Research degrees

Join an active and supportive research community

Research degrees combine independent study with supervisor support and you will present your findings in a final written thesis.

At the University of West London, we offer two types of research degrees:

We also offer the PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio option with the opportunity to obtain a PhD based on research that has already been undertaken and published.

Your studies will be supported both by your supervisors and our dedicated Graduate School .

• PhDs focus on research and can last three to four years full-time or six years part-time.
• Professional doctorate degrees focus on research that advances professional practice and are equivalent in status and challenge to a PhD.

PhD Bursary - worth up to £2,000

UWL's PhD Bursary provides a £500 reduction in tuition fees for each academic year of your study on the University’s PhD Programme. T&Cs apply.

PhD Bursary - up to £2,000

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.

Our PhD research degrees

UWL offers a wide range of PhD opportunities across:

Your studies will be supported by your supervisors and our dedicated Graduate School.

The University also offers a number of opportunities for fully funded PhD scholarships . These are open to full-time and part-time home/settled students.

• Business
• Computing and engineering
• Design
• English, film and media
• Hospitality and tourism
• Human and social sciences
• Law and policing
• Medicine and biosciences
• Music
• Nursing, midwifery and healthcare

PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio

A PhD by Prior Publication/Portfolio provides an opportunity to obtain a PhD based on research that has already been undertaken and published, or artefacts that have already been produced.

Your PhD can be based on one of our many subject areas.

Professional Doctorates

Turn your career into a qualification by studying part-time for a Professional Doctorate while you work.

Our Professional Doctorates offer a flexible alternative to a PhD, designed so you can study part-time for a doctorate qualification tailored to your field of work.

Why study with us?

The University offers everything you need as a student to succeed in your studies and I received a huge amount of support."

Athanasios Lykartsis, PhD student

The University offers everything you need as a student to succeed in your studies and I received a huge amount of support."

Athanasios Lykartsis, PhD student

• UWL is ranked 2nd globally for overall satisfaction and research community in the latest Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)
• Our research degrees have a 90% overall satisfaction rate in the latest Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)
• UWL is ranked in the top 100 universities in the UK for the overall quality of our research in the latest Government Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment
• Almost 80 percent of our research is rated as world-leading (4) or internationally excellent (3) in the latest Government Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment

Find out more

• The Graduate School The Graduate School is home to UWL’s community of doctoral students and the main centre for our postgraduate research training activities. How the Graduate School supports you

The Graduate School

• Help with funding Loans, bursaries and scholarships, and advice for managing your money while you study. Learn more about funding

Help with funding

• The Graduate School The Graduate School is home to UWL’s community of doctoral students and the main centre for our postgraduate research training activities. How the Graduate School supports you

The Graduate School

• Help with funding Loans, bursaries and scholarships, and advice for managing your money while you study. Learn more about funding

Contact us

If you would like more information about studying for a PhD research degree please email: [email protected] .

Find out more

• Research Centres and Groups Find out about our multi-disciplinary areas of expertise, research, and teaching.

Research Centres and Groups

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

Research impact

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

disclaimer

• Rank out of 53 institutions.

Research areas