Research degrees in Social Sciences PhD

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Research degrees in Social Sciences PhD

• Level of study: PhD Entry Requirements: More information Start date: October and January Duration: 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time Attendance: Full-time, Part-time Course delivery: On-campus (City Campus)
• Entry Requirements: More information
• Start date: October and January
• Duration: 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Course delivery: On-campus (City Campus)

Undertaking a PhD

The School of Social Sciences offers opportunities to study for a PhD by research. Supervision is available by full-time or part-time study and can sometimes be provided by distance learning. Please find further details of who to contact here .

Supporting your studies

Carrying out research for a PhD, DPsych or ProfD requires different skills from undergraduate or taught postgraduate study. You will mostly work on your own research project, but we also emphasise the importance of regular meetings with your supervisory team.

The team consists of a director of studies (who will usually have expertise in your subject area) and at least one other supervisor selected for their complementary expertise such as relevant research methods.

The Doctoral School Team will support you from your initial enquiry, through the application process and the various stages of your degree, until your viva voce examination and subsequent graduation. Once you begin your studies, you will have induction sessions to introduce you to the University, help you settle in and meet other researchers.

Researcher training

In addition to studying for a research degree, students undertaking traditional route PhDs will participate in researcher training. This combines general research training with specific topics associated with your discipline. The training focuses on the requirements of external research funding bodies and government requirements.

We also provide a structured programme of transferable skills training and career development. This is informed by the work of Vitae, the national organisation which supports researchers throughout their careers.

The School of Social Sciences has a strong focus on both applied and theoretically informed research on contemporary social issues and policy. Research is grounded in the disciplines of:

Both cross-School and discipline specific research is flourishing and is supported by School-wide research conferences and events, bursary competitions, and multidisciplinary research groups.

Carrying out research for a PhD (or DPsych or ProfD) is very different from being an undergraduate. You will work on a unique project in a field of your own choice or one that has been developed by colleagues within the School of Social Sciences. We will provide you with the support you need, through expert supervision from experienced researchers, a well-chosen programme of research training and the support of the University's Doctoral School .

You will need to carefully assess the research opportunities available in your chosen area, and we suggest that you seek the advice of the University's Doctoral School and our disciplinary research leads in the School of Social Sciences . They will be able to put you in touch with a potential supervisor, and will also provide advice about the most appropriate course of supporting studies for you.

Research students are supervised by nationally and internationally recognised researchers in the School of Social Sciences.

• Politics and International Relations
• Psychology
• Social Work and Health, including Social Policy
• Sociology including Criminology.

External links and collaborations

The Schools of Social Sciences has developed extensive links with a wide range of external organisations and are actively involved in collaborations with other universities, both in the UK and abroad. These links ensure the business, policy and professional relevance of our research degrees and our postgraduate and professional courses. They have also contributed strongly to NTU's sustained track record in scoring very highly for graduate employability in national league tables. In recent years, researchers have been especially successful in responding to the needs of our external partners. We have been awarded grants from:

Most of our part-time research students, including a high proportion of our international research students, come to us from the public services (including health, policing and local government), the professions (e.g., social work and social care, forensic psychology) and business organisations, to work on research projects directly related to their work. Some PhD projects are designed and managed collaboratively with external organisations. Such projects enable their employing organisations to benefit from contact with leading-edge research. We therefore particularly welcome applications from people wishing to work on projects directly related to business, professional or public services practice or policy.

• ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council)
• British Academy
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• European Commission
• Leverhulme Trust
• Nottingham Probation Service
• Nuffield Foundation
• Home Office
• Cabinet Office
• Department for Education and Science
• National charities
• A wide variety of public services in the East Midlands and beyond

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

credits

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Who will teach you?

• Matt Henn Matt Henn is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Social Sciences and former Research Director for the Department of Social and Political Sciences (2012-2023). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Visit Matt Henn's staff profile

UK students

You should normally hold a first or upper second class honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent qualification. If you don’t hold the above, we can accept a lower second class honours degree with a Masters degree at Merit level from a UK university or an equivalent qualification.

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

International students

Academic entry requirements: You should normally hold a first or upper second class honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent qualification. If you don’t hold the above, we can accept a lower second class honours degree with a Masters degree at Merit level from a UK university or an equivalent qualification.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional requirements for international students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

UK students

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

See information about funding, loans and funded projects .

• For details of fees, please visit our Fees and funding for research students page .

Doctoral loans

Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales provide a non-means-tested Doctoral loan to help with course fees and living costs for a postgraduate research course. Use the links to check if you are eligible.

Studentships

Every year, we provide fully-funded PhD studentships, with opportunities across all our academic disciplines. These are open to UK and International students and applications usually open in October.

Sign up for emails and we’ll let you know when the next NTU studentships are released.

Funded projects

We advertise funded PhD projects throughout the year. See what projects are currently available .

Find out more

Find out how much a research degree will cost and explore different types of research funding .

International students

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

See information about funding, loans and funded projects .

• £17,500 per year

Studentships

Every year, we provide fully-funded PhD studentships, with opportunities across all our academic disciplines. These are open to UK and international students and applications usually open in October.

Sign up for emails and we’ll let you know when the next NTU studentships are released.

Funded projects

We advertise funded PhD projects throughout the year. See what projects are currently available .

Living costs

Visit managing your money to get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees , including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced explore different types of research funding .

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses . There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website .

Fees and funding advice For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494 .

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494 .

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Careers and employability

Whether you want to work in academia or industry, the university will support you with free, personalised training, expert careers advice and more. As well regular workshops, you can book one-to-one appointments with our specialist Doctoral Careers Consultant and access tailored doctoral employability resources

Re:searchers re:vealed

Here at NTU, our researchers come from a variety of backgrounds and they all have a powerful story to tell. Find out about our researchers and the impact their work is making.

• Employability Promise Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise . And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

Employability Promise

• Assessed work-like experience We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

Assessed work-like experience

• NTU Enterprise If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Where your course could take you

Discover how our students and alumni used their qualification to further their careers. Take a look at our other profiles and explore the possibilities awaiting you.

• Rowena Hill's journey from PhD to Professor at NTU "Ask yourself not what you want to do, but where you want to spend your value." View Rowena Hill MBE's profile

Campus and facilities

As a Social Sciences student you'll have access to our facilities in the Chaucer and Newton buildings, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, the facilities including a mock prison cell, banks of open-access PCs, social spaces for either quiet study or busy group work.

NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!

Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. It’s stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure. Enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

UK students

You can apply for one of our advertised projects or submit your own proposal. Find out about our PhD opportunities and how to begin your research journey.

For a step-by-step guide and to make an application, please visit our how to apply page .

To apply for this course you'll need to complete an application form, produce a research proposal, provide appropriate references and then submit your application to the Doctoral School. Further information can be found on the Doctoral School pages .

As you’re applying for a Research degree, you may like to have a look around our Research pages . This may help you to spot academic staff, research areas or projects that interest you.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

International students

For a step-by-step guide and to make an application, please visit our how to apply page .

To apply for this course you'll need to complete an application form, produce a research proposal, provide appropriate references and then submit your application to the Doctoral School. Further information can be found on the Doctoral School pages .

As you’re applying for a Research degree, you may like to have a look around our Research pages . This may help you to spot academic staff, research areas or projects that interest you.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on +44 (0)115 848 2999 .

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