Research Degree Programmes

One-third of the School's postgraduate student community are doctoral research students. The broad areas of doctoral research that are available to students are listed below - click on the links for further information.

For information on MPhil/PhD study at the Institutes of the School, please click on the Institute links below:

Making an Application

Generic course application form . This form can be used to apply for both Master's and Research degree programmes. However, many Institutes have course specific application forms, which are available from their websites (links below).

To make an application for a research degree, speak first to the Administrator in the relevant Institute. Your particular research interest may be able to be supported, even though it is not listed.

Research degrees can be completed on a full-time basis (up to four years) or on a part-time basis (up to seven years). Limited funding is available from the School (one bursary), or the AHRC. Individual Institutes may also offer funding.

Before agreeing to accept you, Institutes will require you to submit a research proposal, so it is worthwhile having this drafted ahead of a formal application. (Guidelines on drafting your research proposal are here.)

Once in contact with the relevant Administrator, they will put you in touch with a potential supervisor. It is important that you discuss your outline research proposal with them, and that you feel that you can work together. Your supervisor will disucss any further development or re-focussing of your proposal before the formal application is taken to the Institutes Research Degrees Committee for approval.

Please note that the English Language Competency requirements (for students whose first language is not English) have been updated. Please click here to view the revised requirements (effective from June 2010).