Associate 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: Language & Literature

• A PhD degree in English Literary Studies, or a cognate discipline
• At least six years of teaching experience in English Studies at tertiary level
• Evidence of sustained and successful attraction of external research grants
• Evidence of sustained and impactful research through publications in quality journals and books, appropriate for the level
• A sustained 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, which includes mentorship and coaching

Apply by: 13 November 2026