The Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies (CREMS) is a thriving interdisciplinary community devoted to the study of the long 16th and 17th centuries. It brings together expertise from eight leading departments, making it one of the largest and liveliest centres of its kind in the world.
The Centre is based in the University's purpose-built Humanities Research Centre at the heart of campus and close to the beautiful, historic city of York. Research students are members of a supportive and stimulating interdisciplinary community, taking part in interdisciplinary research seminars, conferences and student-led activities where subject boundaries are easily crossed.
Our staff are prominent scholars from the departments of History, English and Related Literature, Politics, History of Art, Theatre, Film and Television, Archaeology, Music and Philosophy.
Why us?
- A diverse community of over 100 scholars
- Expertise from departments in a leading faculty of Arts and Humanities, ranked eighth in the UK and 40th in the world (Times Higher World University rankings 2020)
- Student-led postgraduate forum (Cabinet of Curiosities), which hosts socials, invited speakers, symposiums and film nights
- Member of the White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities: our members have ready access to training, events, expertise and resources at our partner universities, Leeds and Sheffield, as well as here at York
- Good working relations with local and national institutions such as the V&A, Tate Britain, the National Gallery, the National Archives, the Palace of Westminster and the Yorkshire Country House Partnership
CREMS hosts and collaborates on a wide range of major research projects. We have particular strengths in the history of the book, the history of religion and the history of ideas; space, landscape and the environment; violence and crime; Shakespeare; editing and performance; the reading of history in Elizabethan England; Neapolitan history, topography and culture; the court cultures of England, Italy, Holland and France; materiality, embodiment and the senses.
We offer:
- Stimulating programme of research seminars, conferences, public lectures and symposia attracting national and international researchers
- Access to unique research resources including the Minster Library and Archives, the King's Manor Library and the Borthwick Institute for Archives, as well as some of the UK's finest surviving early modern houses, including Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle
- Dedicated workroom with desks, wifi and printing facilities
What next?
Check that your research interests align with the expertise of one of our staff. Once you've identified a potential supervisor, please contact them before applying to discuss your application and potential research areas.
Complete an application:
PhD in Archaeology
PhD in English
PhD in History
PhD in History of Art
PhD in Music
PhD in Philosophy
PhD in Politics
PhD in Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
Contact us
crems-enquiries@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 328128
Research degrees at the Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
Research at the Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
Funding
Funding for research degrees