A good first degree in English or a closely related discipline is normally required. Applicants are required to send, together with their application:
(i) a short tide and statement (300-500 words) of the research proposed. This should be sufficiently specific to permit its evaluation as a realistic research topic. Note that such a statement is required [...]

A subject of research should have a unifying principle and should aim to make a contribution to knowledge. The subject should be one for which facilities exist in Cambridge and for which supervision is available. Within tfwse constraints a wide range of work is possible. The Faculty welcomes proposals for specific research on specific materials.
Sequence [...]

All dissertations must show knowledge of sources, authorities, and methods of research;
they will be judged on clarity, accuracy, organisation and argument. In keeping with the
longer period of study and greater length required, a Ph.D. thesis is expected to make a more significant contribution to knowledge. The M.Litt. dissertation is expected to be not more than [...]

The Faculty’s teaching strength includes 6 Professors, 7 Readers and 26 University Lecturers and Assistant Lecturers as well as Research and Teaching Fellows from among college teaching officers.
There are normally about 200 Research Students under supervision in the Faculty, working on a wide range of research topics within English studies (including editing work, textual, linguistic, [...]

The examination consists of the following:
(a) a bibliography of an approved area of study, containing not more than one hundred items;
(b)  two essays, each not exceeding 4,000 words in length, or equivalent exercises, on
topics approved or prescribed by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of English;
(c)  a thesis, of not less than 10,000 words and [...]

The course of study is designed to provide training in research in the fields of study comprehended by the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic: it offers the option of combining seminars, classes, and written work in the candidate’s chosen field of interest.
The course consists of classes, seminars, and supervised individual study, based on the [...]

Department of anglo-saxon, norse, and celtic
Faculty of English, 9 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DP
The Department’s central field of study comprises the culture and history of the British Isles between the departure of the Romans and the coming of the Normans, including Latin, Old English, Old Norse, and medieval Celtic (Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Breton) language and [...]