Course Overview

The Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) is the UK’s leading centre for interdisciplinary research on public policy in sub-national, urban and local governance.

We have a vibrant and close-knit international research community of early-career and established researchers. Our engaged scholarship is theoretically-driven, and demonstrates a commitment to methodological pluralism, with particular strengths in qualitative, collaborative and participative approaches.

This programme extends the PhD with a first year of research training that enables you to gain added value from taught, subject-based modules. It allows you to broaden and deepen your subject knowledge at the same time as undertaking your own research and developing a set of transferable professional skills in preparation for a variety of careers.

Your coursework in year 1 will be taken in the MA in Social Research programme, within the University’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) recognised Doctoral Training Centre. This programme provides postgraduate researchers with a thorough and advanced education in social research design and the most up-to-date training in methods of data collection and analysis. The combination of core modules and short courses on more advanced topics provides flexibility to relate training to the thesis topic.

If you pass the coursework component, you will progress to normal PhD study in years 2-4. You will work closely with your supervisors in designing and undertaking your own research project, leading to an 80,000 word thesis. You may also attend further courses offered by the Department or the University that enhance your personal discipline-specific and transferable skills.

General Eligibility

You should posses either an excellent undergraduate degree with evidence of research ability; or undergraduate and postgraduate degrees which are not necessarily in fields directly related to the intended area of research. Besides formal qualifications, a key factor determining whether the Department decides to accept a candidate is the quality of his or her research proposal and its relevance to our own interests. Successful completion of a research thesis demands a high level of self-discipline, motivation and commitment to the subject of research. Great importance is placed on work experience, when relevant. Please contact the Department for more details.

Part Time Work Details

20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• • IELTS 6.5 with no less that 6.0 in any band

  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing

  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills

  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component