Warwick's PhD/MPhil in Renaissance Studies offers you the opportunity to join an exciting, internationally renowned research culture. Studying at the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance (CSR), you will receive specialist guidance as you conduct your research project.
As a PhD/MPhil Renaissance Studies student you will focus on completing a dissertation of up to 80,000 words in a period of up to four years. You will work closely with a supervisor (and often two) from the Centre’s allied departments (Classics, English, History, History of Art, Liberal Arts and the School of Modern Languages and Cultures).
You are encouraged to develop an interdisciplinary profile, as well as to strengthen your skills in palaeography and ancient and modern languages. Warwick’s CSR is in fact a worldwide leader in doctoral training, and regularly organises Renaissance-focused programmes, often in collaboration with partner institutions beyond Warwick
You will benefit from an Early Career Club and from the Centre’s unusually broad international connections, for instance with Johns Hopkins University (student exchange) and Monash University (Prato Consortium), as well as our partner institutions in Venice (Italy) and Tours (France).
Our community of doctoral students is tight-knit, fairly small, and very well looked after. During the application process, we will do everything possible to help our applicants secure funding.
Teaching and learning
You will be able to attend skills training, language, and palaeography sessions provided for our PGT students, and audit some taught MA modules in Renaissance Studies.
Entry requirements
2:1 undergraduate degree and Master’s (or equivalent) in a related subject.
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
Please adjust your country as required:
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
We typically ask for two academic references for research courses.
You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.
There are several routes to finding a PhD supervisor at University of Warwick. Searching for a supervisor and submitting a research proposal will look different depending on the opportunity you are applying for. Below you’ll find guidance from the department about what is required for this course.
For more general advice, including top tips for finding and contacting a potential supervisor, and what to include in your research proposal visit the university’s guidance webpages.
Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.
The Centre is accepting expressions of interest from students wishing to pursue a postgraduate course in Renaissance Studies at Warwick.
Students are able to explore various avenues for funding, depending on the course they are choosing and other criteria. Applicants are encouraged to investigate opportunities on our webpagesLink opens in a new window, check the deadlines carefully, and communicate early on with the Director of Graduate Studies Dr. Aysu Dincer Hadjianastasis (A.Dincer@warwick.ac.uk)about their intentions, so that the strongest possible funding proposal may be prepared.
The Director of Graduate Studies will also be able to advise on any specific research proposal requirements.
Fees and scholarships
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 assessment and some student amenities.
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.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of research trips in the UK and overseas. In addition, you should consider the more general costs below:
Access to research material that is not available via university resources
Printing and binding a personal copy of your dissertation
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Gain fresh perspectives on the era that changed everything.
Why study with us?
Explore the Renaissance with the support of a world-leading research community. As a ‘category one’ interdisciplinary centre, we bring together international perspectives on the cultural, artistic and political developments that shaped the world between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Investigate this hugely influential period beyond traditional boundaries, through research, teaching and outreach programmes that take you to the heart of history.
With us, you’ll benefit from Warwick’s rich research environment and collaborative academic community. Our Centre features seminars, visiting scholars and interdisciplinary events from across Warwick and beyond. Alongside access to the University Library and specialist study spaces, you’ll be part of an internationally-connected environment that supports advanced intellectual exchange.
Life at Warwick
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
68th
Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
Applications for courses starting in academic year 2026/27 are now open.
For research courses that start in September and October 2027, the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2027.
For courses starting at other times of year we recommend that you submit your application a minimum of 3 months prior to your intended start date.
This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK if required. We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received late or there are a number of conditions to meet.
If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Explore your future university further at an upcoming event, online or in-person. Can't join? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
