The Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies at Lancaster University is unique. It is one of the largest centres in the UK for feminist research, gender studies and women’s studies, and it is the only centre of its kind in the North West of England. Over 30 years old, CGWS has a long and proud history, counting many world-leading leading feminist academics amongst its former directors and/or alumni.

CGWS is currently directed by Celia Roberts and Vicky Singleton.

Former directors of the Centre include Jackie Stacey, Sara Ahmed, Celia Lury, Bev Skeggs, Gail Lewis, Lynne Pearce, Anne-Marie Fortier, Vicky Singleton, Maureen McNeil and Imogen Tyler.

Former MA and PhD Students are now researching and teaching across the world and include: Finn Mackay, Anne Cronin, Sarah Proctor-Thompson, Adi Kuntsman, Steph Lawler, Fei-Wen Chen, Caroline Jones, Debra Ferreday, Clare Johnson, Breda Grey, Jane Kilby, Michal Nahman, Juliet Pattinson.

The CGWS community is international. Over the years, our students have come from Britain, Canada, Chile, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovenia, Taiwan, Spain, and the United States. Our staff is also international: they come from Australia, Austria, Canada, Britain, India, and the United States, to name a few. We also regularly host visitors – staff, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students – from different parts of the world such as Australia, Canada, Finland, India, Sweden and the United States.

At CGWS you will find a group of people who are excited about their research and who are committed to interdisciplinarity. Feminist technoscience, cultural studies, religious studies, visual culture, film and television studies, queer and sexuality studies, media studies, migration studies, multicultural studies, critical race studies, urban studies, migration, postcolonial studies, studies in literature and creative writing, management studies, theatre studies, disability studies, health studies are all represented in the Centre. We also have links with other research centres and departments.

At CGWS, you will not only find an intellectually stimulating and challenging environment, but you will also find a warm, welcoming, supportive and inclusive community. In the course of the year, we hold several events and activities where students and staff from all over the university can meet and exchange ideas on a range of topics: Open Seminars, Research Seminars, Postgraduate workshop, and other seminars, day schools, symposia, conferences, feminist movie nights, arts events in the city.

Postgraduate research and education is one of the Centre’s core activities. The Centre offers single and combined Masters programmes, where you will be taught by an interdisciplinary team of leading experts on their field.

If you are thinking of a PhD in gender studies/women’s studies, our doctoral research training is provided by one of the best Centres for feminist research and gender studies/women’s studies in the UK, which includes some of the best-known feminist researchers in the world. As a PhD student registered in Gender and Women’s Studies, you will have an office space located alongside CGWS staff.

We offer ESRC and AHRC recognized routes for postgraduate research training (MA plus PhD) in the NW Doctoral Training Partnerships. Please contact us to find out more.