Overview
Our PhD research programmes will allow you to explore your own interests in creative writing, supported by the expertise of our staff.
Supervision and support
Our permanent supervisory staff include published creative writers working in fiction, poetry, screenwriting and writing for performance, as well as colleagues from English Literature, Film Studies and Media Studies and Drama. Our expertise includes:
Dr Helen Marshall, MA, PhD: Publishing (editing, marketing, and business management); History of the book (manuscript culture); History of genre fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.); Creative writing (novels, short stories, poetry).
Dr Tiffani Angus, MA, PhD: Publishing (editing, history, design and production); Creative writing (novels and short stories); Genre fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, historical fiction, etc.).
Dr Una McCormack, MA, MSc, PhD (Senior Lecturer): fanfiction; transformative works; women's science fiction. Author of Star Trek: The Fall: The Crimson Shadow (Pocket Books, 2013), Star Trek: Typhon Pact: Brinkmanship (Pocket Books, 2012) and Doctor Who: The Way through the Woods (BBC Worldwide Limited, 2011) among others.
Dr Colette Paul, MA, MLitt, PhD (Senior Lecturer): short story theory and practice; contemporary fiction, particularly Canadian literature; narratology. Author of Whoever You Choose to Love (Weidenfeld & Nicolson/Phoenix, 2004), shortlisted for the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Writers Award.
Laura Dietz, BA, MA: science and literature; evolutionary and cognitive approaches to literature; reputation and legitimacy in post-print publishing environments; the novel, especially innovative forms. Author of In the Tenth House (Crown, Random House, 2007).
Judy Forshaw, BA, MA: screenwriting; Judy wrote for television including EastEnders and Byker Grove before joining ARU. She was awarded the Impress Prize for Fiction and an Arts Council Grant to write the novel she is currently completing.
Where you'll research
Your department and faculty
The Department of English and Media is a community of more than 800 students, exploring subjects that further their understanding of culture and communication in the global age, from film studies to applied linguistics. We focus on skills and knowledge valued by employers, and provide our students with valuable industry insight through our links with creative partners.
Our students take part in many activities to help prepare them for the future, like work placements, study abroad opportunities, talks by internationally acclaimed guest speakers, and research conferences. They even have the chance to get writing advice from our Royal Literary Fund Fellow.
We’re part of the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences, a hub of creative and cultural innovation whose groundbreaking research has real social impact.
Where can I study?
Cambridge
Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
Specialist facilities
You’ll have access to our Faculty’s PhD room, where all our doctoral students can meet up to work and take an active part in our postgraduate student community, as well as our campus library and IT facilities.
Fees & funding
Course fees
UK & EU students, 2018/19 (per year)
£4,260
UK & EU students, 2018/19 (Part-time, per year)
£2,130
International students, 2018/19 (per year)
£12,600
International students, 2018/19 (part-time, per year)
£6,300
Bench fees
In some cases extra costs known as bench fees will be charged for a postgraduate research degree. These are to cover additional/ exceptional costs directly related to a specific research project.
We charge bench fees in bands. They may apply for every year of your course. These bands are the same for full and part time students.
If you have to pay bench fees this will be made clear at your interview for a place. If have to pay bench fees this will be stated in your offer letter.
For 2018/19 the bench fee bands are:
- £500
- £1000
- £2000
- £4000
- £8000
PhD by Published Work
Initial registration: £1100
Full registration: £3500
Writing up fees 2018-19
Full-time: £1400
Part-time: £1000
Funding
For advice on funding, scholarships and PhD studentship opportunities, please visit our finance pages for postgraduate students and researchers.
You might also find The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding helpful.
ARU research
Anglia Ruskin's academic excellence was recognised in 2014, as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), an exercise which assesses the quality of academic research. Twelve areas of our work were classed as generating world-leading research. The results showed that we're making a significant impact on economies, societies, the environment and culture in all corners of the globe.
Careers
We’ll provide you with many opportunities for career development and training, in areas like dealing with festivals, agents, and publishers; balancing creative and critical work; giving conference papers; research methods and literature searches; internet training; and editing skills. You might also be able to take on teaching responsibilities in the department, or organise research events like seminars and conferences.
In conjunction with the University’s research support, you can request specific support for writing-up, conference papers, general research methods and other research skills if you need it.
Contact details
If you're interested in finding out more about research study opportunities in this area, please email alsspgr-recruitment@anglia.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
MPhil: You’ll need a Bachelor degree or equivalent with first or upper second class honours, in a related subject area.
PhD: You’ll need a Master degree or equivalent in a related subject area.
Please note we consider most candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil. If you want to apply for direct entry to the PhD route, you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this with your application.
If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a 7.0 in the written English component.. If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.
