what can you get a phd in uk

How to apply for a PhD in the UK

Applying for a phd is not quite as daunting as you might think. a postgraduate student recruitment officer from the university of sussex shares his tips for putting together a phd application.

Ben Osborne

There are many different reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD – to move into an academic role at a university, to continue studying a subject you are passionate about or to further your career. 

Whatever your motivation, many students are now choosing to pursue a PhD abroad. This guide will help you understand how to apply for a PhD at a UK university and answer any questions you might have around doing PhDs.

How to apply for a PhD

Application rules and methods vary for each university. The number of courses that you can apply for in a year will vary. For example, at the University of Sussex , you can apply for up to three postgraduate courses per year using the postgraduate application system.

If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for.

You can also apply to different universities to improve your chances of being accepted to a PhD course of your choosing. 

What qualifications do I need?

Each PhD will have specific entry requirements and you will also need to meet a university’s general entry requirements.  This may be an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or an equivalent international qualification. For some PhDs you may need a master’s qualification, and you may be asked to attend an interview.

International students may also be required to prove language proficiency. This will vary across institutions so do check what level universities expect before starting your application. 

Applicants should always check the specific entry requirements in a university’s online prospectus before making an application.

When should I start applying?

This will depend on when your term start date is. Most research degrees will start in September but some courses offer additional entry points in January or May.

You can apply all year round for research degrees starting in September, January and May, and the deadlines for applying are usually one month before the course start date for UK applicants, and three months before for international applicants.

If you’re applying for funding from an external organisation you’ll need to be aware that they may have different deadlines for the funding application. So give yourself plenty of time to research your funding options, and ensure you know how long the application process takes. 

Many universities offer a number of funded PhD opportunities and PhD scholarships for UK and international students, and it’s always worth investigating funding routes such as research councils and other organisations, both in the UK and overseas.

In some cases, it may be possible to study a PhD by distance which means you’ll be able to learn online and have virtual meetings with your supervisor.

If this is something you would be interested in doing you should check before applying whether your university can accommodate this option. 

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How should I look for a supervisor?

Usually if you are applying for a funded project, or to a research centre or group, you will normally be asked to provide a statement explaining your suitability for working in that area, and if successful you will be allocated a supervisor.

If you wish to propose your own area of research, you need to decide on a research topic, and you will be expected to write a research proposal. In some cases you may only be required to provide a summary of academic interests and this can be used to match you to a researcher that suits you.

If you are proposing your own research topic, there may be a research database at your university that you can search, or your university will match you with a supervisor during the assessment of your application. It may be possible to request supervision by a particular member of faculty – this will be considered but not all requests can be accommodated.

If you do find a potential supervisor who matches your research area, check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity. If they are open to doctoral applications, you can contact them directly to check their availability for supervising you.

It is a good idea to draw up a shortlist of two to three potential supervisors, and take an in-depth look into their research history. You can also find out more about your potential supervisors by looking in the reference sections of academic textbooks and searching for articles in research databases and academic blogs.

When you contact your potential supervisor, it is important to tell them something interesting about yourself, and explain your research interests and how you feel your research proposal matches their expertise.

How do I write a research proposal?

If you are proposing your own research you will need to write a strong proposal that formulates a precise, interesting research question, and establishes the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking.

You’ll need to make sure your proposal describes the data or source material your research requires, and outlines a clear and practical methodology that enables you to answer the research question and that states clearly what you hope to discover at the end of your research, and what new areas it might open up.

The precise content and structure of your research proposal will depend on your subject area, and the University of Sussex has some helpful resources on our website to guide you through the process.

How long does the application process take?

Completing an application and writing a research proposal may take some time and should not be left until just before the application deadline.

It’s not easy to give a definite idea of how long it takes to hear if your application has been successful, as it will depend on when the application is made and the nature of the specific PhD, and you would need to meet any conditions contained within the offer before you can start the PhD.

What are the associated costs?

There won’t typically be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees. If a university does charge application fees they will usually be between £50-£100.

The tuition fees for students studying in the UK are set by UK Research and Innovation . Fees for international students are £18,975 for non-lab-based subjects, and £22,975 for lab-based subjects per year.

You’ll also need to factor in living costs, but there are a number of funding routes you can apply for to help with this. As well as PhD scholarships and funded research projects there are research council awards, PhD loans for those eligible, and various organisations to which international students can apply for funding, such as The Gen Foundation and Open Society Foundations.

It’s important to be aware of the costs involved, but it’s also worth remembering that the educational, career and personal benefits of PhD study can be worth it.

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International Students’ Guide to Pursuing a PhD

• Katie Baker
• November 28, 2023

Pursuing a PhD program in the UK as an international student is a serious undertaking, one that can feel exciting, daunting, and confusing in equal measure; however, for those in pursuit of academic excellence, there are few better options than the UK.  

The UK is steeped in rich educational heritage, is home to several world-renowned institutions, and has become a beacon for scholars across the globe, and perhaps most importantly, in this context, top UK universities are famous for offering fully funded PhDs to international students.

In this international students’ guide to pursuing a PhD in the UK, we will ease your transition into the UK academic landscape by covering everything from the entry requirements to how to apply for PhD programs to the forms of support you can expect to receive while you’re obtaining your doctoral title away from home. 

PhD Program Entry Requirements for International Students

As an international student, you will need to prove your readiness to undertake doctoral research in your subject area and demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and contribute to your chosen institution’s academic community.

The entry requirements may differ depending on your field of study and if you are applying for a fully funded scholarship. However, typically, these are the minimum requirements you will need to meet: 

Academic Qualifications – Generally, you will need a master’s degree (or equivalent) relevant to the program you are applying for. Some universities may accept a first-class or upper-second-class honours degree. Research Proposal -If you are proposing your own research plan (as opposed to applying for a pre-defined project), you will need to submit a research proposal with your application. Your proposal should cover the aims and objectives of your research and highlight your research abilities, including evidence of your academic achievements.

References & Experience – To support your application, you will also need two to three references from academics familiar with your work. It may also be beneficial for certain programs to have evidence of relevant work experience

Proof of English Language Proficiency – Your International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score should be a minimum of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the exam. However, Humanities doctoral students may need a higher score of 7.0 – 7.5. Using the Test of English as a Foreign Language System (TOEFL), you will need a minimum score of 90.

Interview Attendance – To assess your suitability for a PhD program in the UK, you may be asked to attend an interview, but don’t worry; UK universities make it easier for international students by conducting interviews via video conferences. 

PhD Application Tips for International Students

The motto ‘Better late than never’ may work in some instances, but when pursuing a PhD program in the UK as an international student, this becomes an exception. You should begin the research and application process at least one academic year in advance to ensure all the prerequisites are met.

The research and planning phase will include researching universities, reaching out to prospective supervisors, and tailoring your personal statement and proposal for each research department. 

It also is important to start thinking about Visa requirements, how you will support yourself while you study in the UK, and if you will need to undergo health checks (depending on your home country) early in the application process. Regarding your funding, you will want to research grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities specific to international students.

Once you have met all these requirements, you have made the first significant step towards becoming a doctoral student in the UK. Always ensure you have checked the specific entry requirements for the institution and research department you are applying to join; the entry requirements and fees can vary significantly! 

How to Choose a PhD Program in the UK as an International Student

The UK is home to 166 universities, of which, 103 are in the 2023 round-up of the Times Higher Education World Universities Rankings. You may feel spoilt for choice initially, but by asking the questions below, you will quickly shorten your list of options and find the best UK university to match your skills and career objectives. 

•     What is the calibre of the research quality?
•     Which universities have suitable PhD Supervisors on their faculty?
•     Which universities have the best funding opportunities for international students?
•     Which universities have state-of-the-art facilities relevant to your research area?

In addition to the unique strengths and weaknesses of each university in the UK, you will also want to consider which area of the UK you would be happiest studying in. Each campus has its own culture; choose one which aligns with your preferences.

Once you have a short list of universities and PhD programs you would like to apply for, you can start your application process by drafting your proposal and CV, gathering digital and paper copies of relevant documentation, preparing for your TOEFL or IELTS tests, finalising your application, and preparing for your entry interviews. Once you have accepted an offer, don’t hesitate before starting the Visa application process.

What Support is Available for International Doctoral Students?

Universities in the UK are well-versed in hosting international PhD students; they ensure a wealth of support services are available to make the adjustment period as smooth as possible. 

Most universities have dedicated offices for international students, which can provide expert guidance on everything from visas to accommodation to cultural integration to financial advice. If English isn’t your first language, you can also access free language support, which will help you polish your communication and academic writing skills. 

International students are also free to utilise mentoring and wellbeing services and career services or engage with research seminars, workshops, and conferences, designed to facilitate the integration into the academic community in the UK.

Final Thoughts

After reading this International Students’ Guide to PhDs, you may have noted that significant planning and research are required, but don’t let that hold you back from getting involved with world-leading innovative research in the UK.

The UK is at the forefront of cutting-edge research in several areas; from the sciences to the humanities, research in the UK is backed by significant investment. Furthermore, UK academic institutions are microcosms of cultural diversity; they offer a rich tapestry of perspectives capable of enhancing personal and academic growth.

