Alumni Spotlight: Former English and Literature Graduate, Dr Sean Barrs Earns PhD  

Congratulations to UCP alumni Sean Barrs who has passed his PhD Viva Exam.  

Sean graduated with a first-class honour in English Literature at University Centre Peterborough in 2017. Sean’s PhD built on his undergraduate work that he started at during his degree.  

Sean said, ‘I loved my time at University Centre Peterborough. Due to the smaller class sizes, there was greater opportunity to get support from the academic staff. It also meant that classes were largely seminars and discussion led, rather than lectures, so all the  students could get involved. I found the experience very engaging. After 
graduating, I went on to postgraduate studies and have juggled this with full- 
time work since.’ 

His thesis explores the arguments for veganism and vegetarianism in the 
Romantic literary era and although writing in the era predated the conception of 
either term, Sean explored how their ideas for reform was an intersection of 
their belief in the vegetable diet and their own individual romanticism and 
dreams for change. 

‘Now I have finished my doctorate my main focus will be publication. My 
supervisor and examiners believe my work has strong potential, so I will be 
editing it into a more accessible and publishable format. I’m also interested in 
presenting at more conferences and further academic writing.’ 

If you want to find out more about studying a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, then check out our open day on Saturday, March 15^th:  https://www.ucp.ac.uk/events/open-event-15-march-2025/