<p>Hi,
I'm currently doing an undergraduate degree in Eng. Lit. in England (I am English) and I was just wondering if anyone knew which colleges would be best for postgraduate work in Old English? Which are known for medieval languages and literature etc. Also, I assume they would want a First?
Edit: I've heard PhDs in the states are five years long: why is this?
Any help at all would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>PhDs are usually this long because doctoral students are teaching classes and doing research.</p>
<p>No I realise that I just meant given that they're three to four years long in England, what are the extra two years for in the US?</p>
<p>I've heard that it's because students in US universities don't specialize into their major as early as students in European universities, so the extra year(s) are taken up by graduate-level courses made necessary by the fact that US students don't get into higher-level classes in their field of specialization until junior or senior year of college.</p>
<p>I also believe that UK doesnt do comprehensive exams.</p>
<p>Comprehensive exams being what, exactly?</p>
<p>I think what comprehensive exams consist of vary from field to field, but generally they consist of being able to show strong familiarity with field and require a great deal of preparation. Both Canadian and American schools have comprehensive examinations. </p>
<p>They are the last part of a Ph.D. program before you begin your dissertation.</p>
<p>Oh, I see. I think in the UK you are examined orally in your field before you actually qualify to start writing the dissertation, so it is similar.</p>