Hispanic Studies PhD

Overview

The Department of Languages, Cultures and Film research spans over many areas in Iberian and Latin American Studies. The Department is at the forefront of high-profile research in literary, historical, linguistic and cultural studies. Our research emphasises our understanding of ‘Hispanic studies,’ as relating to the multiple geographical and linguistic contexts that make up the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds.

Introduction

We are one of the oldest established centres for the study of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin-American Studies in the UK. We have experts that specialise in Basque, Catalan, Galician, Portuguese and Spanish (both Castilian and Latin American Spanish), emphasising the global dimensions of language-based research. Our interests provide a rich interdisciplinary environment for research and learning.

Research activity in Hispanic Studies covers a broad range of areas in Iberian and Latin American Studies. Our research is at the forefront of developments in literary, historical, linguistic and cultural studies, and we are the home to major journals, including the Bulletin of Hispanic Studies, the Bulletin of Contemporary Hispanic Studies and Modern Languages Open. Our research enhances our understanding of ‘Hispanic Studies’ as our research relates to the multiple geographical and linguistic contexts that make up the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds.

Prospective postgraduate students can apply for AHRC funding and the Section hosts the Language-Based Area Studies Pathway of the ESRC’s North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership for social science research in Latin American Studies.

Research topics

Our staff offer specialist supervision on any approved aspect of the languages, literatures, cultures or civilisations of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and Lusophone Africa.

We are particularly interested to hear from potential doctoral students working in the areas of gender, race, media histories, digital culture, migration, film studies, history, literature, and the themes below.

We welcome suggestions for other research areas, the specific topic and nature of which should be agreed in consultation with staff.

• Spanish Linguistics, with a particular focus on sociolinguistics
• Medieval Spanish literature and culture
• Contemporary Spanish literature and culture
• Development and new forms of poetry in Spain
• Spanish and Latin American cinemas
• Modern Catalan literature and culture
• Modern Basque literature and culture
• Brazilian popular culture and performance
• Latin American literature and culture
• Latin American popular music and memory
• Digital Cultures in Latin America and Spain
• Political history; social movements and identity; memory and human rights
• Violence and its traumatic aftermaths in literature, film and digital cultures.

Research culture

We work closely with local and regional cultural organizations such as FACT, the National Museums Liverpool, the Tate Gallery and the Bluecoat. We have also been supported by public institutions such as, the Instituto Cervantes and the Instituto Camões leading to public events on Latin American digital art, Brazilian popular culture, and Spanish and Latin American film and literature.

We have strong links and organise cultural events and activities alongside the following organisations:

Our research groups include:

(Research Excellence Framework, 2021)

• Instituto Cervantes in Manchester
• Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs at the Embassy of Spain
• Instituto Camões
• Instituto Etxepare
• Instituto Ramon Llull.
• Conflict, Memory and Heritage
• Image, Sound, Performance
• Place, Space and Belonging
• Media Histories.

How to apply

• 1. Identify potential supervisors Potential supervisors for this PhD include: Dr Valdi Astvaldsson Dr Nicola Bermingham Dr Diana Cullell Dr Abigail Loxham Dr Gorka Mercero Altzugarai Dr Lisa Shaw Professor Claire Taylor Dr Niamh Thornton . View the staff list for the Department of Languages, Cultures and Film for details of potential supervisors across the department. If you’d like any help finding a supervisor, please email HLC-PGR@liverpool.ac.uk .

1. Identify potential supervisors

• Dr Valdi Astvaldsson
• Dr Nicola Bermingham
• Dr Diana Cullell
• Dr Abigail Loxham
• Dr Gorka Mercero Altzugarai
• Dr Lisa Shaw
• Professor Claire Taylor
• Dr Niamh Thornton .
• 2. Prepare your application documents You may need the following documents to complete your online application: A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake) University transcripts and degree certificates to date Passport details (international applicants only) English language certificates (international applicants only) A personal statement A curriculum vitae (CV) Contact details for two proposed supervisors Names and contact details of two referees.

2. Prepare your application documents

• A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake)
• University transcripts and degree certificates to date
• Passport details (international applicants only)
• English language certificates (international applicants only)
• A personal statement
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Contact details for two proposed supervisors
• Names and contact details of two referees.
• 3. Apply Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.

Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

Full-time place, per year - £5,238 Part-time place, per year - £2,619

International fees

Full-time place, per year - £25,350 Part-time place, per year - £12,650

Fees stated are for 2026/27 and may be subject to change for academic year 2027/28. The University may administer inflationary rises to international fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this degree, as well as general student living costs .

Funding your PhD

If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.

There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding . These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.

We've set the country or region your qualifications are from as United Kingdom . Change it here.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.

E. Allison Peers Doctoral Scholarship in Iberian and Latin American Studies

Are you a UK student submitting a research proposal for our Hispanic Studies, Latin American Studies or Modern Languages PhD and you'll be commencing the programme in academic year 2025/26? You could be eligible to apply to have your tuition fees paid and receive an annual grant while you study. One award is available.

Duncan Norman Research Scholarship

If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £23,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.

John Lennon Memorial Scholarship

If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.

Facilities and resources

The Department of Languages, Cultures and Film is part of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, with departments steeped in history and disciplines which have been taught for over a century.

Facilities for postgraduate researchers include designated shared office space and access to a vast repository of journals in the areas of Comparative and World Literature, including e-journals, through the Sydney Jones Library.

You will join a lively community with colleagues from all disciplines collaborating through institutional research groups and forums.

We have a fully equipped language laboratory and a Modern Languages Resource Centre that can be used for private study.

You’ll have access to the newly opened Newton Interpreting Suite. The suite uses the latest industry-standard technology, making it fully ISO compliant. It features five interpreter booths, a 12-person conference table, and an AV comms room to allow hands-on experience of interpreting in real time.

Careers and employability

Our graduates from the Department of Languages, Cultures and Film have been employed in academic roles at the University of Liverpool, University of Warwick, and Bangor University.

Outside of academia, other sectors of employment have included arts and entertainment, education, information and communication, and professional, scientific and technical activities.

Recent examples of positions held by our graduates have been translator, lecturer, associate lecturer, research associate, and writer/author.

Career support from day one to graduation and beyond

Once you graduate after completing your PhD, you’ll gain free access to Prosper to help you unlock your potential and kickstart your postdoctoral research career.

Prosper provides structured career development and support, designed specifically for postdocs, in close collaboration with employer partners and principal investigators.

Opportunities include coaching, workshops, webinars and a buddy scheme designed to help you realise the next step in your career journey.

You can also access online resources including the Prosper portal so you can manage your personal and professional development at your own pace.

As a postgraduate researcher at the University of Liverpool, you have access to an exciting portfolio of development opportunities, designed to support your ongoing success and help you realise your ambitions.

These development opportunities, available through The Academy’s PGR Development Hub , are suitable for all subject specialisms. You might be just commencing your research or in the final stages of completing your PhD.

An initial Development Needs Analysis will encourage you to reflect on your abilities. This exploration of your personal, professional and career development needs will form the foundation of a bespoke development plan you’ll agree with your supervisor.

The aim is to immerse yourself in new experiences, engage in development opportunities designed exclusively for postgraduate researchers, and reflect on your progress.

Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in planning for your future career.

You can access tailored guidance and support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops.

The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.

Meet our PhD researchers

These are the trailblazers, the leaders, the true originals. Our postgraduate researchers are shaping their future, and the future of the world we live in, advancing knowledge with each discovery.

Entry requirements

Discover the qualifications you'll need to apply for this course.

We typically require a UK master’s degree and 2:1 undergraduate degree, in subjects relevant to the proposed field of research, or equivalent academic qualifications from non-UK institutions.

English language requirements

You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country .

We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications .

International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.

Qualification | Details

IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0

TOEFL iBT | If you took a TOEFL test on or before 20 January 2026, you’ll need 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. If you took a TOEFL test from 21 January 2026 onwards, when a new scoring system was introduced, you’ll need 4.5 overall, with 4 or above in all components. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted.

Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59

Pre-sessional English

Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?

The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.

If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests , to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.

Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.

Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online

6.0 overall, with writing at 6.0 and no component below 5.5 | 6 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with writing at 5.5 and no component below 5.0 | 10 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with no more than one component at 5.0 | 12 weeks | Online

5.5 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus

5.0 overall, with no more than one component at 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus

4.5 overall, with no more than one component at 4.0 | 40 weeks | On campus

If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.

Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, for further details.

Contact us

Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Research areas