Entry requirements

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree and additionally, for a PhD, a Master’s degree or equivalent. All international students must show evidence that they meet the English requirement for their course of study: IELTS 7.0 (with no less than 6.5 in any section). This applies even if English is the native language of your home country. An appropriate level of English language competence is also expected as listed below. Applicants may also be required to attend compulsory in-sessional English language support. The Senate reserves the right to assess the eligibility of applicants on an individual basis. Potential research students are encouraged to contact members of staff in the area of interest to receive guidance on how to focus the research proposal. Entry criteria are subject to review and change each academic year.

Months of entry

January, December, November, October, 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. Both full-time (3 years) and part-time (6 years) study routes are available.

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

Find out more

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

UK students

Full time: £4,121, Part time: £2,060

International students

Full time: £17,200, Part time: £8,600

Qualification and course duration

PhD

full time

36 months

part time

72 months

Course contact details

Name: College of Health and Life Sciences
Email: chls-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0) 1895 268161

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