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KU Leuven

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PhD Position in Literary Studies / Translation Studies: Writer’s Residencies and the Emergence of World Literature KU Leuven in Belgium

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Sociology

Funding

Available

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026

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Country

Belgium

University

KU Leuven

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Keywords

Sociology
Translation Studies
Comparative Literature
World Literature
Pluripotency
Cultural Sociology
Literaturwissenschaft

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About this position

KU Leuven’s Faculty of Arts is advertising a fully funded PhD position in Literary Studies / Translation Studies focused on Writer’s Residencies and the Emergence of World Literature. The project sits within the larger EMLIT research program, which examines how world literature is shaped by pluriactivity, digital mediation, and mobility. The doctoral work will be based mainly on the Leuven campus, with close collaboration with researchers in Leuven and Antwerp.

The project investigates European writer’s residencies as key sites in the making of contemporary world literature. It will compare three residency contexts: Passa Porta in Brussels, the Danish Centre for Writers and Translators at Hald Hovedgaard, and the Bergman Estate on the island of Fårö. The research combines textual analysis with sociological and ethnographic methods, including surveys, site visits, interviews, and close reading of literary texts produced in residency contexts. The PhD candidate will write a dissertation on the role of these residencies in literary creativity, place, mobility, and literary form.

The successful applicant will join the research groups Translation & Intercultural Transfer and English Literature at KU Leuven, and will work with project supervisors Núria Codina Solà, Jack McMartin, and Pieter Vermeulen. The position includes participation in the doctoral training program, collaborative research activities, conference presentations, publications, workshop organization, and a limited amount of teaching or support duties. Some research travel in Europe is also expected.

This is a four-year doctoral fellowship: the appointment starts for one year and is extended by three years after a positive evaluation. A research expenses budget is included. Candidates should hold an MA in Translation Studies, Literary Studies, Cultural Sociology, or a comparable degree, have excellent English, and ideally offer multilingual or Scandinavian language skills. The position is open to applicants with strong interests in contemporary literature, literary sociology, translation studies, and the transnational circulation of texts and writers.

Application deadline: 2026-09-30. Applicants must submit a CV with BA/MA grades, a motivation letter, a writing sample of up to 20 pages, and contact information for two references. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a short research proposal for interview. The ideal start date is 1 January 2027.

Funding details

Available

What's required

Applicants must hold an MA in Translation Studies, Literary Studies, Cultural Sociology, or a comparable degree. Very high proficiency in English is required; Scandinavian language skills or other multilingual abilities are an asset. The successful candidate should show strong interest in contemporary literature, the social life of literature, and the intersection of translation studies and world literature, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively, communicate excellently in writing and speech, and liaise with researchers, literary artists, and professional organizations.

How to apply

Apply in English via the KU Leuven jobsite link. Submit a CV with BA and MA grades, a motivation letter, a writing sample of up to 20 pages, and contact details for two references. If shortlisted, prepare a 4-page research proposal for interview.

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