PhD Italian Studies: The University of Manchester

Course description

Italian Studies at Manchester undertakes internationally recognized research which is both wide-ranging and markedly interdisciplinary, with a particular focus on linguistics, translation studies, and cultural politics from the Medieval to the modern period. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise over half of its research activity was deemed to be in the top two categories of 'world-leading' and 'internationally excellent', placing it in the upper tier of a small group of elite institutions.

A considerable number of candidates have pursued PhD research in the fields of Italian linguistics and cultural history, in part supported by funding secured from major AHRC research project awards (£350,000 and £280,000). Resources for the study of Italian at Manchester are outstanding and underpinned by the holdings of The John Rylands University Library, the third largest academic library in the UK. The Deansgate branch of the JRULM, which has recently undergone a £16m refurbishment, houses the library's special collections which include a world class holding of early Italian printed books from the Spencer, Christie, and Bullock collections. The research culture is further enhanced by the presence of Visiting Professors and Lecturers from Italy, participation in the interdisciplinary seminars held by the Italian Forum, and regular research seminars.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview: Successful completion of a Masters course, or its overseas equivalent, with an element of research training, is a prerequisite for entry to a PhD. A research proposal must be included with the formal application materials.

English language: Students whose first language is not English require an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with 7.0 in the writing component or a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test) or 100 (internet-based test).