# Centre for Women's Studies
**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/academic/
- [CWS home](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/)
- [About us](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/about/)
- [Postgraduate study](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/postgraduate/)
- [Our staff](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/staff/)
- [Our research students](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/research-students/)
- [News and events](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/news-and-events/)
- [Research](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/research/)
- [The Gender Hub](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/gender-hub/)
- [Alumni](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/alumni/)
- [Contact us](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/contact/)
- [Information for current students](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/intranet/)
- [Information for new students](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/welcome/)
- [Student wellbeing](https://www.york.ac.uk/sociology/current-staff-students/students/student-wellbeing/)
# Centre for Women's Studies
The Centre for Women's Studies at York (CWS) is among the most well-established bases for feminist and gender-oriented teaching and research, both in the UK and internationally. Drawing on social science and arts-based methods, we explore and critique gendered ways of knowing. We adopt an inclusive, intersectional, transnational and interdisciplinary approach to the changing nature of women's experiences, gender relations and identities.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E56yT-zSNZI](https://youtu.be/feFk73DodKs)
Founded in 1984, CWS is a leading centre for the study of women and gender. Our interdisciplinary courses are suitable for students with arts, humanities or social science backgrounds.
> ## Study with us
>
> **Postgraduate taught**
>
> - [MA in Women's and Gender Studies](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/ma-womens-gender-studies/)
> - [MA in Women, Violence and Conflict](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/ma-women-violence-and-conflict/)
> ## Research
>
> - [MPhil and PhD Women's and Gender Studies](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/postgraduate/phd-womens-gender-studies/)
> - [MA in Women's and Gender Studies (by Research)](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/postgraduate/ma-womens-gender-studies-research/)
> - [Our research students](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/research-students/)
[Find out more about Women's Studies Now!](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/news-and-events/events/2022/womens-studies-now/)
[Find out more about CWS Student Wellbeing and Support](https://www.york.ac.uk/sociology/student-wellbeing/)
[Watch CWS's Inaugural Annual Lecture with Avtar Brah](https://youtu.be/BMVj6-K-Pr4)
## Events
## News
[### CWS & friends Feb-March 2026 event roundup
Posted on Friday 20 February 2026
CWS and English staff and students are thrilled to announce our Feb-March 2026 event roundup, celebrating LGBT History Month and International Women's Week (or Month, as March should be!).](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/news-and-events/news/march-2026-roundup/)
[### Calling all GEMMA graduates - PhD Studentship in the Centre for Women's Studies
Posted on Tuesday 3 February 2026
Applications are open for 2026/2027.](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/news-and-events/news/phd-studentship-cws/)
[### Highly Commended Award for Centre for Women’s Studies Director, Dr Rachel Alsop, at University of York Inclusive Impact Awards
Posted on Monday 1 December 2025
Dr Rachel Alsop along with colleagues Professor Sara de Jong and Professor Simon Parker from the Department of Politics received a highly commended award in the 'Bridge Builder' category at the fourth annual Community Without Limits Inclusive Impact Awards held at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on Tuesday 25 November.](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/news-and-events/news/rachel-alsop-award/)
[More news](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/news-and-events/)
> ## What our students say
>
> "*Make the most of your time at this great centre - the more you put in the more you'll get out of it (and the sky's the limit for that)!*" - Lotika (former PhD student)
>
> Read more [students' experiences at the CWS](https://www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies/postgraduate/studying-at-cws/).