Doctor of Philosophy in French at University of Cambridge

The French Section offers PhD supervision in an exceptional range of French and francophone studies areas. It contains world-leading researchers in the literature, thought, and culture of the Middle Ages, the early modern period, the 19th century, and the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as in cinema and linguistics. There is usually more than one specialist in any field, which helps broaden the PhD student's approach to and understanding of their topic.

Faculty: School of Arts and Humanities  |  Department: Department of French  |  Duration: 3-4 years full-time; 4-7 years part-time  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Intake: January 2027, October 2027, January 2028  |  Location: Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

There is a dynamic culture of research seminars, and the postgraduate students themselves run their own seminar and arrange an annual postgraduate conference. The PhD is awarded on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing that reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry within the broad field of French Studies. Thesis / Dissertation The thesis typically has a limit of 80,000 words (including footnotes and appendices but excluding the bibliography).

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