Structured PhD in Applied Languages

This program is a structured blend of graduate education in theory and methods, and supervised research. The taught elements of the program draw on modules offered to postgraduate students in the School of Languages, Literature, Culture and Communication in combinations designed to deliver both a broad graduate education for research students, and a more specific focus for individual students. This combination of modules is supplemented, as appropriate, by external research methodology training and the development of generic skills. The focus in the first year of the program is on enhancing knowledge through taking relevant modules; in the last three years, research becomes the focus.

Objectives

• To enable students to locate their research in the wider context of applied language studies by providing a taught component in relevant areas
• To enable students to develop skills with which to meet changing demands for applied languages research by providing a taught component including generic skills courses
• To enable students to teach and develop their research to international standards by providing specialist disciplinary education for its graduates
• To develop students’ skills as autonomous researchers, able to evaluate different research problems, select and apply appropriate research tools and methods to address these problems, and gather and evaluate appropriate evidence for the resolution of research questions
• To facilitate student research that will contribute to the redefinition of existing knowledge in Applied Language Studies