Why do a PhD?
Completing a PhD degree is a rewarding challenge that allows ambitious individuals to delve into an area they feel passionate about and contribute to knowledge in their specialised field. As the highest level of academic study, a PhD provides a sense of achievement and awards the graduate with a Doctor title.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is essential in building a successful career in academia and can help you gain recognition from future employers in whatever subject area you choose to specialise in. A PhD can also help you to secure senior research and management roles across a vast range of organisations, or even government agencies.
What does a PhD involve?
A PhD is a self-driven research-based course where a supervisor will help guide you through your research to produce a thesis of approximately 60,000 to 100,000 words alongside completing a viva voce examination. A PhD at UWS requires at least 33 months of full-time study.
Your chosen area of research will usually be a topic that’s developed from previous research carried out as part of an MRes (Master of Research) or MPhil (Master of Philosophy) qualification.
A big part of completing a PhD is your relationship with your supervisor. They will provide guidance, mentoring and support. UWS allocates each PhD student with a lead supervisor, along with at least one other, based on their experience in your chosen area of interest. All supervisors are all research-active members of the academic team.
Is a PhD right for me?
Not every applicant will have completed an MRes or MPhil previously. If you feel you have gained enough research experience elsewhere, you are still welcome to apply.
What about the English language requirements?
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 6.5
- no sub-test less than 6.0
IELTS certificates should be dated within two years at the time of applying to study at UWS.
Supervisory Arrangements
A PhD is a self-driven research-based course where a supervisor will help guide you through your research to produce a thesis of approximately 60,000 to 100,000 words alongside completing a viva voce examination. A PhD at UWS requires at least 33 months of full-time study.
Your chosen area of research will usually be a topic that’s developed from previous research carried out as part of a MRes (Master of Research) or MPhil (Master of Philosophy) qualification.
A big part of completing a PhD is your relationship with your supervisor. They will provide guidance, mentoring and support. UWS allocates each PhD student with a lead supervisor, along with at least one other, based on their experience in your chosen area of interest… All supervisors are all research-active members of the academic team. Find out more about how your time with your supervisor works below.
Why study at UWS?
Many of the PhDs offered by UWS are based in London, meaning you’d be carrying out your research in the capital, renowned internationally for both its academic knowledge and, of course, for business.
The team of academic experts at UWS work with around 600 students every academic year. International students make up a significant portion of the cohort each year, with UWS students coming from 25 countries to study here.
The research at UWS is broken up into two key areas.
Firstly, the School of Business and Creative Industries supports research in:
- Accounting and Finance
- Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
- Management
- Marketing/Digital Marketing
And, the School of Education and Social Sciences supports research in:
- Educational Leadership
- Global public health and social policy
- Pedagogy and Curriculum
- Public Policy and Governance
How does UWS support its PhD students?
UWS runs The Doctoral College which provides many kinds of support for the c.600 postgraduate research students at the institution, helping you to make the most of your research. It creates an interdisciplinary research environment that makes generating valuable and impactful research easier.
How do I apply?
UWS London has two PhD intakes each year, January and October. The application for our PhDs involves four steps.
Step 1 | Interview: Please submit an enquiry form and one of the admissions officers will be in touch with you to book an initial interview. This will assess your suitability for completing a PhD at UWS.
Step 2 | Research proposal: If your interview is successful, you will be asked to submit a research proposal which will be evaluated by the academic team for its research potential. A successful research proposal demonstrates a clear understanding of the research process, but it can also communicate the details of the research you plan to carry out at UWS – what you want to find out and how you plan to do this.
Step 3 | Foundational Research Methods Course: If your proposal is successful, you’ll be invited by UWS to take part in the Foundational Research Methods Course which takes you through all aspects of a typical research journey and will strengthen your research proposal further.
Step 4 | Apply to UWS: Once you’ve completed the foundation course, you can then apply formally for your PhD. The admissions officers in the research department will guide you through this process.
Where can I find more information about PhDs at UWS?
Here are some handy pages with further useful information on completing a PhD at UWS.
Find out more about the research taking place across the university.
Course Fees for 2023/24
Scottish — N/A
Rest of UK & Northern Ireland — N/A
International & EU — £18,000
Course Fees for 2024/25
Scottish — £4,712
Rest of UK & Northern Ireland — £4,712
International & EU — £15,500