Other benefits of joining a UK university to acquire your doctoral title include the doors to international career opportunities globally-respected UK PhDs can open and the shorter duration of the programs, in comparison to other countries. Few students who choose the UK as their academic oyster come to regret it!

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Study PhD in UK: Complete Guide for International Students

“How to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK?” is a common question asked by International students.

Are you one of them, exploring the prospects of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK in 2024? Then look no further! The UK boasts renowned research-intensive universities with exceptional infrastructure, offering fully funded Ph.D. opportunities to international students. Whether you're aiming for a comprehensive guide on Ph.D. courses, universities, costs, or the prerequisites to embark on this academic journey, we've got you covered! Delve into the details and insights to discover more about pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK.

If you are looking for Ph.D. opportunities in the UK, Yocket is here to guide you through everything. And by everything, we mean - cost breakdowns to admission requirements, university shortlisting to visa interviews. Explore the comprehensive guide you need for your academic aspirations in 2024. For personalized assistance, connect with Yocket counselors right now!

An Overview of the PhD Program in UK

Embarking on a Ph.D. journey in the UK means diving into an immersive research experience that combines top-tier academic standards with industrial partnerships. Generally spanning three years, the UK's Ph.D. programs culminate with a thesis submission, often completed 12 months before the official program conclusion. While individual universities may tailor their programs, the key advantages of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK are significant and multifaceted:

Making decisions about shortlisting universities for your Ph.D. can be quite a challenge, but worry not, we're here to simplify the process for you! Whether you're swaying between a "Yes," "No," or "Maybe," our experts can guide you through this critical phase of your academic journey, offering personalized advice to help you find the perfect match among the top Ph.D. programs in the UK

Why Study PhD in the UK?

The decision to pursue a Ph.D. in a UK university carries substantial benefits and opportunities, making it a highly favored destination for international students, especially for those from India. Let's dive into the reasons that make the UK an ideal choice for a doctoral degree:

• Academic Excellence: With over 10 universities in the top 100 worldwide, the UK is a prestigious hub for academic excellence, offering superior research facilities and quality education.
• Supportive Government Initiatives: The UK government's introduction of a 3-year post-study work visa and extended studentships for international researchers seeking Ph.D. is a promising development that supports and encourages global scholars.
• Cultural Diversity: Engaging in a Ph.D. program in the UK grants students the chance to immerse themselves in a rich and diverse cultural milieu, creating an enriching and vibrant academic experience.
• Vast Career Opportunities: Upon completing a Ph.D. from globally recognized universities in the UK, students gain access to a wide array of career prospects, spanning commercial research, academic pursuits, and business-oriented roles.

The UK stands as a beacon of academic brilliance, offering a wealth of possibilities for international scholars, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to excel in their doctoral pursuits.

What are the Job Opportunities after Studying in UK?

Further, let’s check the top PhD courses in UK through this infographic.

Moving on, here is a quick look at the types of PhDs a student can pursue in UK.

Types of PhD Programs in UK

Exploring the types of Ph.D. programs in the UK opens up a range of options for international students seeking advanced research and academic pursuits:

• Standard Ph.D.: This foundational type involves the student proposing, conducting, and documenting research in the form of a thesis. It's widely available across many UK universities.
• Integrated Ph.D.: Combining a one-year Master of Research (MRes) with a subsequent three-year standard Ph.D., the Integrated Ph.D. offers students numerous educational prospects and is offered in over 30 UK universities.
• Professional Ph.D.: Geared towards providing extensive employment opportunities, the professional Ph.D., primarily in engineering, science, and medical fields, is highly sought after by international students.
• Distance Learning Ph.D.: Tailored for part-time or busy international students, this program accommodates flexible schedules and can typically be completed within 5-6 years.
• Ph.D. by Publication: This unique Ph.D. type is often available to a university's alumni, enabling students to submit their own published works or articles, with word counts ranging between 5,000-20,000 each.

To embark on a Ph.D. journey in the UK, international students must meet specific admission criteria, which vary among institutions. Understanding these requirements is crucial for a successful application.

Best Masters Universities in UK!

Eligibility and Admission Requirements to Study PhD in the UK

What is the Ph.D. eligibility in the UK? The admission requirements for a Ph.D. in the UK for Indian students differ between the universities and the course you wish to pursue. Let us check out the basic requirements to apply at Ph.D. universities in the UK:

• A master's degree
• Research proposal
• English proficiency test scores
• Additional documents like SOPs , LORs , and CV /Resume.

Let us now talk about these Ph.D. requirements UK briefly!

Phd In London

Masters Degree and Academic Transcripts

The most basic requirement to apply for a Ph.D. in the UK is to have a master's degree in a related field, with academic transcripts for each level of study. Some universities may ask for only a bachelor's degree, which entirely depends on a case-by-case basis.

Research Proposal

A research proposal is a document that is asked by a majority of universities admitting students for their Ph.D. programs. A research proposal should have the topic you wish to research, the intention of the research, and a plan on how the research would be conducted.

English Proficiency Test Scores

It is essential for you, as an international student, to have English proficiency proof in terms of IELTS , TOEFL , PTE , or other tests. The minimum IELTS requirement for a Ph.D. in the UK for Indian students is a score of 7.0 or above.

Additional Documents

Additional documents like the statement of purpose, work experience, and recommendation letters will add more value to your overall application.

Find out the Difference Between IELTS and TOEFL

Now that you are aware of the requirements, let us take a quick look at the application process for Ph.D. in the UK.

Application Process for PhD in UK

How to apply for a Ph.D. in the UK? The application process for Ph.D. admission in the UK is quite simple to pursue. Here is a quick look at the steps you need to follow:

• Choose your discipline and a university to start your research in the UK.
• Submit the application form along with the application fee.
• Submit all the required documents and requirements asked by the particular university.
• Create a research proposal to be submitted along with all the documents.
• Find a supervisor to start your doctoral degree.
• Apply for a scholarship or financial aid, if available at the university.
• Wait for the admission decision.

How to Create an SOP for PhD?

Another important factor that impacts your decision to study abroad is Ph.D. fees in UK. So, let us briefly take a look at the cost of studying for and Ph.D. Scholarships UK.

Cost of Purusing PhD in the UK

The cost of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK varies for domestic, EU, and international students. The annual cost for Domestic or EU students generally comes around £6,000 (INR 5,30,964) , while for international students it is typically between £16,000 (14,15,904)to £24,000 (INR 21,23,856) per year .

In addition to tuition fees, students need to account for living expenses . On average, monthly living costs for students in the UK fall within the range of £1,100 (INR 97,343) to £1,300 (1,15,042). The actual expenses fluctuate based on individual lifestyle choices and the city of residence.

Breakdown of the Cost of Living in UK for International Students

For international students, scholarships, bursaries, and studentships are common forms of financial assistance provided by various UK universities. These financial aids significantly ease the financial load for students pursuing Ph.D. programs in the UK.

Scholarships to Study PhD in UK for International Students

To assist Indian students aiming for a Ph.D. in the UK, numerous scholarships are available. These scholarships play a pivotal role in supporting their academic endeavors and minimizing the financial burden. Our compiled list encompasses these prestigious scholarship opportunities, empowering students with crucial financial aid options

All-about Scholarships for International Students in UK!

Now that we have all the details regarding studying Ph.D. in the UK, let us take a look at the top universities in the UK for the program.

Top 5 Universities in UK for Ph.D.

The UK, being a nation known for its high standards in the field of research, is very much preferred by international students. Most of the Ph.D. universities in the UK are renowned for their research outputs. We have curated a list of the top Ph.D. universities for you below:

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College London
• University College London
• University of Edinburgh

Let us check out the details about these universities:

1. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has received innumerable accolades for various parameters in groundbreaking research, innovation, and academic excellence. The university provides international students willing to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK with an environment that is extremely beneficial and highly valuable across nations.

2. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is known for its research practices around the globe. The majority of international applicants receive Ph.D. scholarships in the UK through the University of Cambridge. Besides, this university also offers funded research projects to international students.

3. Imperial College London

The Imperial College London is known to focus exclusively on subjects like sciences, business, medicine, and engineering. Having research impact as the top priority since 1907, Imperial College London should be one of your top choices for a fully funded Ph.D. in the UK for international students.

Ph.D. Universities in the UK

4. University College London

Greatest industrial contacts, excellent collaborations, partnerships with nations across the world, and top-class research infrastructure is what sums up my Ph.D. at University College London . Home to more than 20,000 graduate students from around 150 countries, UCL is also known internationally for its employment opportunities after research.

5. University of Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh is ranked 4th in UK for research and is one of the best universities offering several fully funded Ph.D. UK programs. With various partnerships across the globe, it offers numerous career opportunities for students completing their Ph.D... Students can opt for a pre-defined Ph.D. project or develop their own research idea.

Chevening Scholarships in UK 2024!

Studying at these top universities in UK will ensure that you have a promising future. Let us take a look at the career opportunities after a Ph.D. in the UK.

Career Opportunities after Pursuing PhD in the UK

Though the Ph.D. cost UK is quite high, so are the returns. Ph.D. graduates from the UK are seen performing commercial research post-graduation in various fields like education, science, technology, medicine, and others. Students are also seen working in the private sector performing research for business organisations, apart from working for academia or pursuing even higher research.

