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PhD - School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Aston University, United Kingdom

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Course Overview

The PhD program in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Aston University provides students with the opportunity to conduct original research under the supervision of experienced faculty members. The program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of their chosen field of study, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to become an independent researcher. Students in the program will have access to state-of-the-art resources and facilities, as well as opportunities for collaboration and networking with other researchers in the field.

Additional Information

The PhD program typically takes 3-4 years to complete and involves a combination of coursework, research, and the completion of a dissertation. Students are expected to actively participate in the academic life of the university, including presenting their work at conferences and seminars, and publishing their research in academic journals.

Aston University: Where Excellence Meets Opportunity

Aston University is a leading research university in the UK, with a strong reputation for excellence in the social sciences and humanities. The university offers a supportive and stimulating environment for PhD students, with access to cutting-edge facilities and a diverse community of scholars. Located in the vibrant city of Birmingham, Aston University provides an ideal setting for interdisciplinary research and collaboration.

Why You Should Study This Course

Researchers in the School of Social Science and Humanities (SSH) is a multi-lingual, multi-, and interdisciplinary community, working across the humanities, arts, and social sciences, and bringing together a unique blend of internationally well-connected scholars. For the Research Excellence Framework (REF, 2014), the current system to assess the quality of UK research, SSH submitted to two panels €“ €˜Area Studies and €˜Modern Languages and Linguistics. The results released on 18 December 2014 ranked Aston amongst the leading institutions in the UK and achieved some particularly outstanding successes: Area Studies: 81% of the SSH submission has been judged as €œworld-leading or internationally excellent€. This is the 3rd highest percentage in the UK for this unit of assessment. Modern Languages and Linguistics: 60% of the SSH submission has been awarded the highest marks (4*) for research impact. This is the highest 4* percentage in the West Midlands and places Aston within the top 10 for this unit of assessment regarding impact. Area Studies: The submission is ranked 5th out of 23 institutions in the UK for Area Studies in the overall REF 2014 rankings. Modern Languages and Linguistics: 100% of the SSH submission to this panel has been awarded 4* or 3* for research environment, ranking Aston joint 1st in the UK for this measure.

General Eligibility

Possess a master's degree from a UK university or hold an equivalent qualification. Overall merit or equivalent, with merit in the dissertation, is normally required. Have the required skills and experience Submit a detailed research proposal (typically 8 to 12 pages) on a relevant subject.

What You'll Study

1 Programme Structure

During year one of the program (or years one and two for part-time students) research students must complete our ESRC-accredited research methods training modules and work towards submission of the Qualifying Report examination. The Qualifying Report is between 6,000 and 10,000 words and is a summary of the progress of a student’s research. Assessment is conducted through a viva voce examination whose purpose is not only to ascertain a student’s academic potential but also to provide independent advice on a student’s research. Students who are successful in the Qualifying Report examination then follow the full Ph.D. program route through to submission of the final thesis. Ph.D. students have three years full-time or six years part-time from their research start date in which to submit the thesis. Examination of the thesis is via a viva voce examination and successful students after this stage receives Aston’s ‘Doctor of Philosophy research degree.

Language Requirement

IELTS6.0
TOEFL78
PTE58
Duolingo79

IELTS Overall 6.5, Reading, Writing- 6.5 Listening, Speaking 6.0 Financial requirement You’ll need to show you have enough money to support yourself - unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application. How much money you need depends on where you will be studying. You’ll need either: £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses inside London If you’re applying for the Doctorate Extension Scheme, and you’ve been in the UK for less than 12 months, you need to prove you have a total of £2,668 for courses in London, or a total of £2,046 for courses outside London. If you’re boarding at a residential independent school, you’ll need to pay boarding fees instead. The amount you need to pay will be on your CAS. London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.

Programme Information

Course CategoryHumanities and Social Sciences

Course LevelPostgraduate

Awarding BodyAston University

Campus NameAston University, Birmingham

DurationFull-time- 3 years, Part-time- 6 years

Available IntakeOctober

IELTS Score6.0

Tuition FeesHome: £4,500, EU/International: £14,250

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