Profile Description
The Department of English and the Department of Media at the University of Chester welcome PhD students across a range of subject areas in the Humanities. The English Department delivers programmes in literature, language, and creative writing. It has a thriving postgraduate community with research students working in the areas of nineteenth-century literature; contemporary literature; gender studies; and creative writing. The Department of Media offers programmes in journalism, television, radio, music production, media and film studies, advertising and photography, serving more than 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Both departments are highly rated by students.
Research at the English Department
The Department's research is recognised as of international importance. Staff have extensive experience of publishing books, novels, collections of poetry and articles. Recent books include The Vagina: A Literary and Cultural History (2013), Map of Bones (2016) and Language Debates (forthcoming, 2017). The Department specialises in:
• creative writing
• gender studies
• critical discourse analysis
• nineteenth-century literature
• modernism
• Irish literature
• South African literature
• science fiction, flash fiction
• stylistics/cognitive stylistics
• contemporary literature, neo-Victorian fiction
• children's/ young adult fiction
Research at the Department of Media
Staff are established international researchers who have published books and journal articles in the fields of journalism studies, fan and audience cultures and the societal impacts of social media. Recent books include: Understanding Fandom (2013), Popular Music Fandom (2013), Shades of Expression: Online Political Journalism in the Post-Colour Revolution Nations (2013), Global Journalism (forthcoming), Russia's Liberal Media: Handcuffed but Free (forthcoming). Staff have also submitted evidence to parliamentary inquiries, and have participated in world-leading projects such as the Worlds of Journalism study. Major research areas include:
• Global journalism
• Journalism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
• Media representations of place and conflict
• Regionalism and political devolution
• (Banal) nationalism and Europeanism
• Popular music and media fandom
• Children and young people's political socialisation
• Minority language groups' communication strategies
• Internet opportunities, risks and harms
• Online comments and the virtual public sphere
• Advertising and branding
• Consumer and digital cultures
• Communities of interest and collecting
• Ethnomethodology and conversation analysis
Applicants with interdisciplinary interests both in English/Creative Writing and Media are also welcome.
The PhD Programme
The University of Chester has almost 500 students studying towards a research degree who benefit from excellent library and learning resources, including a postgraduate study space and a regular programme of skills development workshops. Students conduct research on either a full-time or part-time basis. PhD students also participate in the research seminars at departmental and faculty level.
Funding Opportunities
This advertisement is for self-funded study. However, fee bursaries for home/EU students are available on a competitive basis. Self-funded international students are eligible to receive a £1000 discount per year. Additionally, each student is allocated an allowance for conference attendance.
How to Apply
Department of Media applicants should contact Dr Mark Duffett at m.duffett@chester.ac.uk. Initial enquiries by English applicants should be directed to Professor Deborah Wynne at d.wynne@chester.ac.uk
Information on entry requirements and the application process can be found at https://www.chester.ac.uk/research/degrees.
Further Information
Department of Media: Dr Mark Duffett
Email: m.duffett@chester.ac.uk
Web: http://www.chester.ac.uk/media
Department of English: Professor Deborah Wynne
Email: d.wynne@chester.ac.uk
Web: http://www.chester.ac.uk/english