MPhil/PhD in Discourse Studies

Find out more about our Discourse Studies MPhil/PhD degree at Warwick

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P-Q11A

MPhil/PhD

3-4 years full-time;
Up to 7 years part-time

6 October 2025

Applied Linguistics

University of Warwick

Study any aspect of language, communication and discourse in our MPhil/PhD in Discourse Studies. The University of Warwick's Department of Applied Linguistics, ranked 9th in the UK for Linguistics The Complete University Guide 2024, allows you the freedom to research text and discourse in a variety of professional, academic and social contexts.

Working under the expert guidance of a supervisor, PhD students design and pursue an individual research project shaped by their own personal, academic, or professional needs and interests. They participate in seminars and other activities in a diverse and vibrant research community, and disseminate their work through conference presentations and publications to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Teaching and learning

PhD researchers are individually mentored by academic supervisors from the beginning of their journey. They also participate in weekly research seminars in Year One to develop their skills and understanding in relation to research issues and approaches, methods of data collection and analysis, and research ethics.

We are committed to interdisciplinary research that can make a real difference to society and people’s lives by informing policy, changing practice, and challenging perceptions. Current research strengths in the department are:

• Language learning and teaching
• Working, relating, and adapting across cultures
• Language teacher education and development
• Professional and workplace communication
• Language structure, variation and change

Full details of our research interests are listed on the Applied Linguistics web pages.

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

If you are interested in studying for a PhD within the Department of Applied Linguistics, in the first instance please contact our Postgraduate Research Studies Admission Tutor, Professor Professor Neil Murray, N dot L dot Murray at warwick dot ac dot uk.

Please send them the following documents so we can then follow things up and, if appropriate, consult with a potential supervisor:

• A detailed research proposal for the PhD project you wish to undertake
• An up-to-date CV
• A copy of your Master’s degree transcript, with all your grades, including for your dissertation (or an interim transcript)
• A recent IELTS certificate if available (we require level 7.0 overall with 7.0 in the writing component)

To avoid confusion and additional delay, please do not contact staff members directly.

If you have explored our Applied Linguistics Staff Directory and have identified a potential individual whose research interests and publications relate closely to your research topic, please share their name(s) with the Postgraduate Research Studies Admission Tutor when you contact him.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in ELT/TESOL, English, Education, Linguistics, Languages or a relevant discipline, and a Master’s degree in ELT/TESOL, Applied Linguistics or a relevant discipline.

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with a 7.0 in Writing).

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.