PhD Design

About the project

• Research

PhD Design

• Overview
• Degree details
• Our students
• Research
• Entry and fees
• Careers
• Facilities
• Supervisors
• Recently viewed
• Related courses

Overview

Our PhD Design supports advanced research into visual, spatial, multi-sensory and digital design practices, with a particular focus on how design communicates meaning, identity and social change.

You can pursue theoretical or practice-based research across a range of disciplines, including graphic communication, interior environments, fashion and accessories, design futures, museum and gallery experiences and exhibition design.

We welcome PhD Design proposals across a wide range of design disciplines, including but not limited to:

We encourage proposals that investigate how design engages with contemporary challenges such as technological innovation, ecological responsibility, and inclusive futures.

Our staff's current research areas include disability justice, haptic museum and gallery experiences, textual and architectural spatiality, engaged urbanism and more, following interdisciplinary approaches.

See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise in the " supervisors " section lower down the page.

This PhD is available for you to study:

As part of your application, please state whether you are applying for an online PhD.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

• Design futures and critical design: You might explore speculative design, design ethics and the role of design in shaping public discourse. This area encourages interdisciplinary approaches and critical reflection on the future of design practice.
• Graphic communication design: Areas of research may include visual language, typographic systems, editorial design, branding and socially engaged design. This pathway builds on the critical and experimental foundations of our MA Graphic Communication Design , which encourages designers to challenge conventions and develop new modes of communication.
• Interior and spatial design: Research topics may involve exhibition and experience design, sustainable spatial strategies and immersive environments. Researchers on this path often progress from postgraduate study, such as MA Interior Environment Design , where spatial storytelling and material innovation are central.
• Fashion, textiles and wearable design: This pathway supports research into wearable technologies, sustainable fashion practices and the cultural impact of design within the fashion sector. It is closely linked to our MA courses in Fashion, which combine conceptual development with technical expertise.
• full-time or part-time
• on-campus or online
• starting in September or February.

About your degree

Design research at the University of West London examines the cultural, technological and social dimensions of creative practice. As a PhD Design student, we encourage you to critically explore how design contributes to contemporary life through both theoretical investigation and practice-led enquiry.

PhDs are available for you to study full-time or part-time, online or campus-based. Our PhD in Design supports both traditional theses and practice-based research. Candidates undertaking practice-based research may submit creative work accompanied by an exegesis that critically reflects on the research process and outcomes.

Your PhD supervisory team may be composed of colleagues from across more than one research area, depending on your project.

Our online PhD allows you to undertake a postgraduate research degree from a location that fits with your lifestyle and commitments. As part of your application, please state that you are applying for an online PhD. As an online PhD student, you will not be required to visit the campus: all supervision, training, reviews and the viva voce examination are provided online.

An online PhD may not be suitable for all projects, and consideration will be given to the suitability of the research project and whether it can be completed successfully without regular access to campus facilities. As part of your application, please state whether you are applying for an online PhD.

PhDs are available for you to study full-time or part-time, online or campus-based.

All PhD Design students will have access to the University’s student support services , the Library’s e-resources collection and IT support services . You are also welcome to attend the annual doctoral students’ conference on campus.

A PhD is founded on independent research. You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement. You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings, which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Based in the heart of Ealing, West London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the capital or further afield – ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a research degree, please contact Dr Isil Onol .

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

We provide structured research training, expert supervision and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Support
• Networking
• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

What our students say

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other doctoral research candidates.

Abdulazeez Rotimi - PhD

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other doctoral research candidates.

Abdulazeez Rotimi - PhD

Research Repository - Graphic arts

The Repository is a digital archive of research output by our academics and research students.

Research Repository - Fashion and textiles

The Repository is a digital archive of research output by our academics and research students.

Research impact

Learn how our research has helped communities locally, nationally and internationally.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme.
• An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.

Fees & funding

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

Find out more about funding opportunities .

Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website (except for funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

We offer other generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships and bursaries .

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• employers
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (e.g. The Ministry/Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the sources of funding for international students guide.

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

Your future career

Studying for a PhD in Design enables you to develop an area of specialism that will give you an edge, whether you are planning to work in industry or to develop expertise to teach in academia. You will also be learning transferable core skills that apply to jobs both in and out of academia, including:

By the end of your research degree, you will be able to articulately apply these skills to enhance your career path.

• written and oral communication
• research and information management
• public speaking
• project management
• leadership
• critical thinking
• collaboration
• analysis and problem-solving
• conflict resolution
• negotiation.

Job roles

• designer
• lecturer or academic researcher
• consultant
• entrepreneur
• product manage
• production designer
• curator
• content producer.

Graduate fields

• academia and research
• creative and industry
• media arts organisations
• galleries/museums
• film and TV streaming providers
• production companies
• market research companies
• PR and marketing organisations.

Design facilities

Watch the video to explore the facilities on offer to our Design students.

Photographic darkroom

We have facilities for analogue processing and printing, from 35mm up to 5’x4”. We give training on a wide range of traditional printing skills as well as alternative processes.

Photography studios

Our two photography studios are interlinked to allow for larger shoots, and they are equipped with Profoto flash lighting, high-end medium format digital cameras, background rolls and other tools needed to produce professional-grade work.

Printmaking design studio

Our printmaking design studio holds workshops on paper screen printing, lino printing, mono printing, dry point etching and bookbinding. These tools allow you to experiment with graphic reproduction, creating their own original designs.

Digital print facilities

Our Digital Print Bureau has high-tech workstations, fully colour-calibrated professional screens and a wealth of industry-standard software. Students can create professional-grade images from our printers and also have access to top-range scanning machines.

Media Resource Centre

Our Media Resource Centre is available to all students at the London School of Film, Media and Design. We hold a variety of cameras, lights, sound equipment and recording devices.

The Paul Hamlyn Library

The Paul Hamlyn Library provides an extensive range of books, journals and digital resources, PC and Mac workstations and a variety of study spaces.

The Graduate School

If you are interested in studying for a PhD or Professional Doctorate, the Graduate School is here to support your research.

Rami Ranger House (Postgraduate Student Centre)

Rami Ranger House is a focal point for the University’s postgraduate and international students, providing dedicated space for social and learning interaction.

This building, which is three storeys high, offers spaces for collaborative working, socialising, supervision and mentoring on the ground floor. The first floor has work spaces for the postgraduate support teams to use, while the second floor provides guest accommodation for visiting scholars.

Design

Discover the array of design courses at the University of West London, where our professional facilities, inspiring staff and close connections with industry come together to help you pursue your ambitions.

Media and communications

Our media and communications courses emphasise current trends in both traditional media and new media to equip you with the flexibility and skillset required for this exciting and fast-moving industry. Which media and communications degree is the best one for you?

Find out more

Discover seven reasons to study with us and how studying at UWL will support your future career.

Find out about student accommodation and the support for students.

Explore our campus and sites and book onto a campus tour or open day .

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

Rankings

• † Fees - the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the course. Fees are subject to change. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase.
• Teaching - your course will primarily be delivered in-person, however it may include delivery of some activities online, either in real-time or recorded.
• Testimonials - quotes are provided by current or former UWL students. These are mostly from the course but quotes from a UWL student on another course may be used if, for example, the course is new.
• Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.
• Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming, however staff and course content may have since changed.
• Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route and a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.
• The National Student Survey 2026 result is based on the average of all answers by the taught student populations.
• Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and after, 1992.
• PRES - rank out of 53 institutions.

Research areas