Research

Our department is one of the largest on campus, with 36 research faculty. We have strengths in all areas of British, Canadian and American literature, from the Medieval period to the present, including theory, and the postcolonial. The department's research clusters represent particular areas in which it invites graduate applications.

In terms of research publications, UVic English is one of the most productive departments among comprehensive universities in Canada.

You can browse English Department faculty publications on this online bookshelf.

Our department is currently the home of various publications:

Apart from publications, we measure the strength of our research culture in the quality of our graduates; the collegiality of our faculty and students; regular events, such as the Forum for Your Ideas (fyi) and visiting speakers; and frequent conferences, including an annual conference for graduate students. We aim to provide the most competitive graduate funding in Canada.

Meet our researchers

Faces of UVic Research is a series of "elevator pitch" style videos showcasing the passion and commitment of UVic researchers. It's a great way to discover what our faculty are researching.

Faces of UVic Research: Iain Higgins
Dr. Iain Higgins is a professor in the Department of English at the University of Victoria Faculty of Humanities. His teaching and research interests include later medieval English, Scottish, and French literature, travel writing, and poetry both medieval and modern. In this video, he discusses his interest in translation, specifically the translation of new experience required in medieval travel writing. He goes on to explain the influence this travel writing has had on language still in use today. He also speaks to a certain collection of travel writings called the Book of John Mandeville from the 14th century, a translated version of which can be found at http://www.hackettpublishing.com/literature/the-travels-of-sir-john-mandeville. On top of this translation, Higgins has also published a book on those writings called Writing East which can be found at http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/856.html. Learn more at http://www.uvic.ca/research/learnabout/home/researchers/experts/details.php?go=1&id=263 University of Victoria: http://www.uvic.ca/ University of Victoria's Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UVic
Faces of UVic Research: Lisa Surridge
Dr. Lisa Surridge is a Professor with the Department of English at the University of Victoria Faculty fo Humanities. In this video, Lisa talks about her study of Victorian literature and her recent project where they show readers today how well-known novels looked and were read in Victorian times. Learn more at: Faces of UVic research: https://www.youtube.com/facesofuvicresearch UVic's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/Uvic UVic research: http://www.uvic.ca/research/learnabout/home/researchers/experts/details.php?go=1&id=277 UVic: http://www.uvic.ca/
Faces of UVic Research: Ray Siemens
Dr. Ray Siemens is Canada Research Chair in Humanities Computing and a Distinguished professor in English and Computer Science at the University of Victoria. In this video he describes the type of work done in the Electronic Textual Cultures Lab regarding the future of reading. He explains the importance of understanding the history of reading and communication, in order to look to the future. Learn more at http://www.uvic.ca/research/learnabout/home/researchers/experts/details.php?go=1&id=769 Visit his website at http://web.uvic.ca/~siemens/ University of Victoria: http://www.uvic.ca/ University of Victoria's Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UVic

See more videos from the English playlist on YouTube.