Our third-cycle subject areas

The Department of Languages and Literatures is the only department in Sweden to offer third-cycle studies in African Languages.

The courses focus on various aspects of African languages, including language structures and sociolinguistic issues, as well as research methods and theory. The thesis contributes to the development of methods and theory within the field of African Languages.

The studies aim to provide an in-depth understanding of the opportunities and limitations of research in African Languages, the role of this research in society, and its relationship to other academic disciplines. An important objective is to analyse previously undescribed languages, particularly languages with oral traditions and endangered languages.

The studies provide students with the tools to critically reflect on their own research from this perspective and develop their ability to work as researchers and academic teachers in African Languages. They also prepare students for professional roles involving advanced investigative, preparatory and analytical work in the public or private sector.

Research in Arabic covers Modern Standard Arabic and Classical Arabic as well as spoken Arabic dialects. The subject encompasses research in linguistics, intellectual history and literature, as well as philology. Research at the Department focuses primarily on linguistics and intellectual history.

In Arabic, the most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary. The programme and its courses are tailored to the third-cycle student’s thesis topic.

In English, the most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary.

The programme may focus on either literature or linguistics, depending on your choice of courses and thesis topic.

The most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary. The thesis project may focus on either linguistics or literature.

German is an internationally oriented third-cycle subject, offering excellent opportunities to attend conferences and develop academic networks. For example, the subject is part of the European network MOVENS – Crossing Cultural and Aesthetic Boundaries (contact: Professor Edgar Platen), which organises annual meetings where doctoral students have the opportunity to discuss their thesis projects with fellow researchers and supervisors.

By tradition, the subject at third-cycle level is simply called Greek, although it refers specifically to Ancient Greek, including Late Antique and Byzantine Greek.

In Greek, the most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary.

The thesis topic may be chosen from a wide range of areas. Textual editing is one such area; other possibilities include studies in history, intellectual history, literature or linguistics. A central feature of the research is that the focus is always on Greek texts.

Our third-cycle programme in Humanities specialising in Educational Sciences focuses on issues related to language learning and language teaching. The programme provides the knowledge, skills and critical abilities required to plan, conduct and present academic studies of learning, teaching, education and socialisation from the perspective of language, literature or cultural studies. It also provides advanced knowledge and skills in theories and methods relevant to the teaching profession.

Under the Swedish Education Act, education in schools must be based on scientific principles. Research in Educational Science and the Humanities contributes to developing this knowledge base. The subject is intended for students with a teaching degree, and the programme is linked to the University-wide Graduate School in Educational Science (CUL).

At the Department of Languages and Literatures, thesis projects may be linked to the research area Language Learning and Language Teaching as well as to the Department’s other research areas – see the links below.

• Language Learning and Language Teaching
• Literary and Cultural Studies
• Linguistic Structures
• Language in Society

Contact

Linda K Hammarfelt
Assistant Head of Department for Third-Cycle Studies

In Japanese, the most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary.

Research in Japanese focuses primarily on linguistics, including areas such as translation, role language, modality, writing systems, discourse analysis, pragmatics, gender, language learning, theatre studies and semantics.

In Latin, the most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary.

For your thesis project, you can choose from a broad range of topics, primarily focusing on Classical and Late Antique Latin, but also on later periods.

Third-cycle studies in Romance Languages generally focus on one of the Romance languages. The Department currently offers supervision in French and Spanish, although it is also possible to undertake comparative projects involving different languages, including Italian.

In French, thesis projects focus on French linguistics, literature in French or language learning. In Spanish, projects similarly focus on Spanish linguistics, literature in Spanish or language learning.

The most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary.

The third-cycle programme has an international focus, and there are opportunities to undertake your studies in collaboration with a French or Spanish university through a cotutelle agreement, which allows you to pursue a doctoral degree jointly at two universities.

Funding through the Bo Linderoth Olson Fund

Third-cycle studies in Romance Languages at the University of Gothenburg have access to the Bo Linderoth Olson Fund, which can provide funding for a doctoral studentship. Calls for applications for this funding are generally issued in conjunction with the Department’s other calls for applications for doctoral studentships.

Third-cycle studies in Sinology offer broad opportunities to explore both historical and contemporary China. The programme is grounded in traditional Sinology while drawing on contemporary theories and methodologies in the humanities. Particular areas of focus include Chinese intellectual history and religion, literature and film, as well as propaganda and rhetoric, although research in other areas is also possible.

In Sinology, the most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis.

The most common form of thesis is a monograph, although you may also write a compilation thesis consisting of a number of articles together with an introductory summary.

The Department has expertise in several Slavic languages, but the primary research areas within third-cycle studies are Russian and Slavic medieval studies (Old Church Slavonic).