PhD Local Government and Public Policy with Integrated Study

Program Overview

While the traditional PhD requires you to engage entirely in research training, this programme enables you to gain added value from taught, subject-based modules.

This course 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 provide 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 will also undertake additional training in advanced methods and transferable skills, guided by the regular training needs analysis that forms an essential basis for your Career Development Plan.

Employability

The training enables graduates to develop advanced skills in designing and conducting research, in ways that are applicable to a variety of careers in academia, business, government and non-profit organisations.

Graduates from the School have gone on to work in a range of careers, with recent graduates working with organisations such as the United Nations, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, local authorities in the UK and overseas and the Department for International Development.

The School takes employability very seriously and as well as linking students to the central careers services, also incorporates opportunities to enhance their employment prospects, including highlighting work experience opportunities, encouraging volunteering in extra-curricular projects (such as student seminars and events) and by inviting backgrounds for students to meet.