PhD Education

A PhD is the highest academic award for which a student can be registered. A PhD thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge. You will identify a research project and your thesis will be a substantial and unique piece of work. Your programme of work will include participating in conferences and seminars. You will attend relevant aspects of postgraduate courses and may engage in guided reading or a combination of study methods. You will be supervised by a team of up to 3 members including a main supervisor who will advise and support you throughout your project. At the end of a 3-year full-time or six year part-time period of research and writing, you will submit a thesis which will be up to 80,000 words long. You will have developed a range of personal and professional transferrable skills which will be invaluable in your future career. Completing a PhD can give you a great sense of personal achievement and help you develop a high level of transferable skills which will be useful in your subsequent career, as well as contributing to the development of knowledge in your chosen field.

Master's degree or an Honours degree (2:1 or above) or an equivalent professional qualification, normally with a classification of merit or distinction, in a discipline appropriate to the proposed programme to be followed, or first class honours degree appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level, which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment.; As a PhD applicant you will need to submit an online application direct to the University and this should contain a provisional research proposal of between 1500-2000 words (plus bibliography). This should include key criteria that will enable the selector to evaluate the scope and importance of your project and to assist with identifying academic supervision with the necessary expertise and knowledge to supervise you and guide you through your research degree.