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    * Doctorate in Philosophy English Literature

  Doctorate in Philosophy English Literature

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      (This program is offered in English only.)

      The Department of English offers the degrees of Master of Arts (with or without thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy in English. Both programs equip students to pursue advanced studies in British, Canadian, or American literature informed by a broad knowledge of literary history and by recent developments in literary criticism and cultural theory. The department is well known for its annual Canadian Literature Symposium, and its faculty is distinguished and well-published. The Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) has consistently awarded the department the council's highest rating.

      The department participates in the collaborative programs in Women's Studies and in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the master's level.

      The programs are governed by the academic regulations in effect for graduate studies. Please note, however, that any course fulfilling a graduate degree requirement in English must be completed with a mark of B or higher. A student whose record shows any two grades lower than a mark of B will automatically be withdrawn from the program. Most graduate courses in the Department of English at the University of Ottawa carry three units. Requirements are stated in number of units.

      For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

      A master's degree in English literature, or the equivalent, with at least high second class standing (B+), is required.

      A 500-word statement describing the student's specific interest in the program is required with the application.

      Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2025-2026 calendars for the previous requirements.

      Doctoral Program

      Students must meet the following requirements:

      Course List
        Code                                                      Title                                                                 Units    
        Compulsory Courses                                                                                                            
        ENG 6302                                                  Professional Development: Foundations of Graduate Study in English 1  1.5 Units
        ENG 6303                                                  Professional Development: Advanced Research and Career Paths 1        1.5 Units
        ENG 6304                                                  Critical Research Methods                                             3 Units  
        12 course units in English (ENG) at the graduate level 2  12 Units                                                            
        Second Language Requirement                                                                                                   
        ENG 7900                                                  Second Language Requirement                                                    
        Comprehensive Exam                                                                                                            
        ENG 9998                                                  Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D.)                                                     
        Thesis Proposal                                                                                                               
        ENG 9997                                                  Ph.D. Thesis Proposal                                                          
        Thesis                                                                                                                        
        THD 9999                                                  Doctoral Thesis                                                                
        

        Note(s)

        1

        Students who have completed ENG 6302 and ENG 6303 as an MA student in English at the University of Ottawa, or an equivalent course elsewhere are exempted from this requirement.

        2

        Students may also choose, with permission of the Department of English, relevant graduate courses in Theatre, History, Education, or other disciplines, where available.

        Comprehensive Examination

        Comprehensive examinations are normally taken by the end of the second year and are offered three times each year (late August, December, and April). Students who wish to write the comprehensives must obtain approval from the director of graduate studies by April 1 for August examinations, by September 1 for December examinations, and by December 1 for April examinations.

        Students complete two comprehensive examinations as part of the PhD program, one in a major literary field (1QE) and the other in an area of critical, methodological, and/or theoretical inquiry relevant to the student’s doctoral thesis (2QE). Complete guidelines and procedures are available at the department.

        Language Requirements

        The language requirement is normally French. However, where knowledge of another language is necessary for the major field (e.g. Latin for students working in Medieval or Renaissance studies), the student may request an alternative choice from the Department's Graduate Committee.

        Students may satisfy the requirement by passing the departmental French Proficiency Test administered by OLBI, or by passing three units university-level language course. This courses is additional to the 18 units required for the degree. Students who, at the time of admission, have already completed a university-level course in French or an approved alternative may request to be exempted from language testing.

        The language requirement must be satisfied before the student proceeds to the thesis proposal.

        Duration of Program

        The student must complete all requirements within six years of initial enrollment.

        Minimum Standards

        The passing grade in all courses is B.

        Research at the University of Ottawa

        Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.

        Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:

          * Creating a sustainable environment
          * Advancing just societies
          * Shaping the digital world
          * Enabling lifelong health and wellness

        From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.

        Research at the Faculty of Arts

        The Faculty of Arts is proud of the state of the art research conducted by its professors. In the spirit of showcasing its research to the university community as well as to the general public, the Faculty has created three activities: Dean's Lecture Series, Treasures of the Library, and Excellence Lectures.

        Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Arts

          * Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française,
          * Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies,
          * Institute for Science, Society and Policy,
          * Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI)
          * Morisset Library.

        For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb.

        IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.

        The titles below refer to general subject areas, whereas the actual seminars will consist of specific studies in the subject areas. For a detailed description of the seminars available in any year, please consult the department webpage. Information is normally available early in the winter for the next academic year. All courses are three units.

            ENG 6111 Directed Readings I (3 units)

            Course Component: Research

            ENG 6112 Directed Readings II (3 units)

            Course Component: Research

            ENG 6190 Major Creative Project

            Writing a Major Creative Project (MCP) that meets the requirements of the academic regulations. Work is performed under faculty supervision. Students produce a substantial work of writing with a view to eventual publication and/or further graduate study. The Major Creative Project may take the form of prose, poetry (verse), literary translation into English, as well as other genres. As part of the MCP students write a critical or scholarly introduction to their creative work of writing. This approach combines creative and academic research practices, and supports the development of knowledge and innovation through artistic expression, scholarly investigation, and experimentation.

