Course summary

• Undertake a supervised study in a range of areas in political science and theory.
• Study under research-active staff who submitted to the most recent Research Excellence Framework.
• Benefit from links with the university's Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research and the Centre for Development and Research in Education.

Work within the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics, currently supporting around 28 PhD students and a thriving research community, to produce a piece of original work within the core themes of charity and community work, the European Union, welfare, terrorism and counterterrorism, the new social movements, war and security studies.

How you learn

Throughout a period of intensive, supervised investigative work, you work closely with specialists in your chosen field to produce an extended thesis of up to 80,000 words in the case of doctoral research. You can take modules and supplementary on-line courses to develop skills in relation to a range of methodologies, methods and theoretical approaches. The work you complete on these can be included as part of your qualification.

You learn through

• supervised research
• meetings
• seminars and training sessions
• informal group sessions

Future careers

Doctorates are essential qualifications for many careers in academia, the policy sector, and public and commercial research organisations. Our research is often applied, which prepares you to tackle issues of immediate relevance to statutory and voluntary agencies.

Past graduates have gone on to take up academic posts in both teaching and research roles, as well as public sector organisations. Many people take part-time degrees in collaboration with their current employer.