Programme description
Our PhD Italian Studies programme enables you to carry out a piece of significant and original research at a department that undertakes internationally recognised research that is both wide-ranging and markedly interdisciplinary.
We have a number of specific focuses. These include Modernism, arts and power, the Italian Fascist regime and European totalitarianisms, the history of the book and periodical studies, late medieval and Renaissance literary and cultural studies, translation studies, contemporary literature and arts, and linguistics and sociolinguistics.
A considerable number of PhD candidates in Italian have pursued research across fields from the medieval to modern. This includes linguistics and cultural and translation studies. This research is often supported by funding secured from major AHRC project awards. Italian was also at the forefront of the relaunch of the John Rylands Research Institute and Library .
This helped secure PhD bursaries for candidates working on the world-class special collections of early Italian printed books and manuscripts from the Spencer, Christie and Bullock collections. Staff are also involved in collaborations with colleagues from institutions across the world. They have secured visiting professorships, fellowships and grants at Harvard University, Milan Statale University, Naples University, the Folger Library, the Morgan Library and the British School in Rome.
Our research culture is further enhanced by the presence of visiting professors and lecturers from Italy and the USA, participation in the interdisciplinary seminars held by CIDRAL , and our own research seminars.
Find out more about our research in Italian Studies , our staff and what our current postgraduate research students are working on.
Additional programme information
Humanities Doctoral Academy
Our Humanities Doctoral Academy combines the strengths of our four schools to bring expertise, knowledge, support and high-quality services for postgraduate researchers.
We are a community of academic leaders and postgraduate researchers across all levels in the Faculty of Humanities. The Doctoral Academy Hub houses our specialist professional service teams who support postgraduate researchers throughout the programme journey.
This includes admissions, registration, student experience, progression, examination, and graduation. We collaborate closely with other University directorates including Manchester Doctoral College, Researcher Development team, and the corresponding Doctoral Academies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Together we provide the best experience and support for your studies and research.
EDI
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities.
We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.
We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.
All appointments are made on merit.
The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Teaching and learning
The PhD is the major postgraduate research degree. It involves three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study and the preparation of a thesis of not more than 80,000 words that makes a significant contribution to knowledge.
A satisfactory PhD topic is one that a suitably qualified and properly supervised student can bring to completion within the permitted timeframe.
Please note that all PhD students are required to undertake research training as part of their PhD programme.
Coursework and assessment
Your research will normally be supervised by two members of staff at the University. Your supervisors will most likely be members of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, but if your research requires it, we may arrange for supervision by someone outside the School.
Supervisory arrangements at Manchester are governed by a Code of Practice which is available on the University's website.
Regular meetings will be held with the supervisors, and details of each of the meetings will be recorded.
Research panels (consisting of at least three academic staff, including the supervisors) are held once per semester to monitor progress.
Please note that the first year of the full-time programme and the first two years of the part-time programme are probationary. This means you will be required to show evidence of satisfactory progress to proceed with the programme.
Related research
In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) Italian Studies was assessed as part of The University of Manchester's 'Modern Languages and Linguistics' submission.
The University of Manchester was ranked in the top 10 in the UK in terms (by grade point average) among the 47 departments assessed under Unit of Assessment 26. 92% of our research was judged to be in the highest two categories (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'.
Our research environment was also judged to be strong, with 100% judged to be (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'.
Find out more about our Modern Languages research at Manchester.
What our students say
Facilities
Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.
Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.
We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research. There are extensive computing facilities across campus, with access to standard office software as well as specialist programmes.
Find out more about facilities for Modern Languages and Cultures students.