Professor in English Literary Studies x2

Job description

• The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is one of South Africa's leading universities and ranks among the top 500 universities globally. Within the University's College of Humanities, the School of Arts has a well-established research profile and a substantial community of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

• As part of this School, English Literary Studies has moved into the twenty-first century with verve and vigour. With a keen eye on the future, our scholars read literatures ranging from the distant past to the hot-off-the-press present, while recognising that reading and interpretation remain vital forms of critical and imaginative engagement within a rapidly changing world.

• English Literary Studies at UKZN seeks to foreground African scholarship and approaches responsive to our African context, while contributing to wider global debates.

• The successful candidates will contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research, curriculum development and postgraduate supervision, and play a leading role in English Literary Studies. Research areas of the candidates may include: South/African literatures, Indian Ocean and world literatures, postcolonial and decolonial approaches, translation, life writing, book and print culture, the sociology of literature, and/or creative or hybrid literary forms.

• The Incumbent will report to the Head of Discipline: Literature & Language

Minimum requirements

• A PhD in English Literary Studies, or a cognate discipline

• At least nine years of teaching experience in English Studies at tertiary level

• Evidence of sustained excellent and impactful research through publications in quality journals and books, appropriate for the level

• Excellent and sustained track record of successful attraction of external research grants

• A sustained excellent track record of successful supervision of postgraduate students at Masters and PhD level, appropriate for the level

• Evidence of national and international recognition in a research area within the discipline

• Evidence of strong and sustained academic leadership within the Department/School/ College/University

Apply by: 13 November 2026