| Qualifications |
Duration |
Start dates |
Application period |
PhD
(MPhil also available) |
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years |
October |
January |
Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available) |
Duration
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years |
Start dates
October |
Application period
January |
The History of Books and Reading (HOBAR) Research Collaboration, based in English & Creative Writing has made major contributions to the subject internationally. Members have published on authorship studies, printing, publishing, textual editing, and the history of reading.
The group’s research interests range from early modern manuscript culture to 21st century digital reading, and from publishing studies to postcolonial book history. HOBAR includes several externally funded projects, including the UK Reading Experience Database, 1450–1945 (UK-RED), which showcases 34,000 records of the reading experiences of British subjects. Recently, members have been involved in the pan-European consortium project, Reading Europe Advanced Data Investigation Tool (READ-IT), developing digital tools to help uncover the hidden histories of reading.
We welcome applications that relate to group members’ research interests. We look for detailed and well-thought-out proposals; which set out specific research questions and outline the originality of your topic or approach.
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.
Current/recent research projects
Recently completed PhD projects:
- Popular genre fiction in Indian writing in English: recent trends in the Indian literary marketplace
- James Lackington: reading and the art of self-advancement
- Conrad’s reading
Potential supervisors
Fees and funding
| UK fee |
International fee |
| Full-time: £4,786 per year |
Full-time: £12,146 per year |
| Part-time: £2,393 per year |
Part-time: £6,073 per year |
Some of our research students are funded via the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.
For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.
To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.
Links