For a better understanding of what careers post Ph.D. in UK look like, we have tabulated the salaries for various Ph.D. job profiles below:

The United Kingdom, with an average salary of £49,825 (INR 44,09,213) , remains a premier destination for pursuing a Ph.D. Its allure isn't solely based on the promising financial returns but also on the accessibility of numerous scholarships for international students. The UK consistently stands at the pinnacle of choices for those seeking a rewarding academic future. For additional guidance and personalized support on your study abroad journey, our counselors are available through Yocket premium subscription – ensuring you're equipped with the best resources for your educational endeavors.

: How to Obtain a Post-study Work Permit in UK?

From the Desk of Yocket

For international students aspiring to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK, navigating the educational landscape and requirements can be complex. At Yocket, we've meticulously crafted a comprehensive guide to assist students in understanding the intricacies of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK. Our aim is to provide valuable insights into the UK's educational system, requirements, and potential opportunities for international students. This guide is tailored to support and assist students in making well-informed decisions throughout their Ph.D. journey in the UK.

Embarking on your Ph.D. journey in the UK? It's not too late for 2024. Dive into our comprehensive guide, tailored for international students aiming for a successful Ph.D. in the UK. Apply with Yocket now to secure your spot for 2024 and seize invaluable insights on academic requirements, opportunities, and more. Trust Yocket to be your guiding light through this crucial academic pursuit and set the stage for your Ph.D. aspirations in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions about PhD in UK

Which are the top universities for PhD in UK?

The top universities for PhD in UK are: 1) University of Oxford 2) Imperial College London 3) University College London

How much does a PhD in UK cost?

PhD in the UK costs in the range of £15,000 to £20,000 per annum on an average for international students.

Is it easy to get a job after pursuing a PhD in UK?

Yes! PhD graduates can very easily grab an average salary of £49,825 per annum post graduation.

What are the popular courses to pursue PhD in UK?

The most popular courses are clinical psychology, physics, mathematics, immunology, and medicine.

What is the minimum average grade requirement for masters to pursue PhD in UK?

The minimum score a student must achieve to pursue PhD in UK is 60% in both taught course units and dissertation.

Rohan Deshmukh

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

What is a phd.

A PhD is a Doctorate of Philosophy, a prestigious qualification which is the highest level of degree that a student can achieve, demonstrating talent, academic excellence and a thirst for knowledge. In a modern knowledge-based economy, highly educated and skilled people such as doctoral graduates, are in great demand. They form the most highly educated and skilled group in the UK and internationally. Many will go on to use their skills within academia or in research-intensive occupations in industry. However, there will be others who will draw on their research background and the skills gained through a doctoral degree in a wide variety of other occupations. Examples of the type of employment opportunities taken up by PhD holders can be found at Vitae: researcher careers .

What will I get from a PhD?

You will get a huge sense of personal achievement. Our doctoral training programme will help you develop transferable skills that will be invaluable in your subsequent career. The research techniques and methodologies you master will enable you to make a direct contribution to the advancement of knowledge in your particular subject area.

Successful candidates are awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and are permitted to use the title ‘Dr’.

How does it work?

The maximum registration for a PhD programme is four years with full-time study, or eight years with part-time study.

All PhD students are initially registered for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and the PhD registration is confirmed after the successful completion of an upgrade assessment (at the end of year 1 for full-time students and year 2 for part-time study). You will be registered for a PhD when you pass this upgrade. Your academic progress will be monitored throughout your degree studies, via formal progress reports and regular meetings with your supervisors.

You complete a body of primary, novel research and submit a doctoral thesis of up to 100,000 words, which you then defend via an oral examination (the viva) to the satisfaction of the examiners. Your thesis must meet the expectations specified in the Quality Code .

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary according to the research topic and/or specific studentships. The normal minimum entrance requirement is an upper second class honours degree or masters degree, relevant to the proposed area of study, from a recognised higher education institution in the UK or other recognised degree-awarding body. The comparability of qualifications from outside the UK with The Open University requirements will be determined through reference to UK ENIC .

The research topic pages (within research areas ) give details of specific entry requirements, and provide contact details to discuss your suitability for the PhD.

English language proficiency

To study with us, you will need to have a good command of English. If your first language is not English, you will need to demonstrate your competence in the English Language in all four elements (reading, writing, listening and speaking). The University requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four categories (or approved equivalent). If you are an overseas student, you must have your level of proficiency certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration and provide your certificate and grade with your application.

Application closing dates

Entry may be permitted for direct registration with The Open University at the following points of year: October and February. This ensures that students benefit from development and training in peer groups. For further information on how to apply, see our Application process section. Application deadlines may differ between research topics and studentships; full details of topic application period is detailed in the topic page (within research areas ).

PhD student, Hannah Sargeant. Her research is focussed on water production from Moon rocks as part of the ProSPA instrument that will be flown to the Moon in 2025.

My PhD journey so far has been a wonderful learning experience that made me reflect upon my beliefs and stretch my thinking.

The sweetest thing about the PhD is that you’ve worked hard for it. It is an opportunity to make an original contribution to an academic area I have always found fascinating.

Your questions

For advice about applying for a research degree, or sponsoring a research student, email the Graduate School or call +44 (0)1908 653806.

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Course type

Qualification, university name.

3955 degrees at 151 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

About Postgraduate

A fine art PhD programme represents the pinnacle of academic study for artists seeking to engage in advanced research and critical inquiry within the visual arts. This programme delves into diverse artistic practices, theoretical frameworks and contemporary art discourse. It's particularly suited for artists, art historians and curators with a deep interest in advancing their expertise in fine art.

There are 35 PhD courses in fine art offered throughout the UK. Candidates for this doctoral programme are typically required to have a master's degree in fine art, art history or a related field. A strong portfolio of artistic work or previous academic research experience in the field is essential. Graduates emerge as accomplished artists and scholars, prepared for roles in academia, curation and professional art practice, shaping the future of the visual arts landscape.

What to Expect

The fine art PhD programme is predominantly research-based, allowing candidates to focus on a specific area of interest. This includes explorations of art techniques, history, traditional art or contemporary art forms, critical theory or interdisciplinary approaches that bridge between art and other academic fields.

Candidates work closely with academic advisors to develop their research proposal, which culminates in a doctoral thesis that combines a written dissertation with practical artistic work. The practical component often involves creating a body of work for exhibitions or installations, depending on the nature of the research.

Graduates are equipped for careers as professional artists, educators, academics, art critics and museum and gallery curators. They contribute significantly to the discourse, criticism and development of the contemporary fine art scene, both nationally and internationally.

Related subjects:

• PhD Agriculture, Animal Care, and Veterinary Science
• PhD Archaeology
• PhD Architecture
• PhD Biology and Life Sciences
• PhD Building, Planning and Construction Management
• PhD Chemistry
• PhD Communications and Media
• PhD Computer Science and Information Technology
• PhD Creative Arts and Design and Illustration
• PhD Economics
• PhD Education
• PhD Electronic and Electrical Engineering
• PhD Engineering
• PhD English Literature
• PhD Environmental Health and Safety, Protection and Conservation
• PhD Financial Management and Accounting
• PhD Food Science and Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics
• PhD Gallery, Conservation and Museum Studies and Museology
• PhD Geography and Earth Sciences
• PhD Health Care Management and Health Studies
• PhD History
• PhD Humanities and Social Sciences
• PhD Industry, Logistics, Manufacturing and Production
• PhD Journalism and Publishing
• PhD Languages
• PhD Law and Legal studies
• PhD Leisure, Hospitality Management and Event Management
• PhD Linguistic Studies
• PhD Literature
• PhD Management, Business and HR
• PhD Marketing and PR
• PhD Mathematics
• PhD Music Technology and Production and Sound Engineering
• PhD Nursing and Midwifery
• PhD Other Sciences and Research
• PhD Performing and Dramatic Arts, Acting and Music Studies
• PhD Philosophy
• PhD Physics
• PhD Physiotherapy and other Therapies
• PhD Psychology
• PhD Religious Studies and Theology
• PhD Social Work, Community Work and Counselling Skills
• PhD Sports and Recreation
• PhD Surgery, Medicine and Dentistry
• PhD Teaching and Training
• PhD Tourism and Travel
• PhD Transport Services and Aviation

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Welsh Literature (Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg) PhD

Bangor university.

It it is entirely possible to study with us through the medium of English or Welsh. Our PhD programmes are usually 3 years of full time Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD (Prof) Education

University of roehampton.

A professional doctorate with an unusually broad range of available subject specialisms, based within an established School of Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree

PhD Creative Arts and Cultural Industries

Soas university of london.

This research degree provides advanced training and research experience at a doctoral level in the broad areas at the intersection of the Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,860 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,430 per year (UK)

PhD Postgraduate Research in Mathematics

University of east anglia uea.

We are a top tier, research-led university and are committed to making a substantial impact on the global challenges facing society. Our Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

History, Philosophy and Culture PhD

Oxford brookes university.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our research and the support that we give to our postgraduate research students. The School has an Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD in Film Media and Screen Studies

Manchester metropolitan university.

RESEARCH CULTURE We are home to a substantial community of researchers undertaking critical analysis of film and screen. Our research is Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,850 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree

PhD (School of Optometry and Vision Science)

University of bradford.

The PhD at the Bradford School of Optometry and Vision Science encompasses multidisciplinary research using a variety of techniques in the Read more...