            Course Component: Research

            ENG 6300 Old English I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6301 Old English II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6302 Professional Development: Foundations of Graduate Study in English (1.5 units)

            Preparation of students for the professional study of English at the graduate level. Topics include expectations in and out of the classroom, internal and external funding (grants and scholarships), graduate level research techniques, and pedagogical skills conducive to success as a teaching assistant.

            Course Component: Seminar

            Courses ENG 6302 and ENG 6303 may be taken in any order. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory). Offered in the fall trimester.

            ENG 6303 Professional Development: Advanced Research and Career Paths (1.5 units)

            Preparation of students for careers involving graduate level research and communication skills, including teaching, university research, and non-academic careers. Topics include writing and publishing scholarly articles and research reports, disseminating research results through academic and non-academic presentations, networking, participation in conferences and professional associations, and career planning for both academic and non-academic career paths for holders of graduate degrees. The course will also prepare students for successful completion of major program requirements such as research proposals, comprehensive exams, and theses.

            Course Component: Seminar

            Courses ENG 6302 and ENG 6303 may be taken in any order. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory). Offered in the winter trimester.

            ENG 6304 Critical Research Methods (3 units)

            Overview of theoretical, methodological, and critical approaches to literary studies to enable students to situate their own research within the discipline.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6310 Middle English Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6313 Directed Reading (3 units)

            Course Component: Research

            ENG 6320 Middle English Literature (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6321 Middle English Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6322 Middle English Literature IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6330 Renaissance Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6341 Shakespeare I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6342 Shakespeare II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6343 Shakespeare III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6344 Shakespeare IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6350 Renaissance Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6351 Renaissance Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6352 Renaissance Literature IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6355 Restoration Literature (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6356 Restoration Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6357 Restoration Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6360 Eighteenth Century Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6361 Eighteenth Century Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6362 Eighteenth-Century Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6363 Eighteenth-Century Literature IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6370 Romantic Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6371 Romantic Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6372 Romantic Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6373 Romantic Literature IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6380 Victorian Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Lecture

            ENG 6381 Victorian Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6382 Victorian Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 6383 Victorian Literature IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7300 Modern Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7301 Modern Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7302 Modern Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7303 Literature and History of the Disciplines (3 units)

            Various topics related to the history of the study of literature and how it has intersected with other fields. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7310 American Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7311 American Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7312 American Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7313 American Literature IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7320 Canadian Literature I (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7321 Canadian Literature II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7322 Canadian Literature III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7323 Canadian Literature IV (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7330 Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature I (3 units)

            Various topics related to twentieth-century and contemporary literature up to the present day. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7331 Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature II (3 units)

            Various topics related to twentieth-century and contemporary literature up to the present moment. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7332 Cultural Studies I (3 units)

            Various topics in cultural studies. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7370 History of the English Language (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7375 Cultural Studies II (3 units)

            Various topics in cultural studies. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7376 Book History I (3 units)

            Various topics in book history. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7377 Book History II (3 units)

            Various topics in book history. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7380 History of Criticism (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7381 Theory of Criticism (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7382 Digital Humanities I (3 units)

            Various topics in digital humanities. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7383 Digital Humanities II (3 units)

            Various topics in digital humanities. Specific topics will be announced each year.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7384 Theory of Criticism II (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7385 Theory of Criticism III (3 units)

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7386 Special Project (3 units)

            Series of open-ended project workshops, including readings exemplifying the art of research in different genres and media (memoir, podcast, lyric essay, video essay, oral history, collage, participant observation, gallery exhibition, etc.). Students will do the reading, debate their findings, and give presentations, but will also develop their own projects over the course of the semester.

            Course Component: Seminar

            ENG 7900 Second Language Requirement

            In keeping with the bilingual character of the University, the PhD program has a French language requirement. Students may satisfy this requirement by passing FLS 1000, the test administered by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, or the departmental language test. The departmental tests are one-hour examinations which require the candidate to translate, with the aid of a dictionary, a passage of literary criticism or another appropriate selection of similar difficulty approximately one page in length. Language testing of languages other than French is normally administered by the Department. Students may also satisfy the language requirement by passing six units of second-year university-level language course(s). These courses are additional to the 18 units required for the degree. In all cases, the minimum passing grade is 66% and leads to an S (Satisfactory) on the transcript for ENG 7900. NOTE: Students who achieve 65% or higher at the MA level will not be required to retake the test if they continue on to the PhD.

            Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research

            ENG 7997 M. Thesis Proposal

            The thesis proposal is prepared under the direction of the thesis supervisor and is approved by the graduate committee. The proposal must normally be successfully completed by the end of the third session. In the event of failure, the proposal can be resubmitted the following session at the latest. A second failure leads to a grade of NS on the transcript and to withdrawal from the program. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

            Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research

            Prerequisites: 7.5 units.

            ENG 9997 Ph.D. Thesis Proposal

            The thesis proposal is prepared under the direction of the thesis supervisor and is approved by the graduate committee after consultation with area experts. The proposal must normally be successfully completed by the end of the seventh session. In the event of failure, the proposal can be resubmitted the following session at the latest. A second failure leads to a grade of NS on the transcript and to withdrawal from the program. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

            Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research

            Préalable : 15 crédits. / Prerequisites: 15 units.

            ENG 9998 Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D.)

            Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research


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