Cardiff University School of English, Communication and Philosophy - PhD Opportunities

With its unique mix of disciplines, Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy offers an exciting range of specialised and innovative postgraduate programmes and a dynamic and highly successful research culture. The School specialises in a range of distinctive and complementary approaches to language, texts, cultures, ideas, values, and identities, involving a mix of humanities and social-science methodologies. Its research activity also crosses boundaries with many other disciplines and traditions. For more information on the School's areas of research and access to the individual research profiles of prospective PhD supervisors see https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/english-communication-philosophy/research/themes.

The School has a thriving postgraduate community with approximately 100 research postgraduates. We take the training of research students very seriously and endeavour to provide the facilities and supervisory guidance which will help each student to flourish intellectually and work productively.

The PhD Programme

The School offers opportunities for full-time and part-time study leading to the degrees of PhD for Critical and Cultural Theory, Creative and Critical Writing, English Literature, Language and Communication, and Philosophy. MPhil options are available for some programmes. There are 3 starting points: October, January and April. 

Funding Notes

Studentships are advertised on the University web site at https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding.  

Welsh Graduate School of the Social Sciences ESRC funding

This studentship competition for fully-funded PhD studentships is closed for 2025-26 entry. There will be a new round of funding announced via the Linguistics and Bilingualism Pathway of the Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) for entry in October 2026.

AHRC funding

Cardiff University welcomes applications for 3 fully funded PhD studentships, funded through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA) scheme. We welcome applicants from the UK and overseas with evidence of exceptional promise for PhD study.

Once you have confirmation of support from a potential supervisor and you have completed your research proposal, you should submit a formal application via the Direct Application Service for the relevant PhD programme, along with supporting documentation normally required by that programme. The relevant school will be able to support you in this process.

In addition to providing evidence to meet the standard School programme entry requirements, you should also complete and upload an additional form providing information specific to the DLA . This contains a statement outlining your potential and aptitude for study and a statement outlining the fit of your project to your chosen School at Cardiff. This should be uploaded to the Miscellaneous Information ‘Supporting Documentation’ section of the University online application form. In the funding section of the standard University application form, you should note that you wish to be considered for the AHRC DLA. Your completed application (including all supporting documentation) should be submitted via the direct application system.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh or English.

Please note that incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview in April 2026 and may choose to be interviewed in either Welsh or English.

How to Apply for a place on a PhD programme in the School 

The School's PhD programmes are listed at https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/english-communication-philosophy/courses/postgraduate-research. Prospective applicants should firstly contact the Postgraduate Office via encap-pgadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk with an indicative research proposal, along with an academic c.v.

Web: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/english-communication-philosophy