PhD - Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

Bournemouth university.

In the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences we conduct research in areas such as midwifery, nursing, leadership and dementia, as well as Read more...

University of Gloucestershire

A design research degree offers you the opportunity and time to explore innovative research practice through original, critical works. Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £3,400 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)

Epidemiology and Population Health PhD

London school of hygiene & tropical medicine, university of london.

& Structure The MPhil and PhD are aimed at students who anticipate a career in which research plays a major role and who want to focus on Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £6,740 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £3,370 per year (UK)

PhD/MPhil Mental Health

City, university of london.

You will join a research community that is leading the way in how we look at mental health care and communication. Research will be Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £5,000 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

PhD Sociology

Sheffield hallam university.

Course summary Undertake a supervised study in a range of sociological areas. Benefit from the knowledge of research active staff who Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD Management and Business

Aberystwyth university.

At Aberystwyth Business School, we attract professionals from around the world who aspire to the challenges of the global business Read more...

PhD Postgraduate research opportunities in Psychology

Liverpool john moores university.

Excellent research opportunities await at the School of Psychology, enabling you to work at the forefront of developments with leading Read more...

Allied Health Studies MPhil/PhD

University of worcester.

Research at Worcester has grown significantly in the last 10 years as the University itself has expanded. As a research student you will Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,950 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,475 per year (UK)

Creative Writing PhD

Bath spa university.

The PhD in Creative Writing combines a proposed manuscript (e.g. novel, short story collection, poems, playscript, narrative non-fiction, Read more...

• 24 months Full time degree: £7,325 per year (UK)

Audio Engineering PhD

University of surrey.

Why choose this programme Since the Institute of Sound Recording was created in 1998, it has become known internationally as a leading Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,849 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Cranfield School of Management’s PhD

School of management, cranfield university.

Cranfield School of Management’s PhD programme is internationally renowned, for its rigour, structure, faculty support and global Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,715 per year (UK)

PhD Research Degrees

Arts university bournemouth.

Research degrees are awarded in recognition of significant contributions to knowledge and scholarship produced through the development of Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,000 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,000 per year (UK)

PhD at the University of London Institute in Paris

University of london institute in paris.

Undertaking doctoral research allows you to develop in-depth knowledge, while making a meaningful contribution to your chosen field. With Read more...

• 3 years Distance without attendance degree: £6,253 per year (UK)
• 5 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,126 per year (UK)
• 3 years Online degree: £6,253 per year (UK)
• 5 years Online degree: £3,126 per year (UK)

1-20 of 3955 courses

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

• University of Warwick
• Durham University
• University of West London
• University of Greenwich
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London
• Rose Bruford College
• University of Hull
• Bishop Grosseteste University
• Hull York Medical School
• ICMA Centre (University of Reading)
• AECC University College
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David
• Cardiff University
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Nottingham
• University of Huddersfield
• University of Suffolk
• Canterbury Christ Church University

Related Subjects:

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about this subject area

PhD Education / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 60% or above, a minimum mark of 60% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 19 January 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024

Programme options

Programme overview.

• 2nd in the UK for Education (Complete University Guide 2024).  
• The University of Manchester was ranked in the top 10 in the UK for Education research (overall GPA, REF2021).
• Learn with research-active experts in the field of education and work with highly diverse cohorts of students and staff.
• Contribute to improvements in the overall wellbeing of students, their families and communities throughout the world through research.

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The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and programmes. On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see Open days.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £3,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Your fees will cover the cost of your study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation (excluding graduation robe hire).

Payment of tuition fees will also entitle you to membership of The University of Manchester library, the Students' Union and the Athletic Union.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Environment, Education and Development studentships is 19 January 2024.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Environment, Education and Development Postgraduate Research Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• School of Environment, Education and Development Enhancing Racial Equality (SERE) Studentship - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

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The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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PhD studentships

If you're looking to get PhD funding for a specific research project or field of study, Doctoral studentships can provide you with either a partially or fully-funded PhD

Who awards PhD studentships?

PhD studentships are most commonly awarded by the UK's seven Research Councils in the form of Research Council grants , with research funding overseen by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) .

Individual UK universities also offer scholarships and bursaries to PhD students, while many professional bodies fund Doctoral research in collaboration with these academic institutions.

For instance, research awards are offered by the following engineering organisations:

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - QUEST scholarships
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Additionally, Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE) can be part-funded by any non-academic body. These four-year PhDs require the student to work at the organisation for at least three months.

You can also apply for funded PhD opportunities through many charities, foundations and trusts, including:

• Action Medical Research
• Alzheimer's Society
• British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG)
• British Heart Foundation (BHF)
• Cancer Research UK
• Diabetes UK
• Rosetrees Trust - PhD Plus
• The Leverhulme Trust
• Wellcome Trust

Before you start applying for a funded PhD, it's always a good idea to discuss this with a prospective supervisor first, as they're often able to provide tips on maximising the likelihood of receiving financial support.

How much can I receive?

Many PhD studentships, including those offered by universities, professional bodies, or charities, foundations and trusts, provide three years' funding paid at a similar rate to the Research Council grant:

• Fees-only studentship - These cover a student's tuition fees, plus any associated project and training costs (a minimum of £4,786 per year).
• Full studentship - These add a non-repayable, tax-free maintenance grant known as a 'stipend'. In 2024/25, this is worth a minimum of £19,237 and it can be used towards living costs - see UKRI - Find studentships and Doctoral training .

For example, a University of Manchester School of Social Sciences PhD studentship includes tuition fees for three-and-a-half years and a maintenance grant of £16,062 (2022/23 rate) per year for living expenses, plus associated research costs - such as fieldwork and attending conferences - from the Research Training Support Grant.

However, you should be aware that some PhD studentship recipients are required to teach undergraduates. While this provides an excellent opportunity to gain vital employability skills, it can also be hugely time-consuming. You must be satisfied that tutoring won't negatively affect the quality of your research before accepting your place.

Is my programme eligible for a PhD studentship?

PhD studentships can start at any time of the year, but most begin in September, October or January.

Certain types of PhD, for example professional Doctorates, may not be eligible for a PhD studentship. The same applies to part-time or distance learning options.

Am I eligible?

PhD studentships typically demand that applicants have a Bachelors degree at 2:1 or above, plus a relevant Masters degree or professional experience at that level of study.

Those who already possess a PhD are often ineligible, while some PhD studentships are limited to students fitting certain criteria - for example, those from a disadvantaged background, from a certain country or of a certain ethnicity.

If you're a European Union (EU) national, you'll need to have settled or pre-settled status under the government's EU Settlement Scheme to be eligible for student finance in this country - and this includes PhD studentships.

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

The application process can be lengthy, and competition is fierce.

Some PhD students will be automatically considered for financial support once they've been accepted by an institution, but many are required to make separate PhD funding applications. These are usually made directly to the university - even for those studentships from Research Councils, professional bodies, or charities, foundations and trusts.

You'll typically be asked for your PhD application form, a research proposal , a cover letter and your references. After the institution has reviewed your application, you may be invited to interview.

Throughout this process, the university will scrutinise what you'll bring to the institution. Applicants at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), for example, are judged on:

• the quality of their research project and how it connects with research currently being undertaken at the institution
• how appropriate the supervisory team is
• their calibre, academic qualifications and academic/research experience
• whether the research can contribute towards the Research Excellence Framework (REF), meaning that interdisciplinary research will be preferred.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You can improve your chances of success by:

• asking a friend or family member to proofread your application
• carefully choosing your referees, ensuring that they'll speak positively of you
• discussing your draft application with a relevant academic
• explaining how your work will be unique and innovative
• following the funding body's guidance regarding word counts and formatting.

What other PhD funding is available?

If you're unsuccessful with your PhD studentship application, you could consider:

• crowdfunding
• employer sponsorship
• PhD loans .

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Doctoral studies are carried out by science postgraduates, medical students combining clinical training with the PhD, and clinically qualified doctors undertaking scientific training. The research covers the whole spectrum of medical science from basic biology to clinical therapies.

Along with the specific research training provided in the laboratory in which they work, students receive further training within the department in the form of postgraduate workshops concentrating on research techniques, research seminars both on the Addenbrooke's site and elsewhere in the University, and postgraduate student seminars dealing with generic skills such as intellectual property rights, writing a thesis or paper, and entrepreneurship.

Candidates wishing to take a shorter course of research and write a thesis for the master's after one year may apply for the MPhil in Medical Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

Those who wish to progress to a PhD after completing an MPhil will be required to satisfy their potential supervisor, Head of Department and the Faculty Degree Committee that they have the skills and ability to achieve the higher degree.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of medicine, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Easter 2024 (Closed)

Michaelmas 2024, easter 2025, funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• MD (Doctor of Medicine) MD
• Medical Science (Medicine) MPhil
• Veterinary Medicine PhD
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology PhD
• Biological Sciences at the Department of Veterinary Medicine PhD

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• PhD Salary in UK – Explained
• Funding a PhD

What Are PhD Salaries?

The average cost of undertaking a PhD in the UK is approximately £20,000 per academic year for UK students and £40,000 for international students. To help offset the cost of this, many students question whether undertaking a doctorate comes with a PhD salary.

