Human Sciences, MPhil/PhD
Our doctoral programme in Human Sciences allows you to conduct cutting-edge research in fields including Psychology, Social Work, Public Health and Sports Science with support from our experts.
When you undertake a research degree (MPhil/PhD) at our School of Human Sciences, you are supported by a team of world-leading experts and active researchers. You also get access to a range of state-of-the-art facilities, including observation laboratories, eye-tracking capabilities, EEG, Edu-Logger, Nexus 4 and Biotrace.
As a research student in Human Sciences, you join a community of research students and benefit from the resources, community, and events at our Institute for Lifecourse Development (ILD). There are opportunities for PhD students to gain support with research costs and to present their research at national and international conferences.
School
Location
Duration
- 3 - 4 years full-time
- 4 - 7 years part-time
Start month
September
Home/international fees
What you should know about this course
What you will study
About the course team
We are a team of academics in the School of Human Sciences who are highly experienced academics and practitioners from various disciplines including Psychology, Social Work, Public Health and Sports Science.
Come and meet us
We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@fidodoors.com.
Entry requirements
If you are
Applicants should have:
- A taught Master's degree, with a minimum average of 60% in all areas of assessment (e.g. Merit or above), in a generic subject area relevant to the subject matter of the proposed research project, and/or
- A First Class or Second Class, First Division (Upper Second Class) Honours degree in a subject area relevant to the proposed research project.
For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses.
For detailed information on the academic and English language requirements, please find your country in our directory.
Alternatively, please contact us:
- By telephone: +44 (0)20 8331 8136.
- By email: international@fidodoors.com.
Further information about entry
Before applying, please make informal contact with a potential supervisor within the School to express your interest and discuss your proposal.
When you apply online, attach a single PDF which includes the following documents: 1) a research proposal (approx. 1,500 words), 2) a personal statement outlining your motivation for a PhD and previous research experience, 3) a complete tabular CV, 4) transcripts of all degrees, 5) two reference letters, and 6) evidence of language proficiency (if relevant).
Your personal statement should name the supervisor you had a discussion with. You can include a Gantt chart at the end of your proposal as a schedule for your PhD project (excluded from the word count).
Pathways:
- Psychology, Pathway Lead - Dr Sandhiran Patchay
- Social psychology
- Health and clinical psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Organisational psychology
- Personality psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Cognitive and social neuroscience
- Neurodevelopment
- Psychedelic Research
- Social Work, Pathway Lead - Dr Panagiotis Pentaris
The MPhil/PhD in Social Work aims at enabling someone to develop and promote knowledge in an expert area. The programme also offers the chance to make an original and valuable contribution to one or more of the aspects of Social Work, including policy, practice or education. PhDs in Social Work are highly respected in the field and set apart PhD-qualified practitioners from practitioners more generally. Being research-active informs practice, while social work is an evidence-based profession. PhDs in Social Work provide the opportunity to develop further skills which are transferable in the field; inclusive of these are the ability to construct service evaluation designs and lead on such projects, and the skills to identify and manage ethical risks. Universities increasingly require staff to hold a PhD as standard, including in the delivery of social work education.
- Human Rights
- Gerontological Social Work
- Financial Social Work
- Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding
- Domestic Abuse and Violence
- Mental Health Social Work
- Anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice
- Religion and belief in social work practice
- Hospice and End of Life care
- Thanatology (death, dying and bereavement)
- Trauma and loss
- Covid-19 and social work
- Technology and social work
- Migration and social work
- International and transnational social work
- LGBTQ+
- Public Health Pathway Lead - Dr Carlos Moreno Leguizamon
- Sports Science Pathway Lead - Dr Mark Goss-Sampson
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use prior learning?
Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.
How you will learn
Teaching
There are advertised research study days but most of the teaching takes the form of regular supervision meetings with members of the supervisory team.
Class sizes
Information coming soon.
Independent learning
The majority of your work is in the form of independent learning. Our libraries and online resources will support your further reading and research.
Overall workload
Independent research, but also training in research, teaching and transferable skills. Postgraduate research events such as talks, seminars and conferences. You will be expected to keep a record of your research activities, skills and training in a portfolio and upload it.
Assessment
As your MPhil/PhD progresses, you will move through several review points including a transfer viva to ensure good progress and high quality-work. You will be assessed through your research thesis. Following your submission, you will have an oral examination.
Feedback summary
Once a postgraduate research student has submitted their thesis for examination, the examination should take place within three months of the date the Faculty Research Degrees Committee approves the examination arrangements.
Dates and timetables
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
2023/24 fees
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Fees are assessed based on your country of domicile, with students domiciled in the EU charged international fees. If you are unsure, find out more about how your fee status is assessed.
Accommodation costs
Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. We have dedicated accommodation for postgraduate students (Devonport House) available from just £160 per person per week, with bills included. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost. Students based at the Medway Campus can also reside in student halls in Chatham or rent privately in the local area.
There is a range of financial support available to support your studies. This includes postgraduate loans, international scholarships, and options for current students and alumni to continue studying at the university. EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.
We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Careers and placements
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
You will be well equipped for a research career within universities, private research organisations, charities or government departments.
Do you provide employability services?
We have a growing postdoctoral and early career researcher community within the Institute for Lifecourse Development. Equally, the mandatory postgraduate research training provides you with training, accreditation and experience of research and teaching in Higher Education.
The University also offers a careers service which postgraduate students can access.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre. There are research-related modules that you may benefit from. For further details contact the programme leader. You can also drop into relevant undergraduate and Master's programmes, upon agreement with the teaching teams.
Support from the department
In addition to the core postgraduate researcher training, the Research and Enterprise Training Institute (RETI) also run additional training courses aimed at the training needs of postgraduate research students.
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our postgraduate research prospectus or check our related courses below.
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Need more help?
020 8331 9000• Live chat• courseinfo@fidodoors.com• More information