Our research degrees
We have an international reputation for the quality of our research, meaning
we provide you with an outstanding and supportive environment to undertake
research study. We offer:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Integrated Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctoral Programme (PhD)
We also offer the following research degrees:
- Master of Arts by Dissertation (MA)
- Master of Science by Dissertation (MSc)
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Professional Doctorates
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Master of Arts (MA) by Dissertation, Master of Science (MSc) by Dissertation
and Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
You present a dissertation at the end of the period of study, which sets out
the results of investigative work carried out during the period. Your MA or MSc
by Dissertation can be completed in twelve months on a full-time basis, while
your MPhil takes 24 months on a full-time basis. MPhil programmes in our
Department of Language and Linguistics combine two terms of specialist academic
training followed by the submission of a thesis.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
We offer several routes to a PhD, which takes 36 months on a full-time basis.
Each route requires you to conduct and present your results of original
investigations and research. It is our policy to register all PhD students
initially as MPhil/PhD students and, assuming progress is satisfactory,
confirmation of PhD status normally occurs in the first half of your second year
of study (second half of your third year, if part-time).
PhD - If you hold the necessary qualifications to embark upon the PhD, the
normal minimum period of registration is three years (full-time). A significant
amount of training in professional and research skills is available to all our
PhD students.
Integrated PhD (New Route PhD) - In addition to our standard PhD, we offer a
four-year route to PhD combining an intensive year of taught study with
preparation and submission of a thesis. Your first year includes research
methods training, taught subject-specific modules and a dissertation. At the end
of the first year you are formally assessed and an intermediate award, usually a
Masters, may be made. On successful completion of your first year, you follow
three years of supervised research, during which you continue to receive
training in professional and research skills. See our
course finder for details of subjects offering the Integrated PhD.
Doctoral Programme – Our three-year programme combines specialist training
with preparation and submission of a thesis, where your first year requires you
to take a number of taught modules, which may correspond to the taught elements
of a Masters. After your first year, you continue with supervised research and
receive training in professional and research skills, and attend graduate
research workshops. Our doctoral programmes are available in accounting,
economics, political science, refugee care, sociology and statistics.
Professional doctorates
Professional doctorates are available in a number of subjects, offered by our
School of Health and Human Sciences and Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies. Our
doctorate combines professional training, teaching and research in a way that is
relevant to current practice. We offer them for initial training (full-time) or
for experienced professionals (part-time).