join a vibrant research community through weekly work-in-progress seminars, research retreats, and a program of visiting speakers.
- Gain valuable professional experience through opportunities in teaching, conference organization, and academic publishing.
- Receive dedicated support for public engagement, including organizing events for LGBT and Black History Months.
- Access tailored guidance on research proposals and funding opportunities before you apply.
Requirements
Modules
- You will complete a written thesis of up to 100,000 words. The topic will be agreed with your supervisors (usually two co-supervisors). You also take a verbal examination (viva voce) at the end of your thesis, where you explain your project in depth to an examination panel.
- You will also attend research training sessions and regular graduate 'work-in-progress' seminars, led by the research student community. They are an opportunity to present your ongoing research to your peers, supervisors and invited academic staff and research students. You will then receive feedback and support. You will contribute a paper in semester two.
- 'Beyond the Sense of an Ending: Post-Apocalyptic Critical Temporalities'
- 'Hemispheric Regionalism: Border Discourse and the Boundaries of American Studies'
- 'New Body, New Me? Fat Women Characters in North American Fiction, 1976-2013'
- 'Queer Citizenship and Acts of Reading'
