 1.svg)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-10-01 | - |
| 2025-02-01 | - |
Program Overview
Gerontology Research MPhil/PhD
Key information
Award: MPhil, PhD Study mode: Full time, Part time Campus: Strand Campus Duration: Expected to be three years FT, six years PT. Most candidates begin the programme in October; February entry may be considered.
Overview
The Institute of Gerontology at King's College London is one of the leading gerontological research and teaching centres worldwide. Founded in 1986, the Institute is at the vanguard of multi-disciplinary research and teaching, acting as a bridge between the social and clinical sciences. The Institute has many long-standing research and teaching collaborations including the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, as well as close working links with King's Health Partners.
The Institute's interdisciplinary nature is reflected in its broad research sponsorship base; it has received funding from UK Research Councils (i.e. ESRC, MRC, EPSRC & AHRB), from many of the charities concerned with the welfare of older people and from government (including the Department for Work and Pensions & the Department of Health).
At the Institute, research is central to our work. It helps maintain our position at the forefront of gerontology and at the same time helps to enrich the learning experience of our students. Encouraging the development of doctoral research is a central part of our research activity. Our MPhil/PhD Gerontology programme will enable you to develop an area of research in great depth and help you become a leading expert in your own right.
Information is current, but staff members can change.
The Institute has received major grants from the ESRC, MRC, NIHR, and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. As a multi-disciplinary institute, a wide range of funding sources are open to us including NGOs, charities and government. Recent and ongoing projects have been funded by the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing initiative (a cross-research council funded programme), Atlantic Philanthropies, the Family Law Bar Association, the Department of Health, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Dunhill Medical Trust, and the Leverhulme Foundation.
Current number of research students: we typically have between 5 and 10 PhD students at any time. Most of our PhD students have been funded via the Research Councils, Health Trusts, NGOs, charities, employers or King's College London studentships. Being a multi-disciplinary institute, we are able to supervise PhD research in a wide range of disciplines relating to ageing, and students should see our web pages for details of the research interests of members of staff. Students are expected to complete a full-time PhD within 3 years, and a part-time PhD within 6 years.
Partner organisations: the Institute of Gerontology at King's College London is one of the leading gerontological research and teaching centres worldwide. Founded in 1986, the Institute is at the vanguard of multi-disciplinary research and teaching, acting as a bridge between the social and clinical sciences. The Institute has many long-standing research and teaching collaborations including the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, as well as close working links with King's Health Partners.
How to apply
1. Application Procedure
If you are interested in undertaking doctoral study at the Institute of Gerontology at King's College London, we have developed a two-stage application process:
- If you would like to apply please send your research proposal (between a minimum of 1,000 and a maximum of 1500 words) and a 2 -3 page CV (including academic grades obtained) for consideration to the Postgraduate Research Director, Dr Lucy van de Wiel. In your email, identify potential supervisors in our Department with a research specialism in the area that you wish to focus on in your doctoral studies.
To identify a potential supervisor in our Department, with a research specialism in the area that you wish to focus on in your doctoral studies, you can refer to our academic profiles for assistance.
- If the Postgraduate Research Director and your potential supervisor encourage you to apply, you should submit an online application via the application portal 'King's Apply'. In the Research Proposal section of your application please ensure that you detail the name of your provisional supervisor and select that you have discussed your proposed research topic with them.
2. Personal Statement and Supporting Information
You must have the provisional support of a supervisor prior to applying. To identify a supervisor please see our Research Portal.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
- Personal Statement: Yes
- The personal statement should be approximately three to four paragraphs, and no more than one page long. This should explain why you are interested in the programme applied for, and could include, for example, details of your motivation and aptitude, your relevant experience and skills, and any other information that would be useful for us in assessing your application. In general terms, we look for candidates who demonstrate a strong interest in the programme, are committed to academic study at the highest level, and demonstrate the potential to thrive in an academic environment.
- Research Proposal: Yes
- The research proposal should be 1,500 words maximum, including references. The proposal should include a preliminary title and set of research questions. You should describe the motivation for selecting this topic for research. You should include a critical survey of the key sources already known, along with an acknowledgement of current debate within the field. Your analytical approach and methods should be clearly set out. You must demonstrate why you think your proposed work will make a significant and original contribution to the field.
- Previous Academic Study: Yes
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
- Writing Sample: Yes
- This would usually be an extended piece of writing such as a dissertation/thesis from masters or undergraduate study, or perhaps a research paper if you have been involved in more recent research (and you are the sole author). The writing sample should be in English.
- References: Yes
- One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
- Other: Optional
- You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.
Course Intake
Variable.
Application Closing Date
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed. We may need to request further information from you during the application process.
The final application deadlines are detailed below; on these dates, the programme will close at 23:59 (UK time) and we will open for the corresponding intake in 2025 soon after the same intake has passed in 2024.
- February 2024 entry – 20 October 2023 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2023 for Home fee status
- October 2024 entry – 26 July 2024 for Overseas fee status and 26 August 2024 for Home fee status
- February 2025 entry – 20 October 2024 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2024 for Home fee status
Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier than the application deadlines listed above.
Fees or Funding
UK Tuition Fees 2024/25
- Full time tuition fees: £6,936 per year
- Part time tuition fees: £3,468 per year
International Tuition Fees 2024/25
- Full time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
- Part time tuition fees: £13,035 per year
UK Tuition Fees 2025/26
- Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year
- Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year
International Tuition Fees 2025/26
- Full time tuition fees: £28,000 per year
- Part time tuition fees: £14,000 per year
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Study environment
Base campus
Strand Campus
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Study Environment
The Institute has a community of research students with diverse interests in all aspects of ageing who enjoy a friendly and supportive environment in the Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine. Gerontology students are integrated within a community of research students, research fellows, visiting researchers and senior visiting academics from across the world, and have access to a range of formal and informal study groups and activities organised by this research community. Students also have access to graduate seminars, workshops, seminars and conferences, often in association with other departments in social sciences, arts and humanities and the Health Schools within King's.
The supervisory relationship is central to doctoral studies in the Department. Admission to the doctoral research programme is highly selective and is dependent upon a good match being found between student interests and supervisor capabilities. Each student is allocated a principal supervisor from within the Department (usually from the Institute), experienced in the relevant research area and responsible for all aspects of supervision. A second supervisor is allocated, who may be a member of the Department, or a specialist from another Department in the School.
Postgraduate Training
As well as training in IT skills, the Graduate School runs an excellent structured programme of workshops and training for Postgraduate Research Students.
Student Destinations
PhD candidates have been successful in obtaining academic and research posts in universities around the world including the UK, Taiwan, and New Zealand or have developed their careers in NGOs, government, industry, consulting, private clinical practice and research.
Entry requirements
UK requirements
- A Master's degree in a subject appropriate to the research area.
Equivalent International qualifications
- Select a country to view the equivalent qualifications.
English language requirements
- English language band: B
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
