Our History

The Institute of English Studies (IES) is one of eight institutes that comprise the University of London's School of Advanced Study. The IES is dedicated to training the next generation of scholars and practitioners in the world of books and to championing the value and diversity of English Studies. 

The Institute started life as the Centre for English Studies in 1991 and became a Programme of the School of Advanced Study on its foundation in 1994. The University Council conferred institute status on 2 December 1998, and it officially became the Institute of English Studies on 1 January 1999. Since then it has grown to the point where it now runs over 50 events a year, including research seminars, lectures, conferences, short courses, and a series of international summer schools for six weeks each summer. In addition, the Institute runs major externally funded research programmes and post-graduate degrees.