Part-time doctoral research

About the project

Our part-time doctoral students make up an important part of our research community. At Reading, we recognise the distinct nature of studying part time, and we have a wealth of experience and resources to help you succeed.

If you are thinking of studying for a doctorate part time, you will be in good company. A quarter of our doctoral students either complete their entire programme on a part-time basis or switch after starting full time. You may find that studying part time suits you because:

“As a part-time, mature student, there are times when I work full time on my thesis, while at other times it gets far less input due to my other commitments. Neither myself, my supervisor nor my postgraduate director have ever considered this a problem and this relaxed, flexible attitude has helped immensely and kept me unstressed and on track.”

Hilary Matthews

PhD in History

• you have work commitments
• you have caring responsibilities
• it's preferable for financial reasons.

On campus and By Distance registration

Part-time doctoral study can be pursued either as an on-campus student, or by registering for study By Distance. For more information on By Distance study, including eligibility, see the PhD By Distance webpage .

Working hours and patterns

Your working hours and patterns are not usually specified; however, as a guide, you should expect to spend at least 15 hours a week working on your research or undertaking training and development events. At certain points in your doctoral journey, you may have to dedicate more time for intensive study.

If you are not registered as a By Distance student some level of attendance on campus is required, however this is flexible. You will find your own preferred way of working with us – a few of our part-time cohort attend daily, some others attend weekly, but many who live further afield attend less frequently. Expected work patterns can be discussed with your department and supervisor.

Submission timescales

As a part-time doctoral student, you should aim to submit your thesis within five years of starting your programme. The maximum time allowed is six years, while the earliest submission date is four years (unless you have special permission).

The part-time journey

There are several milestones on your journey towards completing a doctorate. For an overview of the key activities and timescales involved, see our guide to what a doctoral programme entails.

Find out what's involved in a doctoral research programme

Core training

To equip you with the skills you need to carry out your research professionally and effectively, we have created the Reading Researcher Development Programme (RRDP), alongside other training available via the Doctoral and Researcher College.

As a part-time doctoral student, you should attend at least nine RRDP courses over the length of your doctoral programme. Courses range in length from 90 minutes to several days.

Learn about the Reading Researcher Development Programme (RRDP)

Our part-time doctoral students

To get a fuller flavour of what part-time doctoral research is like at Reading, read about what Dr Natalya Sergeeva and Mark Player have to say about their experiences, and how studying part time works for them.

Dr Natalya Sergeeva: Exploring narratives of innovation in the UK construction sector

Mark Player: Japanese punk film production

Funding for part-time study

There are many funding opportunities to support part-time PhD study. All the funding available from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which is offered at Reading through our Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships , is open to applicants intending to study part-time. The University of Reading’s own funding schemes and the majority of externally-funded studentships, all of which are listed on our website, are also open to applicants intending to study for a PhD on a part-time basis. Queries about funding opportunities for PhD study can always be directed to the Doctoral Studentships Support Officer .

Discover more about part-time PhD funding opportunities

Fees for part-time study

You will need to pay the relevant part-time fee for each year of study. If you are self-funded, your fees (including research expenses and supervisory visit fees) are normally payable in two equal instalments – one at the start of the academic year and one at the start of the second semester.

Find out about fees for part-time study

Take the next step

• Visit us
• Get a prospectus
• Ask us a question
• How to apply

Research areas