Entry requirements

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree.

Months of entry

January, December, November, October, September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February

Course content

Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. A research degree provides the opportunity to investigate a topic in depth, and contribute new knowledge to your discipline.

A PhD involves demonstrating through original research or other advanced scholarship the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge at the forefront of an academic discipline or professional practice, the ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the general of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline.

MPhil degree option

An MPhil involves the exploration of a research topic and is typically studied over a shorter period of 1 year for a full-time student and 2 years for a part-time student. MPhil students are required to demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights informed by the forefront of their discipline, field of study or professional practice.

Research profile

Social Work at Brunel enables graduates to make a real difference to the world around them including direct practice, community work and practice aimed at influencing social policy. The Social Work Division has particular strengths in working with the old and the young. A PhD in Social Work aims to enable someone to develop knowledge in a specialist area and offers the opportunity to make a valuable and novel contribution to knowledge in a policy, practice or educational aspect of Social Work.

Brunel Experts by Experience has a long and proud history at Brunel whereby service-users help the delivery of Social Work training to students and staff.

In the Division of Social Work we have members of staff who are:

Editor of Ageing and Society, the leading social gerontology journal in the UK
Editors of International Journal of Social Work, Gender and Education, Sex Education
Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health
Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences
Core member of the Sex Education Forum
Advisor on projects funded by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner
Convenor of the British Educational Research Association’s Sexualities Special Interest Group
Awarded the Ken Darby-Dowman Memorial Award for post-graduate teaching

The Division of Social Work have:

specialism in gerontology
specialism in working with children and young people
research with practitioners on tackling gender violence
commitment to anti-oppressive practice
service user perspectives and experiences
specialist researchers in gender and sexualities

Applicants are welcome to contact us about their own specialist topics and projects. However we particularly welcome proposals on

Anti-oppressive practice and the development of resilient practitioners
Children and young people’s experience of services
Elderly and emotional well-being
Sexualities and Sexual Violence

Information for international students

English language requirements

IELTS: 7 (min 6.5W, 6.5L, 6.5R, 6.5S)
Pearson: 64 (58 in all subscores)
BrunELT: 70% (65% in all areas)

Fees and funding

We offer a range of PhD studentships, partial scholarships, and academic prizes, to help with your research fees. Explore external funding, particularly the Research Councils, as well as other support.