The salary of a PhD student is governed by three factors: whether they’re assisting in undergraduate teaching, assisting in research, or have secured a PhD with a stipend. Depending on which of the three categories a student falls within, they will receive an income during their studies, however, the amount will differ by a substantial amount.

To help show you how you can fund your postgraduate degree and how much you can expect to earn whilst doing so, carry on reading below.

Types of PhD Salaries

There are three types of PhD degree salaries:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) . In exchange for a salary, you’ll be required to assist in the delivery of one or more courses over a number of years. This includes, but is not limited to, marking student tutorials, supervising lab experiments and providing support to undergraduates during office hours. Besides this, you may have to teach a small section of the course itself. You can discover more about GTAs on King’s College London’s website.
• Research Assistantships (RAs) . In exchange for a salary, you assist a departmental professor with their research. In the ideal scenario, the professor you work with should also be your PhD supervisor and the research you’re asked to support with relates to your own doctoral project.
• Stipend via Studentship: A stipend is a non-repayable grant provided to doctoral students to help support their studies. A studentship covers a student’s tuition fees whilst a stipend covers a PhD student’s living costs. This includes outgoings such as rent, food, bills and basic travel. Unlike Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships, stipends rarely have duties attached to them. The only expectation of receiving a stipend will be that you maintain continuous progress within your degree.

It’s worth noting these earning opportunities can be also be combined. For example, it’s possible to be a research assistant whilst also committing time to teach undergraduate students.

Average PhD Salary in UK

The average PhD student salary for teaching assistantships will vary depending on the level of responsibility you’re taking. However, to provide figures, past doctoral students have reported receiving approx. £10/hr for marking tutorials, £15/hr for leading laboratory sessions and up to £20/hr for leading undergraduate classes and tutorials.

The actual amount you can earn from teaching assistance will depend on the rate your department offers and the hours you can realistically take on. If you’re on a Graduate Teaching Assistantship programme, they will require you to dedicate a set number of hours per week. If you’re not on a GTA but would still like to earn an income through this scheme, you will likely need to commit several hours per week consistently. Although this can be a great way to earn whilst you study, you need to make sure you manage your time effectively as to not become overwhelmed by taking on an additional commitment.

The average salary for research assistantships will vary depending on the field of the doctoral degree you are enrolled in. Usually, these positions pay between £25,000 to £30,000 per year, however, it’s possible to come across positions which sit slightly outside of this. As a general rule of thumb, STEM assistors are paid more than non-STEM assistors.

In the UK, PhD students can receive a stipend which varies between £15,000 and £18,000 per annum. As part of the studentship your stipend is provided under, your tuition fees will also be paid for. UK tuition fees will vary between universities but are approximately £4,500 per year for doctoral courses starting in 2021/22 as per the UKRI recommendations .

Although £15,000 to £18,000 per year is the typical range for a stipend, some can be far greater than this. For example, Wellcome Trust , a research-charity based in London, offers an annual stipend of up to £23,300 and £26,000 for doctoral students located outside and within London, respectively.

Are PhD Salaries Taxed?

PhD stipends are tax free. Therefore, you don’t need to pay any income tax nor do you need to make any national insurance contributions. This means you’ll keep all the money you receive from an annual stipend. However, this is not the case for Research Assistants.

In the UK, Research Assistants are employed as university staff members and are paid a direct salary as opposed to a stipend. As a result, it will require you to pay tax on your earnings and make national insurance contributions.

To put this into perspective, for the 2019/20 UK tax year, you’re required to pay a 20% tax on any income above £12,500 but less than £50,000. You’re also required to make national insurance contributions of 12% of your weekly earnings over £166 but less than £962. This means that an annual Research Assistantship salary of £30,000 will equate to a take-home salary of £23,938 per year.

How to Get a PhD Stipend

To find research positions which offer stipends, we recommend you search our PhD database and filter by ‘funded’ positions.

Besides this, you can also secure a studentship from UK Research Councils or directly from your university as a scholarship. Independent organisations, such as charities and research trusts, and innovative firms within your industry also offer funding. You can read our PhD studentship guide to see how these work or our Where to find a PhD guide for further ideas.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How to Get a Research Assistantship PhD

Unfortunately, research assistantships opportunities aren’t as common to come across compared to PhD stipends. Besides this, when they are available, they’re predominantly in STEM subjects such as computer science and engineering. The reason for this is these subjects usually have access to greater research grants and have a greater volume of practical work available.

To find a research assistantship, we recommend that you contact the university departments who host the courses you’re interested in directly. This is because research assistantships help professors with their research, and while they may require help, they may not be openly advertising for it. They may, therefore, be able to create a role for you within their department or put you into contact with one of their colleagues who already has an open position.

International Students

It’s worth noting that international students will have a harder time securing a funded PhD position than UK ‘home’ students will. This is largely because there are usually fewer funding opportunities available to international students, which as a result also attract significant competition.

Besides this, if you’re an international student studying in the UK you will most likely than not be on a Tier 4 visa. Although a Tier 4 visa will allow you to work to earn an additional income alongside any studentship you may have, there will be certain restrictions on what you can and can’t do. For example, during term-time, you won’t be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. For a full list of restrictions, please refer to the government website.

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What Can You Do With a PhD?

Why Do a PhD? Benefits and Career Directions

Are you thinking about a PhD as the next stage in your educational and professional development? It’s an exciting road to travel with many potential benefits and opportunities. But you have to earn it first so considering what’s involved is important.

Requirements for a PhD award vary greatly globally and from institution to institution. PhD applicants are expected to have gained at least an Honours degree and sometimes a Master’s degree to be eligible to apply for a PhD programme.

It’s best to find out as much as possible about not only what you can expect during the PhD process but also what will be expected of you. Will the commitments in terms of time, effort and money prove worthwhile? Identifying the pros and cons will help you to weigh up whether this is the right step for you.

The on-going impacts of COVID -19 have to be taken into account. Not only have teaching and learning practices altered in Higher Education but so have ways of working and connecting with each other as technological change advances more rapidly. Sudden shifts and uncertainties mean that flexibility must be factored into any PhD planning, such as supervision or research having to be carried out online.

This article will outline possible career paths and prospects that can follow on from having a PhD as well as the benefits during the process.

First of all ask yourself- Is a PhD right for me?

Do some self-assessment:.

• what your educational experiences and achievements are up to now
• identify what you liked and disliked
• what you were good/skilled at, what you found difficult

Talk to others

Whilst there is no ‘typical’ PhD experience as everyone’s paths differ, it’s helpful to talk to those who have done or are doing a PhD about what is involved. You can make contacts through networks and online forums and find out more about their experience. Read articles and other relevant documents including university publications plus online sources. There is a wide range of websites offering case studies of career stories from what people have done with their PhD.

What parts of doing a PhD appeal to you?

It could be spending time in libraries and archives, fieldwork and interviews, running experiments, analysing data, problem-solving, creative thinking, writing and communicating your findings to others. It’s just as important to ask yourself which parts of it don’t appeal and consider how you would handle those aspects.

Once you’ve done this assessment you can think more about what a PhD might lead to.

Benefits of the PhD experience

The skills you gain and improve during a PhD are transferable and applicable to a wide range of careers. Prospective employers look for those with experience of doing research and a PhD is a research-based degree. What you researched might be directly related to jobs you apply for but it doesn’t need to be: it’s the fact that you have research experience that counts.

Employers also look for those with good written and spoken communication skills (online and face to face) and who can plan and deliver presentations. These could be for team meetings, conferences or sales pitches. Whilst doing a PhD, you will be networking not just within your university but in other areas. In recent years, networking skills have become more important in the work environment. Having networking experience, whether it’s ‘working the room’ at a conference or meeting or attending an online event will boost your potential and help you stand out.

You can develop your networks by attending conferences, talks and other events apart from regular contact with other students and tutors. These may be online given COVID restrictions but opportunities for face- to- face events have increased in the second half of 2021. These contacts can provide useful support and also share work opportunities. There are many online study and research forums  that can help you through your PhD and also offer opportunities for  finding work whilst you are studying  and post-graduation. Some of these online forums may be arranging small-scale physical meet-ups.

Considering Career Possibilities

Whilst a PhD is often seen as professional training for academia, this is just one possibility. In the UK less than half of PhD graduates become academics and this figure can lower in other countries.

As with any career ambitions, assessment of all that is involved. Academics are expected to do much more than research, teach and supervise students.

If this is what you’re aiming for, start preparing by taking up opportunities for  part-time teaching  that might fit into your schedule. This is valuable work experience even if you later decide not to go into academia.

Outside Academia

There are many options in the professions, business and management, public sector and more. From small and local, to large and global, many companies and institutions seek highly qualified personnel. Think about the  types of organisations  you could work for: everything from large multinationals, NGOs, charities, local and national government, regulatory bodies and agencies, SMEs (small to medium enterprises with under 250 employees). The vast majority of companies in the UK are SMEs and offer excellent career progression opportunities.

Different employment sectors have their specific features but increasingly overlap as economic, technological and political changes come into play. Whilst we can distinguish the public and private sectors these have shown degrees of convergence in recent years.

The Professions

These typically involve prolonged training and formal qualifications such as accountancy, civil service, law and medicine. Having a PhD is considered to be  indicative of professional development  but additional training may be required for your chosen area.

