Top Doctoral Degrees in United Kingdom 2019/2020

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.... [-]

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.... [-]

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.... [-]

Our PhD programme offers both full-time and part-time research opportunities in a range of business and management subject areas.

You’ll conduct research under the supervision of our international, experienced, and highly committed faculty. In addition to being supervised by two well-established researchers, you will take part in research training which provides you with the knowledge and skills to design and carry out rigorous research.

We encourage and support you to prepare and submit papers to academic conferences and journals. We also encourage you to engage in teaching activities which enables you to gain valuable experience of higher education teaching and prepare you for the job market.... [-]

The primary focus of the Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour and Environmental Economics research cluster is fundamental and applied aspects of ecology, environmental economics, conservation, aquaculture, animal behavior, molecular taxonomy and molecular genetics, particularly involving links between these aspects. The cluster has a high level of research activity involving academic staff, Postdoctoral scientists, and postgraduate research students. The cluster has a high level of research activity involving academic staff, Postdoctoral scientists, and postgraduate research students.

The Centre for Doctoral Training offers unique four-year PhD training in Photonic Integration and Advanced Data Storage, leading to a jointly awarded degree from Queen's University Belfast and the University of Glasgow.

Designed and delivered in close collaboration with an impressive range of industrial partners, the CDT provides a cutting-edge and innovative research environment for doctoral students to develop the new technologies, products and systems required to address the expanding data storage needs of today’s fast-moving digital world. The programme aims to equip students with high-level and sophisticated technical training and skills alongside much sought after skills in distributed working, collaboration, entrepreneurship and business planning skills. CDT students enjoy a substantial funding package which provides an individual budget for project research expenses and for mobility and conference travel.... [-]

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.... [-]

Research topics within civil engineering can be based on structures, Geotechnics, fluid mechanics, transportation, GPS surveying, road materials and many other aspects.

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 facilities available to postgraduate research students across the two research divisions including those in the Pavement Research Building, the Nottingham Geospatial Institute and the Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics.

The Pavement Research Building is a purpose-built center for research and development in all areas of pavement engineering; design, performance, maintenance, and materials. It incorporates laboratories for testing asphalt, concrete, bitumen, aggregates, recycled and other paving materials as well as pilot-scale pavements.... [-]

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.... [-]

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.

This course brings together best practice in academic learning and professional expertise.

A unique feature of the face-to-face and practical aspect of the course is weekend seminars, which maximise your opportunities for discussion of key issues and flexible delivery. The suite of modules includes diplomatic simulations and negotiation exercises, which can also be taken à la carte.

The DDipl consists of two parts. Full-time students can expect to complete the degree in three to four years. The taught part of the course will last for two academic years if you’re a full-time student. In your final year (with the option of applying for a one-year extension), PhD candidates will complete a thesis within about one year. This thesis will enable you to reflect on pertinent issues of diplomacy in light of the theory and conceptual knowledge you have gained over the course of your degree – as well as through your independent research.... [-]

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

The PhD in Development Economics is a research degree offered by the Department of Economics, and is also part of the PhD pathway, 'International Development', within the Bloomsbury Doctoral Training Partnership. The latter forms one of the few Centres recognised by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), thereby receiving financial support, and especially individual grants, for MSc and PhD students. This PhD pathway is open to applicants whether or not eligible for, or in receipt of, ESRC funding, with ESRC-funded students expected to form a small minority overall. Successful applicants to the MPhil/PhD in Development Economics will normally have a good Master's degree in a relevant subject if entering directly into the MPhil/PhD pathway although each applicant is assessed on merits including work and other experience.... [-]