Sociotechnical Futures & Digital Methods PhD

Program Overview

This doctoral program explores the societal impacts of AI and focuses on research in sociotechnical futures. It includes skills workshops, a research project, and a supervisory team. Candidates will develop interdisciplinary academic approaches, innovative methodologies, and produce a rigorous thesis of up to 90,000 words. This program emphasizes professional development through research and career guidance support.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Learning:
• Doctoral skills online
• Doctoral skills workshop
• Research project
• Supervisory team
• Research content:
• Analysis of challenges posed by AI and its societal impacts
• Examination of fundamental theoretical and methodological knowledge covering sociotechnical futures
• Use of AI and algorithms across various domains
• Technology, automation, and climate change
• Interdisciplinary academic approaches
• Innovative qualitative and quantitative methods
• Policy agendas
• Creative thinking
• Rigorous data
• Significant piece of research aimed at contributing to the academic community through a large written thesis (typically up to 90,000 words)
• Professional Development:
• Crucial element of doctoral study
• Support for research and career development
• DoctoralSkills workshops and courses

Assessment:

• Assessment methods:
• Dissertation
• End point assessment
• Thesis
• Viva Voce
• Assessment description:
• Progression from MRes to PhD stage dependent on achievement of a current average grade Masters (at the point of application) normally of at least Merit (60%) grade
• Candidates expected to carry out supervised research at the leading edge of their chosen subject, which must then be written up as a substantial thesis
• Final stage of the PhD program is the oral or viva voce examination, in which students are required to defend the thesis to a Board of Examiners

Other:

• Interdisciplinary pathways with Lead Supervisor from the applicant’s home institution and the second supervisor from a different discipline
• Lead and Second Supervisors must be employed at one of the SWDTP’s partner institutions – Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, or UWE Bristol