138 Cultural Studies and Area Studies PhD Degree Programs

Explore the dynamics shaping today’s world through an internationally oriented PhD program focused on North America, Europe, and Eurasia. Combining perspectives from political science, international relations, sociology, economics, media studies, and law, the program provides rigorous multidisciplinary training, close collaboration with leading scholars, and access to global research networks. You will gain the skills and expertise for impactful careers in academia, public institutions, international organizations, and beyond.

The PhD in Comparative History offers doctoral education matching the highest international standards for prospective scholars and teachers. A particular - indeed unique - feature of the program is that it focuses on the comparison, interconnectedness, and entanglements of distinct geo-cultural regions: Central, Southeastern, and Eastern Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean, in close relation to the history of other historical regions, most notably with Western Europe and the Middle East. 

The MPhil/PhD in Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies is a postgraduate research degree in Comparative Literature, Cultural Studies and Postcolonial Studies. The Centre emphasises acquisition of critical theoretical skills and in-depth regional, linguistic and cultural knowledge.

On the MPhil/PhD in African Languages and Cultures, supervision is provided for research leading to MPhil and PhD degrees within the broad area of African studies. Research topics include the study of languages, literature, and the performing arts.

MPhil and PhD in Japanese and Korean Studies covering cultural and linguistic subjects. Research is based on literary, documentary and archival material and fieldwork in Japan and Korea. Students have primary and secondary supervisor and follow the Doctoral School and departmental research training.

The Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD) in Near and Middle Eastern Studies programme provides training in research methods and the study of the Near and Middle East, an interdisciplinary subject area, with research undertaken in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at SOAS.

On this programme we interrupt theory with practice, and practice with theory – we aim to engage you, intellectually and critically, and with enthusiasm, in a cultural studies project that questions everything.

The Doctoral Program in Culture Studies is part of a network hosted by the Lisbon Consortium that brings together the academy and the art world through a partnership between the MA and PhD Programs in Culture Studies at Universidade Católica Portuguesa and prominent cultural institutions in Lisbon (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Cinemateca Portuguesa, Museu Nacional do Teatro e da Dança, Culturgest, Fundação Oriente, Centro Nacional de Cultura, Oceanário de Lisboa, Parques de Sintra-Monte da Lua, Fundação EDP, Fundação Millennium BCP, Fundação Amélia de Mello and Câmara Municipal de Lisboa).

The Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD) in South Asian Studies welcomes applications for the PhD degree on any topic related to the research interests and disciplines of the Department’s research-active staff. Prospective candidates should consult the details of the various staff members’ research areas.

The aim of the Doctoral Program of Studies is to render the students capable of using scientific methods and knowledge, in order to be able to work autonomously on a scientific field of Turkish studies.

The MPhil/PhD in South East Asian Studies at SOAS (School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics) provides research training and supervision in the languages, literatures, cinemas and cultures of South East Asia, with particular emphasis on Burmese, Indonesian/Malay, Thai and Vietnamese.

The Ph.D. program in European Studies provides students with scientific expertise in matters related to both the critical study of Europe today (its institutional frame and policies) and the cultural studies of the European space largo sensu. The program trains students for research and research methodology in compliance with the current requirements of academic knowledge.

The Department of China and Inner Asia supervises MPhil and PhD research and thesis work across a wide range of cultural and linguistic topics related to China and Inner Asia. Research may be based on texts and archives in relevant languages and/or on fieldwork.

EUCLID’s online Ph.D. in terrorism studies and deradicalization is unique in that it is offered by an intergovernmental treaty-based organization with a university mandate. EUCLID has specialized expertise in global affairs, including interfaith studies.

The following are the general objectives of the Program:

The Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship has a strong research base in all areas of cultural policy; creative, cultural and social entrepreneurship; cultural diplomacy; and arts management.