Research and innovation
Harold Pinter: Histories and Legacies
Access an extensive database of the history of Pinter’s work in the UK.
Find out more
Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Leeds to lead new survey of English dialects.
Discover our research
Land Lines: British Nature Writing
Researching British nature writing from the late 18th century to the present day.
Visit the Land Lines website
- Research impact
- Pinter Histories & Legacies
- Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
- British Nature Writing
Our research
Our staff and research students form a diverse and welcoming community united by a passion for knowledge and innovation. We blend research and practice, and explore an enormous range of areas including many interdisciplinary endeavours.
The breadth of our expertise, combined with our external partnerships and collaborations, means that the work we do has a real impact both in the UK and worldwide.
Research groups
American Studies
The American Studies Research Group examines American literature and culture from the seventeenth century to the present day.
More on American StudiesCritical Life
The Critical Life Research Group examines postcolonial literature, life writing, animism, psychoanalysis, and memory studies.
More on Critical LifeEnvironmental Humanities
The Environmental Humanities Research Group examines the relationships between human creativity, social life, and the nonhuman world.
More on Environmental HumanitiesMedical Humanities
The Medical Humanities Research Group examines the experiences, practices, representations and histories of medicine, health, and wellbeing.
More on Medical HumanitiesPostcolonial
The Postcolonial Research Group covers a wide range of topics relating to the globalised present as well as the colonial past.
More on PostcolonialTextual Histories
The Textual Histories Research Group examines textual studies, textual editing, and the history of the book.
More on Textual HistoriesResearch centres
Centre for the Comparative History of Print
The Centre for the Comparative History of Print explores print across cultures and time periods and brings together researchers from a range of specialisms including English, History, Philosophy and History of Art.
More on Centre for the Comparative History of PrintLeeds Centre for Medical Humanities
An interdisciplinary collaboration between the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures and Faculty of Medicine and Health. The Centre aims to drive forward the rapidly developing subject area of Medical Humanities and acts as a point of focus both for academic research and knowledge transfer/impact activities.
More on Leeds Centre for Medical HumanitiesUniversity of Leeds Poetry Centre
Our Poetry Centre draws on the University's strength and heritage in creative writing, driving teaching and research in poetry. We are also committed to sharing talent and expertise in poetry through a programme of public readings, workshops, lectures, and exhibitions.
More on University of Leeds Poetry CentreWider research activity
Researchers from our School also engage in collaborative research with other subject areas and participate in interdisciplinary research initiatives such as:
Postdoctoral opportunities
The School of English supports applications for British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships, Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships, and other schemes as they are announced.
Impact and engagement
We work closely with publishers, museum and national and international organisations to ensure our research, across all specialisms, has a beneficial impact on society.

Research projects
Our research spans time periods, continents, genres, and disciplines, encompassing the enormous breadth of literature and literary culture.