Our staff's research expertise includes Medieval poetry, drama, myth and romance Eighteenth and Nineteenth-century English literature American literature Twentieth-century poetry and fiction, and critical theory. We especially encourage applications in the following fields: the Reception of Classical Texts Medieval Literature and culture Renaissance Literature Romantic poetry, fiction, political writing and aesthetic theory Victorian fin-de-siecle and Edwardian writing Postmodernism, literary hermeneutics and ideas of authorship Twentieth-century poetry and fiction by British, Irish and American writers. You will be assigned a principal supervisor and an Advisor with whom you will work out your research programme. We will be pleased to discuss your interests with you before you apply. You will be expected to meet regularly with your supervisor(s) to discuss your progress. You will produce a piece of work of 5,000 words during your first year (during your second year for part-time students) which will be read by a member of staff other than your supervisor(s) as a check on progress. You will be encouraged to work towards your goals to achieve completion within a given period. Each July you will submit a joint annual progress report with your supervisor(s). You will be examined by an internal and external examiner when you submit your thesis. We encourage research students to attend conferences and to present papers, and the Department will provide some financial support for such activities whenever possible.