Social and Policy Sciences

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Introduction

* Full-time MPhil 1-3 years
* Full-time PhD 2-4 years
* Part-time MPhil 2-4 years
* Part-time PhD 3-6 years

You can study for an MPhil/PhD full-time or part-time. Many of our part-time students also work in a professional role directly related to their research, or sometimes as an academic in another university in the UK or elsewhere.

Overview

Students carry out a supervised programme of research at the leading edge of their chosen subject. From an initial proposal, students design and conduct a research programme under the direction of one or two members of our academic staff. The PhD research is written up as a substantial thesis and assessed in an extensive oral examination. You can choose to study any topic in which we have research expertise. Details of research staff expertise and interests are available on individual staff pages.

Study options

We are an internationally-recognised research-intensive Department with a strong focus on policy and practice, and a commitment to contribute to social wellbeing and social justice. We offer supervisory expertise in four disciplines:

* International Development
* Social Policy
* Sociology
* Social work

Our PhDs are not formally assigned a discipline and successful candidates can describe their PhD to reflect its main research area (e.g. PhD in Social Policy; PhD in International Development).
We have particular strengths in international and comparative research across the globe in all our disciplines. Our staff have published research on the UK, Europe, South and South-East Asia, East and West Africa, and Latin America, among others. Our staff, and research students, conduct research across disciplinary boundaries, and frequently work with colleagues from other disciplines in the department, as well as with colleagues in politics, psychology, economics.

The international and interdisciplinary focus of our research is reflected in the topics of our current research students and in the atmosphere of our lively and active research student community.

* First or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject. * A Masters degree or appropriate research training is also normally required. We consider applicants without Masters or appropriate research training on a case by case basis. We might require applicants to satisfactorily complete one of our Masters programmes, or to attend some/all of the units of our MRes programmes while undertaking the MPhil/PhD programme.English requirementsIELTS 7.0 (with not less than 6.5 in each of the four components)TOEFL 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) with a score of not less than 4 in TWE or 100 (internet-based test) with not less than 24 in each of the components.ReferencesTwo references are required. At least one of these should be an academic reference. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 100 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.