Self-employment

This category encompasses all forms of working for yourself, whether setting up a small business by yourself or with others, doing consultancy work or a mix of these.

The self-employed account for around 15% of the labour force in the UK.

There are possibilities of freelance working within academia as well as in other areas, by packaging and selling your expertise and skills. The advantages include being ‘your own boss’, taking on work you choose and being free of the 9 to 5 routine.

There are also challenges, with responsibilities for legal compliance and taxation. There may be long working hours without the ‘cushion’ of secure monthly income and paid holidays.

In the past decade, digital entrepreneurship has rapidly expanded with new start-ups coming online all the time. This trend has increased over the past 18 months as more people lost jobs and decided to set up their own businesses from home.

It’s likely that the gig economy will continue to develop and you may consider if you want to enter this as a sole proprietor or as an employee if self-employment is not your preferred career route.

Not-For-Profit

This includes charities, NGOs and community interest companies. As in other sectors, some are small and local whilst others are global, eg. Oxfam. NGOs might focus on one area or multiple parts of the world but a specific theme such as human rights or the environment. There are openings at different levels and whilst they may rely on volunteers they do have paid positions in fund-raising, advocacy, administration, marketing and management.

The skills and experience gained by a PhD graduate can certainly be applied elsewhere, particularly if you keep an open mind and your eyes on the jobs market from the early days of your  doctoral journey . You can upgrade your employability profile by networking and taking advantage of your university’s employability support and opportunities including gaining some work experience. This is always a big bonus and increasingly required by employers.

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Dr. Ruth Cherrington

Ruth Cherrington has a long record as a higher education professional. She has been a lecturer, trainer and employability adviser both in the UK and abroad. Ruth has always been committed to maximizing the professional development of those she works with. Another strand to her career is as a writer, with a wide range of publications to her name. Ruth enjoys travelling to meet former students and colleagues across the world. LinkedIn

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12th March 2021 at 11:16 pm

I am an environmental chemist working in the waste management industry. I have an MSci degree, and hope to stay in this industry. I am curious if pursuing a PhD will improve my job prospects later down the line, or would working towards a chartership be more valuable?

3rd February 2023 at 2:47 pm

Pursuing a Ph.D. doesn’t only polish your skills, But also gives you a new form of understanding the demand for knowledgeable people required by industries. If you look outside towards different companies offering you more money and benefits, Ph.D. works as fuel to reach higher posts. In the education sector, there is a demand for Ph.D. professors. If you have an industry experience with a Ph.D. your hourly wage varies from around £70 to £100 an hour. I wish you best of luck

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Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

UKRI studentships offer funding for doctoral research. They also offer you access to training, networking and development opportunities to help you build a research and innovation career.

Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training .

You could get:

• a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments
• support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)

The stipend is usually non-taxable and does not need to be paid back. Some research organisations may offer more if you study in London, or they or one of their collaborators might decide to top up the payment. This will be outlined in the studentship advert from the research organisation.

We normally pay the support for tuition fees directly to your research organisation.

The levels given here are for the academic year 2024 to 2025. UKRI’s approach to doctoral stipend and fee levels will be reviewed through the  new deal for postgraduate research .

Additional support for your doctoral studies

As a UKRI-funded doctoral student, you may be able to access additional funding to cover the cost of other related training and development opportunities.

This could include:

• conference attendance
• language training
• overseas research visits
• internships or placements with a non-academic partner

The availability of support will depend on the research organisation and the training grants they have on offer. You should contact the research organisation you are interested in applying to, to find out what you could get.

Extra support if you have a disability

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

You should speak to your research organisation’s disability advisor to assess your needs. They can help put the right support in place, including a DSA application if necessary. You cannot claim DSA directly from UKRI.

DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty.

The allowance covers:

• non-medical personal assistance
• specialist equipment
• extra travel costs
• general expenses

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

If you are a research organisation you can download claim forms and guidance for DSA .

Who can apply

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship.

All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award, both the stipend to support living costs, and home-level fees at the UK research organisation rate.

How to find opportunities

Many UK research organisations offer some form of studentship funding from UKRI. These opportunities will depend on the subject you want to study and will normally be advertised by the research organisations.

Research organisations may have additional opportunities that do not involve UKRI. UKRI supports around 20% of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You should speak to the research organisation you are interested in to find out what studentships are available.

You could also consider using a specialist website like   FindaPhD  to look for opportunities.

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

Many open for applications early in the academic year and close in January or February. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is important that you check the deadlines for the research organisation where you want to study.

How to apply

You cannot apply to UKRI for a studentship. You must contact the research organisation you are interested in studying with and use their application process.

For doctoral students who are already studying with a studentship, there are opportunities to get additional funding to support placements that are separate from your doctorate.  Find training and development opportunities .

Last updated: 14 February 2024

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

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• Student Life Abroad /

Going to Study PhD in UK? Here’s What Your Life as a PhD Student Will Look Like!

• Updated on  
• Jul 7, 2023

Are you planning to pursue a PhD in the UK ? If yes, you might wonder what your life as a PhD student in UK will look like. How will you spend your days? What will you do for research? How will you balance your work and personal life? What are the challenges and opportunities that await you In this blog, we will give you a glimpse of what to expect from your PhD journey in the UK. So, let’s get started!

Also Read: Study in UK 2023

This Blog Includes:

Why study phd in uk, 1. traditional phd, 2. integrated phd , 3. professional doctorate, 4. distance learning phd, 1. application, 2. registration, 3. progression , 4. completion, researching, personal growth, academic achievement, career development, top universities offering phd in uk, scholarships for phd in uk.

The UK is one of the most popular destinations for international PhD study, with great opportunities to research, work and explore. Here’s why you should consider studying PhD in UK:

• According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, 82% of UK university graduates find a job or continue their studies within half a year of finishing their PhD.
• The UK boasts some of the top universities in the world , and many of them offer excellent PhD programs. The QS World University Rankings 2024 show that the UK has four universities among the top ten for graduate employability and five universities among the top 20 for graduate employability.
• Studying in UK universities opens up many possibilities. Nearly 87% of PhD students start working after graduation and earn an average salary of 40,000 GBP- 60,000 GBP (40-60 Lakh INR) per year.
• the UK Research Council,
• The British Council ,
• The Commonwealth Scholarships ,
• The Chevening Scholarship s , etc.
• You can also apply for teaching or research assistantships to earn income while studying.
• Being a multicultural and cosmopolitan country with people from different backgrounds, cultures and religions, you can experience the UK’s rich history, heritage and traditions and enjoy the modern lifestyle, entertainment and cuisine.

Also Read: Intakes in the UK

Types of PhD in UK

There are different types of PhD programs in the UK, depending on your research area, your learning style, and your personal preferences. Some of the common types are:

This is the most common type of PhD in the UK, where you conduct original research on a specific topic under the supervision of one or more academics. 

An integrated PhD combines taught modules with research. You usually spend one-year taking courses related to your research area, followed by three years of independent research. 

This PhD focuses on applying research to professional practice. You usually spend two years taking courses related to your profession or industry, followed by two years of conducting research on a relevant issue or problem. 

This PhD allows you to study remotely from anywhere in the world. You usually communicate with your supervisor by phone, email or video conferencing and visit your university for one or two weeks each year. 

What are the Stages of PhD in UK?

A typical PhD programme in UK consists of four main stages:

This is where you choose your university, supervisor, and research topic. You also have to prepare your research proposal, which outlines your aims, objectives, methods and expected outcomes. 

You also have to submit your academic transcripts, English language proficiency test scores, references, and other documents required by your university. You may also have to attend an interview or a test as part of the selection process.

Enrol as a PhD student at your university and start your program. You usually have to attend an induction or orientation session, where you will meet your supervisor, your department, and other PhD students. 

You will also have to complete some administrative tasks, such as registering for courses, paying fees, opening a bank account , etc.

This is where you conduct your research and monitor your progress. You usually have to meet with your supervisor regularly, who will provide you with feedback and guidance. You will also have to submit periodic reports or presentations to assess your achievements and challenges. 

You may also have to undergo a formal review or examination at the end of your first year or second year, which will determine whether you can continue with your program.

This is where you finish your research and write your thesis. You usually have to follow the guidelines and standards set by your university and your discipline. 

You will also have to submit your thesis for examination, which will involve an oral defense (viva voce) in front of a panel of experts. You may also have to make corrections or revisions to your thesis before it is accepted.

Also Read: Top PhD Entrance Exams

Life as a PhD Student in UK: Daily Activities

As a PhD student in UK, your activities can vary depending on your subject area, stage of PhD, learning style, and personal preferences. However, some of the common activities are:

As a PhD student, you will have to read a lot of books, articles, reports and other sources related to your research topic. Keep up with the latest developments and trends in your field, review the existing literature, and identify the gaps and opportunities for your research.

You will also have to write a lot of documents, such as proposals, reports, presentations, papers, and chapters as a part of your life as a PhD student in the UK. Communicate your ideas clearly and convincingly, using appropriate language, style, and format, cite your sources correctly, and avoid plagiarism.

As a PhD student, you spend most of your time doing research on your chosen topic. Depending on your discipline, it may involve conducting experiments in the laboratory, collecting data through surveys or interviews, analysing data using software or statistics, or interpreting texts or images using theories or frameworks.

