French (PhD - MPhil)

Institution Birkbeck, University of London
Method At the institution
Location London
Type Masters
Course fee By request

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French (PhD - MPhil)

Objectives At PhD/MPhil level, we aim for students to make the transition into fully-fledged, independent academic researchers, with the skills necessary to present their research orally as well as in writing, in addition to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge. Such independence is achieved on the basis of a full appreciation of the hallmarks of good scholarship, such as original thought, the proper use of references and background material, appropriate use of methodology and accountable reporting procedures, and it is these priorities that we aim to impart to our students. Once equipped with the generic and discipline-specific tools for carrying out research, students pursue their particular research interests, supported by regular meetings with their supervisor and attendance at PhD/MPhil seminars.
Entry requirements Entry requirements A good honours degree in French or equivalent. Specific indication of research interests or outline of proposed research prior to interview.
Academic title French (PhD / MPhil)
Course description Staff research areas

The School is able to provide supervision in most aspects of French language, literature and culture, including: the Renaissance; classicism; the Enlightenment; nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature; travel literature; the fantastic; the carnivalesque; literature and the visual arts; literary criticism; gender studies; history of French thought; contemporary literature; French linguistics; bilingualism; French cinema; colonial and contemporary French history.

Supervision in interdisciplinary subjects is also possible.

Study resources

French is taught in the School of Languages, Linguistics and Culture and attracts a large number of research students. The School holds regular PhD colloquia, research seminars and conferences at Birkbeck and other venues in the University of London, and organises workshops in postgraduate research methods and presentation skills. Programmes are available on request and also on the website.

Regular contact is maintained with past postgraduate students, and new and current students are encouraged to discuss their research programme with former students as well as with staff.

As a research student, you will be given help to establish contacts in France with institutions such as Institut Mémoires de l’Édition Contemporaine in Paris, as well as with individual scholars.