MPhil/PhD in Discourse Studies (2024 Entry)
Find out more about our Discourse Studies MPhil/PhD.
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 3rd in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022, allows you the freedom to research text and discourse in a variety of professional, academic and social contexts.
Course overview
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.
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
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.
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 (with a 7.0 in Writing).
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.
Our research
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.
Find a supervisor
There are two ways to find a supervisor. The second way is our preferred way of handling initial communications with prospective applicants, in order to ensure that you can be matched with a potential supervisor, and in order to avoid the confusion that can arise if prospective applicants write simultaneously to several members of staff in the department.
1. Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.
Explore our Applied Linguistics Staff Directory to see if you can identify someone whose research interests and publications relate closely to your research topic. Of course, it is very possible that you already have someone in mind because you have read their work, met them at a conference, or indeed were a student of theirs in the past. In such cases, you may wish to write informally to this person to discuss your plans for doing a PhD, and they may invite you to send a research proposal.
2. If you cannot identify a potential supervisor or are not sure exactly who to approach, the alternative way is for you to write to the Postgraduate Research Studies Admission Tutor, Professor Neil Murray N.L.Murray@warwick.ac.uk and send him your draft research proposal and CV. He can then follow things up and, if appropriate, pass on your inquiry to a potential supervisor.
You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.
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
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
Applied Linguistics at Warwick
Apply your learning from day one.
With a history dating back to 1983, Applied Linguistics at Warwick has diversified over the years from a main focus on English language teaching and teacher education to include expertise in areas such as: intercultural communication, professional communication, the sociolinguistics of language use, the teaching and learning of languages other than English.
Find out more about us on our website.
Our Postgraduate Taught courses
- Intercultural Communication for Business and the Professions (MSc)
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (MA)
Our Postgraduate Research courses
How to apply
The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.
For research courses that start in September and October 2024 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2024. 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
After you’ve applied
Find out how we process your application.
Applicant Portal
Track your application and update your details.
Admissions statement
See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.
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