Postgraduate Research in the School of Social Work
The School of Social Work has an international reputation as a centre of research excellence. It hosts the Centre for Research on Children and Families – at the forefront of policy formation and practice development internationally. The PhD programme in Social Work provides students with advanced training and research skills which will equip them for the next steps in their career. Historically, many of our PhD students have chosen careers in academia, while others work in policy and practice development in the public sector.
Our PhD programme in Social Work offers PGR students the opportunity to conduct independent research and receive advanced training in research skills. The School also offers a taught year long programme of postgraduate study, the Master of Research in Social Science Research Methods (Social Work and Social Policy). This offers a sound grounding in research methods training and is particularly suitable for those needing to develop these skills to progress to PhD research.
Being a Postgraduate Research Student in the School of Social Work
The School is a lively, friendly department committed to provide PGR students with dedicated supervision and regular feedback throughout their programme of study. We offer a stimulating research environment and provide financial support in the form of scholarships and research support to outstanding home and international students.
Each research student has their own supervisory team which plays a vital role in the development of the research project. The supervisors work closely with their student throughout the period of registration. A research student group within the School provides a focal point for research development and peer support. All postgraduate research students also take part in a faculty-wide programme of personal and professional development. You can find out more about the training programme here.
Prospective students seeking funding for their PhD studies need to submit their application within specific deadlines in order to be considered for the following funding schemes:
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SENSS DTP Studentships: deadline is normally in January
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SSF (Faculty of Social Sciences) Studentships: deadline is normally in January
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SWK (School of Social Work) Studentships: deadline is normally in March
These studentships cover tuition fees irrespective of UK vs International status. Studentships will be allocated to applicants submitting the most promising project proposals. While prospective students can submit research projects on a wide range of topics, the School encourages proposals in specific fields. You can find out more about research in the School and the areas where we welcome applications on the Centre for Research on Children and Families web pages. Please take some time to explore our pages and get to know our academic staff and their areas of interest.
Contact the PGR Admissions
Officer and Director
Current postgraduate research opportunities
MRes Social Science Research Methods
Give yourself the edge by studying at an internationally renowned centre for impactful research. Whether you’re a recent graduate with an interest in research, or are already in practice with a research question that you wish to investigate, this MRes will push you towards the forefront of your field. Throughout the course, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills you need to successfully complete a piece of Master’s level research.