Top Doctoral Degrees in United Kingdom 2019

The goal of the Ph.D. programme is to prepare the next generation of leading researchers.

The Ph.D. is a programme of independent, self-directed academic research degree, supported by a team of supervisors that makes an original contribution to knowledge written up in a publishable dissertation. The Ph.D. programme also supports the development of research and generic skills to equip you to operate successfully as a professional researcher in any setting. The essential requirement of a Ph.D. is the creation of new knowledge. Being a researcher means developing new ideas and improving understanding through the creation of new knowledge. Your research will inevitably build to some degree on the work and ideas of others, but as a research student, you are expected to make an original contribution to knowledge in your discipline.... [-]

Master's programmes at Kent Business School are driven by international research and relevance. At Kent Business School the research degree programme provides exceptional students with a dynamic research culture, supervision from our community of over 60 research active academic staff, high-quality resources and excellent research training. We offer the following subject specialisms:

Our PhD students all receive a dedicated office space with either a laptop or PC, conference funding, formal research methods training and full access to the facilities of the Graduate School. We also offer a range of PhD scholarship packages for outstanding candidates. All scholarship candidates must hold a first class honors degree (if still completing their master's programme) or a master's degree with Distinction in a relevant subject and a good standard of written or spoken English (IELTS 7 or equivalent). University of Kent PhD scholarships are based on a three year Graduate Teaching Assistantship that includes financial support in return for part-time teaching. This covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate (and some specific scholarships may include international fees) plus a combined salary and maintenance grant at the full UK Research Council rate. Applications from self-funded students are also welcome and the minimum entry requirement is a Merit at master’s level in a relevant subject as well as our English language requirements. Entry to the Kent Business School PhD programme is in September (application deadline 30 June).... [-]

Our group has two broad lines of research activity.

The first is concerned with understanding the source, scope and pattern of education policy; that is in exploring the origins of policies, the nature and definition of the problems that education is asked to solve, and the historical, cultural and social practices that filter or mediate policies. The second concerns educational practices and performance and the development of quality in schooling, including work on the educational potential of new technologies, forms of excellence in teaching practice and the performance of schools.

Research into education policy draws on a diversity of intellectual traditions, including critical social policy, poststructuralist theories of governance, feminism, theories of identity and cultural studies. We have recently focused on two interconnected themes; the reshaping of education governance and its consequences for social inclusion/exclusion and education politics, and families, childhood and identity in education. Research into educational practices and performance and the development of quality in schooling focuses on teaching and learning practice school management and leadership. Projects are often run in close collaboration with schools.... [-]

IDS is a leading global institution for development research, teaching and learning, and impact and communications, based at the University of Sussex. The University of Sussex is ranked first in the world for development studies. This QS World Ranking reflects the strong reputation and quality of research and course offerings across campus, including by IDS.

IDS is dedicated to research on processes of social, political and economic development and change in order to understand problems of poverty and development-related issues in local, national and global realms. Through our research we seek to achieve our vision of equal and sustainable societies, both locally and globally, where everyone can live secure, fulfilling lives free from poverty and injustice.... [-]

During your time with us, you become part of our specialist community, exchanging ideas and developing your own creative and intellectual interests, informed by expert academic staff within the Centre for Music and Audio Technology.

Individual staff research interests cover a wide range of aspects of music composition, performance, ethnomusicology, and music technology, and supervision is available in all of these areas. For these programmes, you have regular meetings with your supervisor as well as tuition in research methodologies in the early stages of your research. Additionally, we regularly invite academic and professional specialists for guest lectures, workshops and special events relevant to students’ research.... [-]

The goal of the Ph.D. programme is to prepare the next generation of leading researchers.

The Ph.D. is a programme of independent, self-directed academic research degree, supported by a team of supervisors that makes an original contribution to knowledge written up in a publishable dissertation. The Ph.D. programme also supports the development of research and generic skills to equip you to operate successfully as a professional researcher in any setting. The essential requirement of a Ph.D. is the creation of new knowledge. Being a researcher means developing new ideas and improving understanding through the creation of new knowledge. Your research will inevitably build to some degree on the work and ideas of others, but as a research student, you are expected to make an original contribution to knowledge in your discipline.... [-]

The PhD is the highest academic degree and as such Durham graduates are in demand for academic posts in leading universities and top business schools; for business and management consultancy in commerce and industry; and for senior management roles in private sector organizations and government institutions.

