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MPhil & PhD in Gender and Women's Studies

A World-Class Research Centre

Our Centre for Gender and Women's Studies as well as the Department of Sociology, in which we are located, are world-recognised centres of research. This Centre (and its earlier form - the Institute of Women's Studies) has achived consistantly high ratings in the UK Research Assessment Exercises. We're international in scope with staff and students from more than twenty countries.

Research Culture

CGWS is home to an outstanding and highly interdisciplinary research community that includes core staff and students as well as a wide range of affiliated members from across the University, who together generate a uniquely creative, critical and intellectually generous research culture. In addition to regular seminar series, workshops and conferences, the Forum for Gender Research provides a focal point for this consortium of scholars at Lancaster.

Postgraduate Study

As an important part of the research culture the Centre has a large school of postgraduates who are both doing taught MAs, and working towards PhD research degrees. Our students participate in workshops, the annual conference in Gender & Women's Studies and/or at the Department of Sociology and take courses in other departments. PhD students can also benefit from the Faculty for Arts and Social Sciences research training programme.

For those of you new to Gender & Women's Studies

We acknowledge and celebrate that students doing an MA or registering for a research degree in Gender & Women's Studies come from diverse backgrounds, in terms of culture, experience and education. Some of you will have already completed studies in Gender and Women's Studies in the UK or elsewhere. Some of you will be familiar with feminist debates, others of you will not have done any courses in Gender and Women's Studies or feminism.

We have an array of activities and strategies within the Centre to aid your transition to Gender and Women's Studies. For example, you may wish to attend the first year lectures in Gender and Women's Studies and/or to read some introductions to gender, women's studies and feminist theory. The MA handbook and research student handbook list some recommended introductory readings.

Why Lancaster?

• Lancaster leads the league tables
• Wide range of accommodation
• Beautiful countryside & proximity to the Lake District
• Excellent preparation for careers and further research

All our degrees can be taken either full-time or part-time.

Visiting Students?

The department welcomes applications from students registered at other Universities at home and abroad to come to Lancaster for short periods as visiting students. Further information.