Modern Languages
| Award | Attendance | Study | Duration | Start | Domestic fees | International fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhD, MPhil | On-Campus | Full-time, Part-time | 2 - 6 years | October, January, April, July | £5006 per year | £18950 per year |
About Modern Languages, PhD - at Swansea University
A PhD or MPhil in Modern Languages enables you to undertake a substantial project led by your own passions and interests.
It represents a highly respected qualification which can present a pathway to a career in academia, or widen your scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector.
The PhD takes three years full-time or six years part-time, and the MPhil takes two years full-time or four years part-time.
You submit a thesis of up to 100,000 words for PhD assessment and 60,000 words for MPhil assessment, demonstrating a significant contribution to the subject area. This is followed by an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination, or viva).
In both programmes you will conduct original research, supervised by our experts, culminating in a thesis that makes an original contribution to our knowledge and understanding of modern languages.
Modern Languages at Swansea encompasses Arabic, Mandarin-Chinese, French, German and Hispanic Studies with research strengths in written culture and European cinema.
Dynamic research in our department has won attention and funding from external bodies including the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Wellcome Trust and the EU.
We support the following research groups and centres, where many postgraduate research students are based:
- Centre on Digital Arts and Humanities (CODAH)
- Comparative Study of Portugal, Spain and the Americas (CEPSAM)
- Contemporary German Culture (CCGC)
- Gender in Culture and Society (GENCAS)
You are closely supervised by two experienced academics with relevant expertise throughout the course of your project. This involves fortnightly meetings in your first term and meetings at regular agreed intervals beyond.
You will develop and hone research skills needed for high-level work in the field of modern languages, while skills and training programmes available on campus provide further support. You will have the opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars, and at the College of Arts and Humanities Postgraduate conference.
Entry requirements
Contact Swansea University to find course entry requirements.
Why study at Swansea University
There are many reasons to choose Swansea University for your studies; from the stunning beachfront locations of our Singleton Park and Bay campuses, to our global reputation for research and academic excellence, we offer a safe, supportive and fun environment to live and study, and our vast range of courses and subject areas mean you are sure to find the future career for you.
- Top 30 UK research-led university (Research Excellence Framework 2014-2021)
- Ranked within the Top 300 of universities globally (QS World University Rankings 2025)
- Voted 6th safest city in England and Wales (Complete University Guide 2024)
- UK Top 10 of the People and Planet University League (Times Good University Guide 2025)
Whether you join us for your undergraduate degree, postgraduate studies or research, you’ll receive a modern approach to learning, backed by cutting-edge facilities and an excellent research and teaching faculty.
Join Swansea and start your journey, studying in a picturesque, student-friendly city by the sea with so much to offer.