| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-10-01 | - |
| 2025-02-01 | - |
| 2025-05-01 | - |
Program Overview
This doctoral program in Politics involves supervised research, seminars, and online courses to develop methodologies and theoretical approaches. Candidates produce an extended thesis of up to 80,000 words, potentially incorporating completed module work. It fosters original knowledge contributions and prepares graduates for careers in academia, policy, and research organizations, fostering professional connections and research collaborations.
Program Outline
Assessment:
You will produce an extended thesis of up to 80,000 words in the case of doctoral research. You can take modules and supplementary on-line courses to develop skills in relation to a range of methodologies, methods and theoretical approaches. The work you complete on these can be included as part of your qualification.
Teaching:
You learn through supervised research, meetings, seminars and training sessions, informal group sessions.
Careers:
Doctorates are essential qualifications for many careers in academia, the policy sector, and public and commercial research organisations. Our research is often applied, which prepares you to tackle issues of immediate relevance to statutory and voluntary agencies. Past graduates have gone on to take up academic posts in both teaching and research roles, as well as public sector organisations. Many people take part-time degrees in collaboration with their current employer.
Other:
You will be part of an active research community in the Sociology Subject Group, the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics, and the wider university. In the Politics Subject Group we conduct research projects and publish academic books and articles in areas such as charity and community work, the politics of the European Union, the politics of welfare, terrorism and counterterrorism, the political theory of new social movements, war and security studies. Through regular interaction with other postgraduate students, researchers and the wider academic community, there is ample opportunity for networking throughout the course. The Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research and Centre for Education and Inclusion Research host a range of stimulating activities and events, including established seminar series that attract internationally excellent researchers. The department has regular staff and student led activities each year on specific topics associated with PhD student research. We organise monthly Research Breakfast that encompass a wide range of topics including, 'how to publish,' and offer a friendly and supportive environment to discuss research.
Our tuition fee for UK postgraduate research students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £4,786 per year. Our tuition fee for International/EU postgraduate research students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £17,205 per year.
Entry Requirements:
- All Students:
- A strong, relevant undergraduate degree (2.1 or above) and/or a relevant master's qualification (merit and above).
- A research proposal (maximum 1,500 words) outlining research questions/area, aim of the project, understanding of current knowledge/literature and context, proposed methodology, potential impact and contribution to knowledge, and key background literature.
- A personal statement (maximum 800 words) outlining motivation for doctoral study, relevant academic and professional skills, and personal context related to the application.
- Copies of qualifications, certificates, and results transcripts.
- Details of two referees who can comment on academic ability and readiness for PhD study.
- An interview (in-person or online) to discuss the project proposal and interest in PhD level study.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency through one of the following:
- Recent academic IELTS demonstrating an overall score of 7.0 or above with no score below 6.5 in the other components or equivalent. Recent means that the IELTS results must have been awarded two years preceding the doctoral programme's start date.
- Educated with a UK Master's degree level (merit and above) within one year preceding the doctoral programme's start date.
- UKVI provides a list of countries exempt from the language entry requirements.
- Students based overseas may be able to study for a PhD by Distance Learning, subject to establishing a satisfactory distance learning agreement as part of the application process.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- International Students:
- Recent academic IELTS demonstrating an overall score of 7.0 or above with no score below 6.5 in the other components or equivalent.
- UKVI provides a list of countries exempt from the language entry requirements.
