Languages, Cultures and Societies

Entry requirements

Before submitting an application, you are advised to discuss your proposal with a member of the academic staff who has interests in your proposed field of study. You can find our academic staff's contact details and areas of expertise in the Supervisors section.

Before agreeing to accept you, the School will require you to submit a research proposal, so it is worthwhile to have drafted this before formally applying. See the Guidelines on drafting your research proposal.

Candidates will normally receive an initial response to their application within 28 working days. Those who have been formally interviewed will normally be informed within one week as to whether they are to be offered a place.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (ILCS) provides first-class PhD supervision and guidance from academics who are leaders in their field, in collaboration with specialists at other institutions where appropriate.

You'll have access to networks associated with the Centres for German and Austrian Exile Studies, Contemporary Women’s Writing, Cultural Memory, Ernst Bloch and German Thought, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Austrian Literature and Culture.

Undertaking doctoral research allows you to develop in-depth knowledge, while making a meaningful contribution to your chosen field.

With guidance from our expert supervisors, you'll carry out extensive independent research culminating in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The areas covered by the Institute’s expertise cover a broad range of law and policy.

This degree presents the opportunity to gain expertise in your area of interest while also honing a range of transferable skills. On completing this course, you'll be well prepared for specialist career paths both within academia and beyond.

On completing this course, you’ll be well prepared for specialist career paths, both within academia and beyond. Graduates are awarded a University of London degree.

The degree can be taken full time over three years (or a maximum of four) or part time over six years (or a maximum of eight). You will initially be registered for our MPhil and then, providing your progress has been satisfactory, be upgraded to our PhD programme.

The primary activity of the PhD programme is the writing of a thesis of up to 100,000 words. There is no formal coursework, but you will be expected to undertake at least 30 days of research training, including attending our two week research methods in law training course. You are also encouraged to participate in the regular seminars held at the Institute during the academic year, as well as to participate in our three specialist research centres.

After submission of the thesis, you will attend an oral examination, either in-person or virtually, conducted by two examiners drawn from a British or world university, who may suggest ways to improve and develop the final text.

Subject areas

The Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies offers doctoral research supervision in the following broad areas:

• French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese Studies
• Literary and cultural studies (especially in relation to migration and 'belonging' or translingual and transcultural creative practice)

Comparative and interdisciplinary studies are available in:
• Cities and cultures
• Comparative/world literature
• Digital Humanities
• Exile writing
• Film and cultural studies
• French and Francophone studies
• Gender and sexuality
• German philosophy
• German Studies
• German-Jewish writing
• Iberian, Latin American and Caribbean studies
• Italian Studies
• Memory studies
• Multilingualism
• Translation studies
• Women’s writing

For any further enquiries, please visit our enquiries portal.

Information for international students

Find out more about everything you need to know from visas to qualifications and language requirements here.

Fees and funding

For more information about funding and scholarships, see here.