As a PhD student, you may also have some teaching responsibilities, such as leading seminars, tutorials or workshops for undergraduate or Masters students. You may also have to mark assignments or exams, provide feedback or mentorship, or supervise projects or dissertations. Teaching can help you develop your skills and knowledge and earn some income.

As a PhD student, you will also have learning opportunities, such as attending courses, seminars, workshops or conferences related to your research area. You may also have to take some training modules on research ethics, academic writing, presentation skills, etc. Learning can help you broaden your perspective and enhance your skills.

Life as a PhD student in UK also provides multiple networking opportunities , such as meeting other PhD students, academics, professionals or experts in your field. You may also have to collaborate with other researchers or institutions on joint projects or publications. Networking can help you build your reputation and connections and find potential mentors or partners.

As a PhD student, you will also need time to relax and unwind from your busy schedule. You may have some hobbies or interests that you enjoy, such as sports, music, art, etc. 

You may also want to explore the UK and its culture, such as visiting museums, landmarks, festivals, etc. Relaxing can help you maintain your well-being and happiness.

Also Read: Top Hangout Spots at/near Oxford University

What are the Benefits of Doing a PhD in UK?

Doing a PhD in UK can offer many benefits and challenges for you as an international student. Some of the benefits are:

Doing a PhD in UK can help you grow as a person, as you will develop your intellectual abilities, creativity, confidence and resilience. You will also learn to work independently and collaboratively, manage your time and resources, and solve complex problems.

Doing a PhD in UK can help you achieve your academic goals, as you will contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in your field. You will also produce a high-quality thesis that showcases your original research and findings.

Doing a PhD in UK can help you develop your career prospects, as you will gain valuable skills and experience that are sought after by employers and academics. You will also have a competitive edge in the global job market and access to various opportunities for further study or work.

Also Read: Best Countries for PhD

Here’s a list of the universities offering top-notch PhD programs in UK according to the QS World University Rankings 2023:

Here’s the list of scholarships for students wanting to pursue a PhD in UK:

• Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for Developing Countries
• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
• Carnegie PhD Scholarships
• Newton Bhabha Fund
• Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships
• Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships

Also Read: PhD Scholarships in the UK

To sum up, doing a PhD in UK can be an exciting and rewarding experience for international students who want to pursue their passion for research and learning. But it can also be a challenging and demanding journey that requires dedication and perseverance. So, preparing yourself well before you embark on your PhD adventure in the UK is vital.

Ans. The average monthly stipend of a PhD student in UK is around 35000 – 48000 GBP (approx INR 36,32,748 – INR 49,82,054) per year.

Ans. Depending on your goals, interests, and circumstances, doing a PhD in UK can be a rewarding experience. Here are some pros of doing a PhD in UK: You enjoy a diverse, inclusive environment and interact with people from different disciplines and backgrounds. You get great exposure to the markets, industry, and academic community to build your network and reputation. You can upskill in research, analysis, communication, and problem-solving, which are valuable for any career. You get access to extensive and enriched research resources to conduct original and innovative research. You benefit from tax-free stipends that PhD students in UK universities receive, ranging from £15,000 to £17,000 (INR 15.5 – 17.6 LPA).

Ans. A PhD student typically spends 8 hours a day on research-related activities, such as reading, writing, conducting experiments, analysing data, teaching, or attending seminars, while balancing their personal and professional life and coping with stress, challenges, and uncertainties. 

We hope this blog has given you some useful insights into what your life as a PhD student in UK will look like. Want more information on how to pursue study abroad ? Get in touch with the experts at Leverage Edu today!

Disha Kaira

Disha is an electrical engineer turned writer passionate about bringing a spark (and accuracy) to whatever content she comes across. Whether it's UI/UX Design or writing blogs on abroad education, she relishes every chance to learn and test the limits of her creativity.

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Q What jobs do people go into after getting a Psychology honours degree? About half of our students go on in Psychology after graduating. About half follow job paths that are unconnected with Psychology. Since Psychology is about people and develops excellent transferrable skills such as critical thinking, it can be applied to most non-specialised areas of employment. It is also the first step in taking a postgraduate qualification to work in the main areas of psychology such as Clinical, Educational and Occupational. New areas such as Counselling, Sports Psychology, Health Psychology and Forensic Psychology are also possible. Many of ours students go into the Human Resources field and of course Research and Teaching (University or School) are important possibilities. Q How do I become a Clinical, Forensic, Child, Educational, Occupational or Counselling Psychologist? There are three steps. Step 1. Get the very best undergraduate Psychology degree you can because everything is competitive. Step 2. Use it to get onto a postgraduate course that trains and teaches in the area that you want to specialise in. These courses are delivered through universities usually and offer a postgraduate degree such as a Masters Child Psychology or a Psy D (Psychology Doctorate) in Clinical psychology. Some courses offer diplomas. The courses are usually between 1 and 3 years study. Step 3. With your postgraduate qualification, seek posts that are advertised regularly in the media. And work your way up the ladder of opportunities. The British Psychological Society website has a section dedicated to explaining this. Q How do I become a University Psychologist? There are 2 steps. Step 1. Get the very best undergraduate Psychology degree you can because everything is competitive (3-4 years). Step 2. Use it to acquire a PhD placement in an area you would like to study (3 years). Step 3. Use your PhD to acquire a position as a postdoctoral Research Assistant/Associate, lecturer etc etc in a university. And work your way up the ladder of opportunities. Many Psychology graduates wish to undertake a career in research which involves obtaining a PhD. Students sometimes prefer to take up graduate training at a University different from where they took their first degree. However, at Glasgow, research training to PhD level is provided in a range of areas in Psychology, but especially Psycholinguistics, Perception and Visual Cognition, Cognitive Neuropsychology, and the application of brain imaging techniques.    Students are often attracted to careers in the main professional areas of Psychology, mainly Forensic, Educational, and Occupational psychology. Clinical Psychology is one of the more popular ambitions. The following excerpts from the BPS website gives some idea of what is involved in pursuing this and other professional careers:       “What do clinical psychologists do?”       What they do:    Clinical Psychology aims to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological well-being. A wide range of psychological difficulties may be dealt with, including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, learning disabilities, child and family problems, and serious mental illness. To assess a client, a clinical psychologist may undertake a clinical assessment using a variety of methods including psychometric tests, interviews and direct observation of behaviour. Assessment may lead to therapy, counselling or advice.       Where they work:    Clinical Psychologists work largely in health and social care settings including hospitals, health centres, community mental health teams, child and adolescent mental health services and social services.       Who they work with:    They usually work as part of a team with, for example, social workers, medical practitioners and other health professionals. Most Clinical Psychologists work in the National Health Service (NHS), which has a clearly defined career structure, but some work in private practice. The work is often directly with people, either individually or in groups, assessing their needs and providing therapies based on psychological theories and research. Clinical Psychology is a rapidly developing field and contributing to the literature through research is very important. Some Clinical Psychologists work as trainers, teachers and researchers in universities.

Transferrable Skills

Skills and other attributes.

Intellectual skills

• Evaluate the comparative advantages of different research methods in psychology.
• Critically compare and evaluate different advanced techniques employed in research.
• Evaluate and criticise the theories and empirical research in the area defined by their option choice.
• Exercise critical judgement in the application and interpretation of statistical techniques in psychological investigation in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
• Design and execute a research project to a standard at or near publication quality.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of theory and practice in the selective areas of psychology and in research methods.
• Demonstrate initiative, self-reliance, and critical ability from a solid foundation of knowledge, understanding and critical awareness.
• Give evidence of an enquiring, problem-oriented mind with sufficient awareness of the critical research and applications in psychology to enable successful pursuit of postgraduate work in psychology and related disciplines.

Subject specific skills

• Summarise the main sources of psychological funding.
• Summarise the range of professional careers open to psychologists.
• Deliver an oral presentation of research findings to a professional audience.
• Write a research paper based on a personal research project to a level suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Write a grant proposal to the standard of a professional research submission.

Transferable/key skills

Subject specific content

Besides conceptual knowledge, psychology graduates have also acquired substantial knowledge and practice at applying empirical methods, particularly that of controlled experiments but also of designing and using questionnaires, and to a lesser extent interviews and other methods. Such practical methods can be and are used in a wide range of contexts, including applied contexts such as Human Computer Interaction, whether or not there is much theory for such problems. The application of these methods of investigation are an important area of practical knowledge, independently of the theoretical knowledge. The statistics teaching, which is another topic applicable beyond the range of the theoretical topics taught, covers advanced analysis of variance, multivariate techniques, and the hands-on use of statistical computer packages.

