Course content

Research Information

Associated Research
We currently undertake research under the following themes:

-Digital culture in Brazil
-Representation of urban Brazil (particularly Rio de Janeiro/favelas)
-Contemporary Brazilian audiovisual production (especially documentary)
-Urban violence in Brazil
-Postcolonial literatures, cultures and film in Portuguese-speaking Africa
-Comparative literature and film
-Gender Studies
-Representations of Heroism.

We also have a strong record in supervising comparative and interdisciplinary theses across the different languages and disciplines represented in the School of English, Arts and Languages and with other Schools in the University. A number of research projects have recently been funded by the Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership and by the DEL Strategic Priority Studentship scheme.

Current PGR Student Profiles
PhD Title: Locating Post-Conflict Cinema in Mozambique
Years of Study: 2015 - present

PhD Title: Collective Projections of a Feminine Image of the City: Exploring the Socio-Spatial Architecture of Rio de Janeiro through Peripheral Audiovisual Production
Years of Study: 2015 - present

PhD Title: Beyond Racial Binaries: Contemporary Literature by Afrodescendant women in Spain and Portugal
Years of Study: 2018 - present

Career Prospects

Introduction
Many of our PhD graduates have moved into academic and research roles in Higher Education while others go on to play leading roles in educational practice, the public sector or within NGO’s.

Course structure

There is no specific course content as such. Staff supervising on the Lusophone Studies programme are engaged in cutting-edge research relating to the Portuguese-speaking world, with particular emphasis on Brazil and Portuguese-speaking Africa. Areas of research specialism include digital culture, documentary, gender studies, postcolonial literatures and film, representations of heroism, and urban cultural studies. We welcome interdisciplinary approaches and comparative projects (whether within Lusophone Studies or with other language areas), as well as those involving fieldwork. We maintain research links with a number of leading universities in Portugal, Brazil, and Portuguese-speaking Africa, so you will be able to undertake study with partner institutions too.

For more information about the research interests of individual members of staff in Portuguese, please see our staff profiles:

http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ael/Connect/Staff/#SpanishPortuguese.

The unit strongly supports an interdisciplinary research ethos and staff are actively involved in several cross- subject research groupings, reading and writing groups. The PhD programme promotes interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration in the training and supervision of graduate students.

Assessment

Assessment processes for the Research Degree differ from taught degrees. Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback; a formal assessment process takes place annually.

This Annual Progress Review requires students to present their work in writing and orally to a panel of academics from within the School. Successful completion of this process will allow students to register for the next academic year.

The final assessment of the doctoral degree is both oral and written. Students will submit their thesis to an internal and external examining team who will review the written thesis before inviting the student to orally defend their work at a Viva Voce.

Feedback

Supervisors will offer feedback on draft work at regular intervals throughout the period of registration on the degree.

Facilities

Full time PhD students will have access to a shared office space including desk and shared PC facilities. Students will also have access to the state-of-the-art McClay Library and to the Graduate School.

Learning and Teaching

-

-
This is a research degree.

Entrance requirements

A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. While a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) is not essential, it is desirable and applicants without this qualification will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1	TBC
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2	TBC
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1	TBC
EU Other 3	£20,500
International	£20,500

¹ EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

² It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Lusophone costs

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.

Bench fees

Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.

How do I fund my study?

1.PhD Opportunities

Find PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.

2.Funded Doctoral Training Programmes

We offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.

3.PhD loans

The Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.

4.International Scholarships

Information on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a supervisor

If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

Download Postgraduate Prospectus