Social and Policy Sciences PhD
Entry requirements
- A first or 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university.
- 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 or PhD programme.
Months of entry
Anytime
Course content
Deepen your knowledge and research skills for an academic or professional career that focuses on social and public policy.
This course is delivered by the Department of Social & Policy Sciences. Our department is internationally recognised 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).
The programme will enable you to contribute a significant piece of research to the academic community through a written thesis (typically up to 90,000 words).
Research contentStudents 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.
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.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- PhD
- part time36-72 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time24-48 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Doctoral Admissions
- doctoraladmissions@bath.ac.uk