General intellectual training

The nature of psychology as a discipline Every academic subject carries with it a particular approach to understanding -- the discipline -- which varies widely from subject to subject, but which a graduate often tends to carry over in approaching other areas of work. T.K. Landauer, a psychologist who spent much of his career working with those from quite other disciplines, suggested that the essence of what a psychologist brings can be boiled down as follows: "There are two very elementary but fundamental methodological facts that are taken for granted by all experimental psychologists, but astonishingly often fail to be appreciated by others. The first is that behavior is always quite variable between people and between occasions. The second is that it is feasible to obtain objective data on behavior." In other words, psychologists are trained to appreciate that it is a mistake when dealing with people, as opposed say to a bit of technology, to take a deterministic approach that assumes that what it does once is what it will always do and that considering one example (e.g. themselves) is enough; but equally that the opposite notion of free will and hence complete unpredictability is generally mistaken, and that useful predictions about behaviour and its degree of variability can nevertheless be developed. Anyone with even informal experience of personnel, politics, management, and so on will recognise the importance of understanding that useful work can be done in the middle ground between determinism and free will. This view of the general intellectual character of psychology also points to its distinctive features as a discipline. One pervasive aspect is its application of some form of experimental method to problems (this tends to distinguish it from the other social sciences), despite the problems of experiments with beings whose understanding of the experiment and experimenter frequently has large effects. Perhaps more important for its value as a general education, however, is that psychology frequently forces us to deal simultaneously with fundamentally different kinds of evidence (whatever the preferences of individual research specialists). For instance, a theory of emotion must cope with physiological data (blushing, adrenalin surges that can be measured chemically), individual cognitive data (how individuals' thoughts and decisions change with emotion, what they report about their experience), and social data (someone experiencing joy due to a success such as a strike in bowling is about ten times more likely to smile if they are with companions, suggesting that emotions are an evolutionarily ancient social coordination mechanism). This need somehow to relate quite different kinds of evidence of varying but not negligible value bearing on a single issue is a widespread feature of professional life of most kinds, but is relatively unusual in an academic subject. Critical thinking A highly desirable general intellectual skill for any graduate is what is now often called "critical thinking": the ability not just to reproduce and explain concepts learned from others, but to decide how much weight should be given them, by discerning and evaluating the extent to which they are consistent with and supported by evidence and other ideas, (or conversely, how much they are undermined by being inconsistent with other evidence and opinions). This is directly built into some basic areas of the discipline, where even introductory teaching in, for instance, social psychology, typically consists of presenting, not a single dominant theory or "law", but the relative abilities of alternative theories to explain the facts observed so far. On the other hand, in other areas (e.g. those related to physiology) it behaves more like a natural science: after a flurry of scrutiny and perhaps debate when new theory or phenomena are published, general consensus is established in the field, and findings become treated as "facts" or even "laws". Just as it is unwise to accept all assertions uncritically, so it is unproductive to apply scepticism to everything; useful critical thinking requires decisions about the weight to be given each item. Most disciplines give far more practice at one or the other, but psychology exposes its students to considerable amounts of both because of its unusually wide range of types of subject matter. In this department, critical thinking is further directly fostered by a series of three "critical review" exercises requiring the student not just to summarise a set of recently published papers, but to critique them. The aim is to develop ability at independent assessment and comparison, even of peer-reviewed published work. (Our graduates may be able to offer copies of one of their critical reviews on request.) Research-led teaching The school is very active in research, and this leads to a substantial amount of research-led teaching. There are advantages from this for instance in making the teaching content up to the minute, and from the enthusiasm of researchers talking about their central interests. A deeper advantage is that the teachers are equally learners, demonstrating by personal example: a researcher is attempting to learn things no-one yet knows, both for themselves and for the community as a whole. This is an important endpoint in the types of learning an individual may do: from a child acquiring its first language exactly from the people around it, to the independent learning of a researcher seeking knowledge no-one else yet has. This is also important for professionals and for organisations of all kinds. Finally, research-led teaching introduces another important element: an apprenticeship mode of learning. When students do their research project with a personal supervisor they are in effect doing an apprenticeship in research, where they learn partly by personal instruction, partly by their own practice, and partly by imitation. While the research skills themselves will only be directly used by a small subset of our graduates, this mode of learning is probably more relevant than is usually acknowledged in many jobs. Even though formal training courses are increasingly numerous in many workplaces, it remains true that much learning on the job is by the implicit apprenticeship methods of imitation, personal instruction, and trying it out with occasional supervision. Our graduates have already successfully performed in that mode of learning. Personal and professional transferable skills Besides the general intellectual skills mentioned, our graduates are equipped with a grounding in the following skills: Writing competence Our graduates accumulate considerable practice at planning and executing the writing of substantial pieces. These pieces of work are produced in circumstances similar to that of many work places: they can draw on the use of computer spelling checkers and human critics, but are working to a deadline and with other simultaneous demands on their time. Giving talks ("presentations", oral communication) Our graduates have been required to present at a number of short talks on their work, complete with visual aids and a time limit, to an audience of limited attentiveness. Typically they regard this as very stressful, yet perform competently in the view of staff (for whom giving and listening to talks is a prominent feature of their professional life). Information technology Our students were required to use email for much of their time as a standard departmental communication medium. They were required to submit all their written work outside exam rooms in word-processed form, including some use of tables and charts. They are further trained and exercised in the use of at least one statistics package, and in the use of online literature search software. They will normally have used the world wide web in various ways, as the department maintains some information in that form, and some courses require its use. Numeracy, quantitative methods As noted above, the statistics course and required applications of it mean that graduates have used calculators, spreadsheet, and statistical software to process data, and to present numerical results in tables and charts. Library research Our graduates have had to undertake library research both as part of the regular courses, and for their project work and critical reviews. The latter especially demand extracting useful information directly from the published scientific literature, mainly online. Trustworthiness, honesty, professional ethics We are happy to confirm in personal references that a particular graduate has given us no reason to doubt their honesty, but in general a degree course offers few opportunities for more definite observations or tests. The exception is in acquiring and practising the desirable standards for dealing with human participants (or "subjects") in empirical studies. All our graduates have received training in this, in line with BPS guidelines, and were required as part of their research project to construct, and to have submitted an ethics application covering their study. The difficulty of getting such clearance varies greatly: for example, administering questionnaires to other undergraduates is generally an issue of relatively low sensitivity, while working with disturbed patients receiving treatment elsewhere is a high sensitivity area.

Blog UK Health Security Agency

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/16/whos-eligible-for-the-2024-covid-19-vaccine-or-spring-booster/

Who’s eligible for the 2024 COVID-19 vaccine, or ‘Spring Booster’?

As we move into spring, protection from any earlier COVID-19 vaccination you may have had will be starting to wane. For those who are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, the NHS offers a free vaccine in the spring to top up their protection, previously known as the ‘Spring Booster’.

Current vaccines provide good protection against severe disease and hospitalisation. UKHSA surveillance data relating to last spring’s programme shows that those who received a vaccine were around 50% less likely to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19 from 2 weeks following vaccination, compared to those who remained unvaccinated.

According to World Health Organization data , 400,000 lives in England are estimated to have been saved up to March 2023 due to the COVID-19 vaccine programme.

Are you eligible to top up your COVID-19 protection this spring?

While you might have received your COVID-19 vaccine during winter or in past ‘Spring Booster’ campaigns, the criteria for this year’s spring vaccine have changed slightly:

• Adults aged 75 years and over.
• Residents in a care home for older adults.
• Individuals aged 6 months and over who have a weakened immune system.

As you can see, the criteria are similar to the spring 2022 and spring 2023 booster campaigns, but this year the criteria for the immunosuppressed group has lowered to include those 6 months and over.

The eligibility is the same across the four nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Let’s explain the age-based criteria

Those who are aged 75 and over can come forward to top up their protection this spring. If you are 74 but turn 75 years old by 30 June 2024, you don’t have to wait for your birthday to come forward.

What about residents, and staff in care homes?

Those who are a resident in care homes for older adults are also eligible. Carers and staff in care homes are not eligible, this is because the spring vaccine is targeted towards providing protection to those most vulnerable to severe disease.

I have a weakened immune system, am I eligible this spring?

We understand that having a weakened immune system (immunosuppression) is a lot less straight forward than the other criteria. Looking online can cause even more confusion, as people might see themselves (and be considered by others) as immunosuppressed but might not fit the immunosuppression criteria for vaccination.

So, what are the immunosuppression criteria? Eligibility is outlined in Chapter 14a of the Green Book , a document published by UKHSA specifically for public health professionals. It can be a complicated document for non-experts, so we've listed some of the groups here:

• Organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant patients.
• Those being treated with systemic steroids for more than a month.
• Those living with HIV.
• Those receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy, including children who are about to receive therapy.
• Those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
• Those who require long-term treatment for immunosuppression
• Those with a history of haematological malignancy including chronic leukaemia, lymphomas, and leukaemia.
• Those with genetic disorders affecting the immune system.

While this list summarises some major groups, it does not cover everything. Please check online at nhs.uk/get-vaccine to see if you are eligible.

How do I get my spring COVID-19 vaccine?

You should come forward rather than waiting for the NHS to contact you this year. You will be able to book your vaccine online at nhs.uk/get-vaccine from 15 April 2024. If you or someone you know can’t get online, book by calling 119 free of charge, where a translator is available if needed.

While having your spring vaccine around 6 months after your last dose is the usual timeframe, you can have it as soon as 3 months after a previous COVID-19 vaccine dose. If you are eligible, you can get protection from a spring COVID-19 vaccination even if you have not taken up a COVID-19 vaccine offer in the past. Most people do not need extra vaccinations to make up for any they have missed, but your doctor may advise a further dose if you have a severely weakened immune system.

It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up the offer this spring before the vaccination programme closes on 30 June 2024.

You may also be interested in:

• Should we be worried about the new COVID-19 variant?

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