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.

CWS is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Founded in 1984, it has become a leading centre for interdisciplinary, transnational and intersectional women's and gender studies. Look out for events across the year to mark this milestone.

Study with us

Postgraduate taught

MA in Women's and Gender Studies

MA in Women, Violence and Conflict

Research

MPhil and PhD Women's and Gender Studies

MA in Women's and Gender Studies (by Research)

Our research students

Find out more about Women's Studies Now!

Find out more about CWS Student Wellbeing and Support

Watch CWS's Inaugural Annual Lecture with Avtar Brah

Events

Tue

May

Use the words you have to get the words you need

In this performance-lecture we’ll feel our way with the words we have toward the ones we need.

Wed

May

A Collision with Truth: Palestinian British voices panel

“Gaza does not propel people to cool contemplation; rather, she propels them to erupt and collide with the truth.” – Mahmoud Darwish, Silence for Gaza (1973)

News

Violent Concepts: Feminists Grappling with Violence, Knowledge and Practice – an interdisciplinary round table discussion.

Posted on Friday 16 May 2025

CWS organised this round table discussion involving feminist scholars from CWS, the Department of Politics, the Department of English and Related Literature, and from Newcastle University.

UK gender studies community reaffirms trans inclusion in response to Supreme Court judgment

Posted on Friday 2 May 2025

The Centre for Women's Studies joins other UK university centres, research groups and networks in gender/sexuality/feminist/women’s studies to issue a statement about the Supreme Court judgment on the meaning of ’sex’ in the Equality Act 2010.

The Cultivate student-led Journal in CWS celebrates International Women's Day

Posted on Monday 10 March 2025

As part of York's International Women's Week programme, a group of the Cultivate team hosted a creative writing workshop in the city.

More news

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.