General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and preferably a Master’s in a related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course. You will be required to submit a sample of written work and may be invited to an interview.

Our research

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures is one of the UK's leading sites of research in French, German, Hispanic, Italian and Translation and Transcultural Studies, and our expertise ranges from the Early Modern period to the present. 82% of our research outputs and 100% of our research environment in the REF2021 exercise were judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent. We welcome applications from prospective PGR students wishing to work in the following areas:

• The literary and visual culture of any of our four principal language areas, including post-colonial areas and perspectives
• The history, politics, theory or philosophy of our four principal language areas
• The study and practice of translation between English and any one of French, German, Spanish, Portugese, Italian, Chinese and Arabic
• Translation technologies

Please note that we do not accept proposals from students wishing to work on second language acquisition or language learning.

Full details of our research interestsLink opens in a new window are listed on the School of Modern Languages and Cultures website.

Find a supervisor

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our School of Modern Languages and Cultures Research Directory where you will be able to filter by your chronological, geographical, linguistic and disciplinary interests.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

Research proposals

It is up to applicants to identify an area of possible study which interests them and which is achievable within three full-time or five part-time years of MPhil/PhD study (or one full-time / two-part-time years of study for the MA by research).

Students should submit a statement of around 500 words outlining their proposed area of study. This should situate a topic within a particular thematic or chronological area, and should make specific references to authors, texts, events, regions, intellectual configurations, or cultural practices(whichever are most relevant).

We recognise, of course, that all projects change and evolve during the actual processes of researching and writing up, and that it is difficult to define a project in advance of carrying it out. However, it is very important, when assessing applications, for us to have a clear idea of your project, not least to enable us to ensure that a suitable supervisor is available.

See our tips on writing a PhD proposalLink opens in a new window.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Modern Languages and Cultures at Warwick

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures is a close-knit community with an excellent reputation for innovative teaching and world-leading research. The School comprises five major sections – French, German, Italian, Hispanic Studies (all broadly conceived) and Translation and Transcultural Studies – and a Language Centre offering linguistic training in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Get to know us a bit better by exploring our department websiteLink opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Modern Languages and Cultures (MA)
• Translation and Cultures (MA)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• MPhil/PhD in French Studies
• MPhil/PhD in German Studies
• MPhil/PhD in Hispanic Studies
• MPhil/PhD in Italian
• MPhil/PhD Translation and Transcultural Studies
• MA by Research in French and Francophone Studies
• MA by Research in German Studies
• MA by Research in Hispanic Studies
• MA by Research in Italian

How to apply

Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.

For research courses that start in September and October 2025 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2025. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course