Education and Sociology

Entry requirements

A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject or a master's degree in an appropriate subject. Exceptionally, equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered. All applicants are subject to face-to-face or telephone interview.

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Months of entry

February, April, October

Course content

If you're ready to take your knowledge and expertise in Education into a postgraduate research degree, then Portsmouth is the perfect place to achieve your goals.

As a postgraduate research student, you could investigate what education promises, delivers and looks like to different groups of people around the world, or explore the role of education in creating a more just and equal society, and in preparing children for life in wider society.

Our researchers have decades of expertise within education and leadership, the role of education in conflict affected countries, gender, citizenship education, special educational needs, mental health and wellbeing in childhood, teacher training, and transitions to adulthood.

We have strong links with the Centre for Studies in Literature (CSL), Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR) and the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ). We also work closely with local charities and Portsmouth City Council, and approximately 100 local and regional primary and secondary schools and early years settings.

All our postgraduate research programmes are subject to regular and rigorous external assessment by Ofsted and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Our most recent Ofsted inspection rated our School of Education and Sociology ‘outstanding’.

Support and facilities

When you join us, you'll be supported by our Graduate School, alongside your assigned supervisory team, who'll help you get the most from our facilities. The Graduate School will help you become part of our thriving, collaborative research community, and help grow your skills as a researcher through the Graduate School Development Programme, which offers training, workshops and events.

What can a postgraduate research degree do for my career?

Once you complete your postgraduate research degree, you'll be a highly-skilled researcher with the knowledge and skills to make an impact in many different industries.

Your postgraduate research qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you're an intelligent, capable and motivated person, with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership and creativity.

After researching with us, our successful postgraduate research candidates have gone on to impressive positions in a variety of fields.

Department specialisms

Please visit https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/pgr-education for the latest research project information.

Fees and funding

For further fee information please see https://www.port.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/funding-your-research-degree