We aim to help research students to flourish intellectually, attain high standards of academic achievement. We will foster an environment in which postgraduate research students, their peers and supervisors are able to share and extend their knowledge. This will include creating opportunities for teaching and publication, and for post-doctoral studies. The School will achieve this by advocating appropriate and timely guidance from the supervisor, diligence and creativity from the student, and excellent services and infrastructure from the School and University.

The quality of University support from the Social Sciences Faculty office is extremely high; DEV uses all of the facilities provided via this office, click here for more details.  In addition, we have a PGR Director who is responsible for managing the professional progress of PhD students through their 3-4 years in DEV.

MPhil/PhD

DEV is committed to the international body of research students studying in the School, currently numbering 80, and we offer a range of full-time, part-time and flexible research programmes designed to meet the needs of students at varying stages of their careers, and in varying circumstances. Arrangements can be made to suit those who find it difficult to spend long periods of time away from their employment, but there is a compulsory taught element for all students in development studies epistemologies.

DEV offers students two pathways to a Doctorate:

Those without sufficient disciplinary and research technique training will be encouraged to take one of the four Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-recognised taught Master programmes being offered by the School, i.e. the Master in Research Training in Development Studies (MRes), MA in Development Economics (MADE), the MSc in Environment and International Development (MScEID) or the MA in Rural Development (MARD).

Those who have previous training that meets ESRC-requirements will be directed onto the MPhil/PhD path, which includes core units in development studies epistemologies and research skills as part of the programme.

Candidates will be expected to have gained a good taught Master's qualification, and to present a focused research proposal to the School as part of the application process. The School has recognition from the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for research training in Area Studies and Development Studies, Human Geography and Economics. This includes full-time, part-time, collaborative (CASE), Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC)/ESRC studentships under 1+3 and +3 programmes. This applies to UK/EU applicants only.

DEV will allocate two members of faculty familiar with your chosen area of research as supervisors, who will advise you on relevant taught units to be taken at the start of your study period, as well as on the direction and structure of your research thesis. The School makes every effort to allocate a personal working space to all new research students, with computer facilities. You will automatically become a member of one of the research groups in the School.

We have a lively research community, and ideally can offer a study place to all research students in their first year. A typical research degree pattern would consist of one year working with your supervisors in the School, a second year on fieldwork gathering data, and a final year back to the University to write up your thesis. Reduced fees are charged for your fieldwork year for periods lasting three months or more.

Students can begin their Research Degree from 1 October.