The Graduate Centre for Arts and Humanities offers three distinct research degrees, each of which requires you to conduct original research on a specific topic:

• A PhD (100,000 word thesis; 3 years full-time - 5 years part-time)
• An MPhil (60,000 word thesis; 2 years full-time - 4 years part-time)
• An MA by Research (30,000 word thesis; 1 year full-time - 2 years part-time)

Our research students are supervised by leading international scholars and have access to skills and training programmes at College and Institutional levels. Research proposals are invited on a wide range of topics connected with the research specialisms and supervisory interests of our staff. 

Click here for an overview of our research degrees

Entry Requirements

PhD entry requirements are an upper second degree plus a Master’s degree in a relevant subject. M.Phil and Master’s by Research applicants must have a minimum of 2.1 at undergraduate level. Students may enrol in September, January, April or July.

Academi - Research and Supervisory Interests

Academi Hywel Teifi is a unique institute established by Swansea University in 2010 in memory of Professor Hywel Teifi Edwards, a former Professor of Welsh at the university.

Through various activities the Academi supports, increases and enriches the Welsh-medium provision and research at Swansea University and encourages collaboration, entrepreneurship and opportunities through the medium of Welsh. The aim is to ensure that Swansea University students have the best of two worlds - a Welsh and Welsh-medium experience in a university with multicultural and international connections.

English - Research and Supervisory Interests

The English Department at Swansea offers you a friendly environment at one of the best campus locations in the whole of the UK. Our internationally-renowned team of scholars specialise in subjects ranging from Beowulf to postmodern fiction, from applied linguistics to creative writing.

The Department is home to a number of distinct research centres and groups, all with strong and growing international reputations. These include the Centre for Research into the English Literature and Language of Wales (CREW), the Centre for Research into Gender in Culture and Society (GENCAS) and the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Research (MEMO). Postgraduate students are encouraged to attend the regular research seminars and lectures run by these groups and by the Research Institute for Arts and Humanities (RIAH). Click on brochure for further details.

History and Classics - Research and Supervisory Interests

The expertise of the Department of History and Classics spans from the ancient cultures and languages of Greece, Rome and Egypt to the history of late twentieth-century Europe. The research of our staff and postgraduates is integral to the life of the department and it means that Swansea is a vibrant, exciting and stimulating place to study.

We are part of the Research Institute for the Arts and Humanities (RIAH), which organises a large number of seminars, conferences and other research activities. There are also a number of research groups which act as focal points for staff and postgraduates, including: the Callaghan Centre for the Study of Conflict, Power and Empire, the Richard Burton Centre for the Study of Wales, Centre for Ancient Narrative Literature (KYKNOS), Centre for Egyptology and Mediterranean Archaeology (CEMA), Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Research (MEMO) and Centre for research into Gender in Culture and Society (GENCAS). Click on brochure for further details.

LTC - Research and Supervisory Interests

Languages, Translation and Communication boasts a dynamic research and teaching environment which has already won attention and funding from outside bodies such as the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Wellcome Trust and the EU.

We are home to several research groupings, including the Centre for Contemporary German Literature (CCGL) and the Centre for the Comparative Study of the Americas (CECSAM). Staff are also actively involved in the Centre for research into Gender in Culture and Society (GENCAS). Postgraduate students are encouraged to attend the regular research seminars and lectures run through these groups and through the Research Institute for Arts and Humanities (RIAH). Click on brochure for further details.

PCS - Research and Supervisory Interests

The Department of Political and Cultural Studies (PCS) has one hundred and seventy-two postgraduate students and is home to research and teaching in a wealth of subject areas, including Politics, International Relations, War and Society, Public Policy, American Studies, International Communication, Digital Media and Philosophy. 

 PCS is truly inter-disciplinary in its research culture and has established a reputation for innovative and world-class research. This is apparent through an extensive publication output, a record of organising major conferences, seminars and research networks and a wide range of contributions to public life beyond academia.  Our researchers have leading roles in the Callaghan Centre for the Study of Conflict, Power and Empire, the Centre for the Study of Culture and Politics (C-SCAP) and the Burton Centre for the Study of Wales. Click on brochure for further details.