READ: Research in English At Durham

18/06/2026

Dr Alistair Brown's new paper 'The English Literature Essay Question in the Age of AI: Unlocking the Black Box of AI Responses' is now published by University Press at:
👉 https://academic.oup.com/english/advance-article/doi/10.1093/english/efag003/8681540?login=false

Find out more about Alistair’s research at:
👉https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/alistair-brown/

18/06/2026

🪙 Fantastic achievement! 🪙 Durham University rises to 85th in the QS Top Universities World Rankings. We're also proud to be 26th for English in the separate QS World University Rankings by subject.

If you want to study at a world-class institution, there's still time to apply for our MAs in Literary Studies or Creative Writing starting October 2026; or mark us for undergraduate study in future:

https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/english-studies/

We have been ranked 85th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up nine places from last year, and in the world top 50 for Employer Reputation🎉

Professor Karen O’Brien, our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, said: “To rise nine places to 85th in the QS World University Rankings is a tremendous achievement, in an outstanding year for Durham University.

“That employers rank us among the world’s top 50 universities is particularly important for our students and graduates, indicating the exceptional value that a Durham degree holds in equipping students for work and preparing them for career success.”

The QS World University Rankings are widely acknowledged as the most influential university rankings globally.

Read more: www.durham.ac.uk/discover/qs-world-university-rankings/

16/06/2026

📖 Call for Papers: Postgraduate English Journal 📖
The Postgraduate English Journal, one of the longest-running online postgraduate journals in the world, is open for paper submissions for its 48th Issue on 'Artificial Intelligence, Social Media and the Future of Literature'.

Providing a space for postgraduate students and early-career researchers to showcase their work and receive academic feedback, this journal is a unique opportunity to present fresh insight in literary studies.

More information here:
👉https://postgradenglishjournal.awh.durham.ac.uk/ojs/public/journals/1/48th%20Issue%20CFP%20Postgraduate%20English%20Journal%201.pdf

15/06/2026

⭐ Submission Opportunity: Star Wars Conference ⭐

'Star Wars at 50: Forces, Forms, Legacies' Conference, hosted by our colleague Samuel Thomas, is now open for submissions. 📖

Papers can be on a range of topics, including but not limited to: Star Wars in history/as history, genre, transmedial storytelling, and critical theory. These submissions will form the basis of a conference coming up around this time next year.

More details here:

A one-day scholarly conference at Durham University scheduled for May 7th 2027.

12/06/2026

Dr Guy Woodward's new book ‘Imagining Yugoslavia in Mid-Century British and Irish Writing’ is now published by Oxford University Press at:
👉 https://academic.oup.com/book/61749

Find out more about Guy’s research at:
👉https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/guy-t-woodward/

10/06/2026

We are pleased to have received multiple awards this year, all highlighting our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic achievement and support. 📖

Our Department has consistently placed in the top 5 in the UK for English Literature, whilst rising 7 places to 26th in the QS World University Rankings.

Applications for our MA in English Literary Studies and MA Creative Writing are still open for October 2026. Realise the chance to study in a renowned Department, within the UK's University of the Year:
👉 https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/english-studies/postgraduate-study/

05/06/2026

Dr Katharina Herold-Zanker's new book 'Transforming Orality: Articulating Social Change in Nineteenth-Century Britain' is now published by University Press:
👉https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10.3828/9781805966791

This publication is paywalled and only available to subscribers, but you can also explore Durham Research Online, which includes a range of open access articles, chapters, and books from our colleagues across our Department. 📚
👉 https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/orgunit/155342/department-of-english-studies/outputs

03/06/2026

🎉 Unifresher Awards Success 🎉

We are delighted to have placed 2nd in the UK for English Literature according to the Unifresher Rankings, achieving outstanding ratings for student satisfaction, teaching quality, and academic support. 🎉

Durham University has also been recognised as the UK's leading Russell Group university, further reflecting our aim to provide the highest standards of student support and academic research. 📚

If you want to study English Literature or Creative Writing at a consistently high-ranking UK university, there's still time to apply for our October 2026 MA programmes: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/english-studies/postgraduate-study/taught-courses/

Or get a taste for studying at Durham at one of our Undergraduate open days: https://www.durham.ac.uk/visit-us/open-days/

Read more about our Unifresher success here:
https://unifresher.co.uk/uni-prep/rankings/best-universities-for-english-language-and-literature/

Our English Literary Studies (MA) gives you choice, flexibility and the opportunity to specialise, as you develop your skills and interests over 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time).

02/06/2026

📢 Coming up: 20th MEMSA Conference 📢

There's still time to register for this year's Medieval and Early Modern Student Association (MEMSA) at Durham University . The conference promises to be an exciting programme of talks for the 20th anniversary of the conference.

Our colleague Dr Natalie Goodison, Dr Lisa Kattenberg, and Professor Stuart Carroll will lead the conference which will also include a special collections library tour and tour of Durham city.

Register below by 20th June:
👉https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=i9hQcmhLKUW-RNWaLYpvlFFYknFXEpJOkqwtgqakMuZUMkZGTE1aTEVEUFVVTEE3NlVVOTRMMlRSSi4u&route=shorturl

📅13-14th July
📍St. John's College, Durham

01/06/2026

📚 North East Book Events: June Highlights 📚

See our newsletter for the full event details:
👉 https://readdurhamenglish.wordpress.com/events/english-literature-events-in-durham-newcastle-and-the-north-east/

Various Author Talks
📍The bound, FORUM Books, Waterstones, and Collected Books

Crossing the Tees Book Festival
📅 11th-29th June
📍Stockton-on-Tees

Various events at The Lit & Phil, including 'Phantoms at the Phil'
📍The Lit and Phil, Newcastle

A Measure of Success: Durham Almunus Miles Hudson
📅8/6/2026
📍Hild Bede College, Durham University

Conversations with Northern Writers from the Royal Literary Fund
📅19 and 25/6/2026
📍Poetry Pharmacy, York and Ormesby Library, Middlesborough

Our monthly what’s on guide captures the literature and book chat, lectures, readings and other events in Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Teesside, and the North East UK.