Whatever your goals, the Durham PhD gives you the opportunity to combine rigorous academic theory with research to influence the world of business and make a unique contribution to your field of study. It attracts exceptional students of the highest caliber, and in conjunction with scholars internationally-renowned for their research and thought leadership, the PhD programme at Durham University Business School is both challenging and stimulating.... [-]

Research Strategies

This programme focuses on applied aspects of advanced and emerging analytical technologies to address current issues in food safety, nutrition, and food supply. It covers the entire food chain from farm to fork and places a strong emphasis on the link between improved food safety and nutrition and improved public health.

Research Strengths

All of the Academic Divisions in the School of Social Sciences invite PhD applications.

The research areas are only broadly indicative, and our staff place great store by creative and innovative approaches to issues whether they are novel or familiar – and to intellectual analysis, both established and path-breaking.

Subjects we supervise include the following areas:

Undertaking a PhD is an exciting opportunity but can also be quite daunting as there are lots of stages to think about including application, arrival, admission, expectations, and progression to name but a few. At the School of Social Sciences, we believe it is important that, although our research students are working on individual projects, they are not working in isolation. We offer a range of opportunities for training, developing skills, regular supervision sessions and ongoing peer support.... [-]

With expert supervision and additional research training, the School of Economics offers an excellent PhD programme.

A PhD is the most advanced form of postgraduate study. It is awarded on the successful completion of supervised research, verbal examination, and final thesis.

Our academic staff conduct world-leading research across a wide range of subjects, so we can offer expert supervision in most areas of the discipline. You will be assigned two supervisors who will help ensure the smooth progress of your research work.

During your first year, you will complete taught courses in order to acquire the necessary skills and background knowledge for your research. Some are compulsory and some will be recommended by your supervisors. You will also undertake research and generic skills training, provided by the School of Economics and the Graduate School, and start work on your research.... [-]

The research undertaken within Geography falls under two interdisciplinary Research Clusters; Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) and Culture & Society (C&S). Physical Geography-related projects focus on themes such as long-term landscape and environmental change, the resilience of ecosystems, environmental change impacts on heritage structures, and analysis of contaminated lands. Investigative approaches include a range of geospatial technologies such as remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), big data analysis and spatial and temporal modelling. Much of our research spans several disciplines, for example, projects on the hydrogeology and restoration of bogs, climate change implications for resilience and stability of soil, geoforensics and coastal geomorphology.... [-]

The Kent School of Architecture offers a full-time and part-time research programme, leading to a Ph.D. research degree. The School promotes innovative and interdisciplinary research study in architecture, urbanism, and related fields. The main objective is to combine contemporary advanced research with an educational agenda, preparing candidates to practice in a global academic and professional world.

A particular feature of the KSA research degree programme is the wide spectrum of investigation and the possibility of undertaking research by design. Ph.D. students have access to all University of Kent facilities and a weekly seminar designed for research students only. Each candidate is entitled to two supervisors.... [-]

In accordance with the University’s mission ‘to be a global home for enterprising and confident students and graduates’, this course provides a springboard to engagement with the wider world. The Business School is committed to the belief that business education should facilitate rather than constrain, and this course presents a flexible and well-balanced curriculum that addresses the changing needs of contemporary forward-thinking businesses. You will be encouraged to reflect upon your own personal and professional, skills and engage in dialogue with global peers in order to prepare them to manage, lead and help transform their respective organisations. You will become a research-informed business leader who is able to apply best practice within your organisational and in your own managerial practices. The interaction between theory and practice provides leaders with research-informed perspectives that add value in terms of business effectiveness, efficiency and capability.... [-]

This course requires a 2:1 or international equivalent and/or a master's degree at merit level or above in a relevant subject, and an IELTS level 6.0 (5.5 in each element). It is usually completed over a period of around three years.

There are extensive laboratories with equipment from bench to pilot-plant scale. We are one of the few departments in the UK with access to mass spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy and a ‘virtual-reality’ suite where you can construct and optimize your own complete processing plant.

Postgraduate students also have access to research facilities including a range of equipment, for example:

There is particular strength in web design and development, including e-commerce, e-learning, e-health; and the group has substantial experience in interaction design (e.g, Usability and accessibility), social computing (e.g, Social networking, computer-mediated communication), mobile technology (e.g, iPhone), virtual worlds (e.g, Second Life) and video games. In the area of time-based media, the group has a substantial interest in digital film capture and editing, and manipulation on to fully animated 3D modelling techniques as used in games and feature films.