Program Overview

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Sociology MPhil, PhD

Overview

Our PhD research programmes will allow you to join one of our research projects or explore your own interests in Sociology, supported by the expertise of our staff.

Full Description

You’ll be allocated two supervisors, with additional staff members available if necessary. Our supervisors are experienced in most areas of sociology, with particular strengths in social theory, gender studies, social studies of science and technology and diaspora and migration.

We’ll provide you with a rich and stimulating research environment with strong links to research networks in Anglia Ruskin and the wider community, including the Citizens Advice Bureau and the University of Cambridge's Centre for Research into Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CRASSH). We contribute to many of our Faculty’s research groups, including the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute and the StoryLab Research Group.

We also host and take part in many research events, including regular Faculty and departmental research seminars, which will allow you to present your research in a safe and supportive setting. These events, along with our online environment, will help you connect with other research students from a range of disciplines.

All your subject-specific studies will be enhanced and supported by our University-wide training sessions, where you’ll gain important research expertise in areas like ethics, presentations, intellectual property and digital scholarship.

PhD Project Opportunities

• World-leading research at ARU
• International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute
• Stephanie - MA and PhD Sociology
• Humanities & Social Sciences research

Supervision and Support

Our permanent supervisory staff are recognised as international experts in their fields, and have produced a large number of influential books, journal articles and edited collections, and won funding for a number of prestigious research projects. Our expertise in social sciences includes:

• Dr Liz Bradbury: classical and contemporary social theory, gender studies, psychoanalytic and psychosocial studies.
• Dr Mirna Guha: gendered inequalities; intersectional feminism; 'race', identity, and social relations; gender-based violence; sex work; social justice.
• Dr Shaun Le Boutillier: social theory and the structure versus agency debate, social emergence theory and the relationship between social wholes and individuals; social causation and the philosophy of the social sciences; agency and moral theory; the sociology of work and organisational life.
• Dr David Skinner: race and racism, the social and political aspects of scientific and technological innovation; the relationship between the natural and social sciences; forensics, databases and surveillance; the changing management of public services.
• Emma Brett: public service; learning and education; equality and cultural diversity; barriers to learning.
• Additional research expertise: Professor Bronwen Walter, Irish Diaspora Studies.

Where You'll Research

Your Department and Faculty

At the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, we believe in thinking critically about the past, present and future to challenge perceptions and better understand communities and people.

With expertise from gender issues to literary analysis to exploring how the past has shaped our modern world, all our staff members are active researchers. This is reflected in our teaching, allowing us to support our students with the latest theories and practices, as well as essential employability advice.

Where Can I Study?

• Cambridge

Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Specialist Facilities

You’ll have access to the world-famous University of Cambridge Library, our own campus library and other local archives.

Our Faculty has a dedicated PhD room, where our doctoral students can all meet up to work and take an active part in our postgraduate student community.

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• UK students, 2024/25 (per year): £4,786
• UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £2,392
• International students, 2024/25 (per year): £15,900
• International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £7,950

Bench Fees

In some cases extra costs known as bench fees will be charged for a postgraduate research degree. These are to cover additional/exceptional costs directly related to a specific research project.

Some examples of these costs are (the list is not exhaustive): equipment hire, access costs to specialist equipment/workshops, volunteer expenses, specialist tissue/cell culture, specialist reagents or materials, specialist software, access to specialist databases, data collection costs, specialist media, recording or digital storage needs.

We charge bench fees in bands. They may apply for every year of your course. These bands are the same for full- and part-time students.

If you have to pay bench fees this will be made clear at your interview, and stated in your offer letter.

For 2024/25 the bench fee bands are:

1. £500
2. £1,200
3. £2,200
4. £4,500
5. £8,900

PhD by Published Work

• Initial registration: £1,500
• Full registration: £4,500

Writing up Fees 2024/25

• £1,200

How Do I Pay My Fees?

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in instalments – though you won't need to pay until you've accepted an offer to study with us.

Funding

For advice on the Doctoral Loan and other sources of funding, including ARU scholarships, visit our finance guide for postgraduate researchers.

You might also find The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding helpful.

ARU Research

ARU's academic excellence was recognised in 2021, as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), an exercise which assesses the quality of academic research. Sixteen areas of our work were classed as generating world-leading research. The results showed that we're making a significant impact on the societies we live in.

Careers

We’ll provide you with many opportunities for career development and training, in areas like writing up a paper for publication, placing an academic article, giving a conference paper, the doctoral writing style, updates on research methods and literature searches, internet training, editing skills for doctoral research, subsequent monograph publication and working with agents and publishers. You might also be able to take on teaching responsibilities in the department, or organise research events.

In conjunction with the University’s research support, you can request specific support for writing-up, conference papers, general research methods and other research skills if you need it.

Entry Requirements

• MPhil or PhD with progression from MPhil: You’ll need a Bachelor degree or equivalent with first or upper second class honours, in a related subject area.
• PhD: You’ll need a Master degree or equivalent in a related subject area.

Please note we consider candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil in the first instance. If you want to be considered for direct entry to the PhD route then this can be discussed at interview if you are shortlisted. Please note you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this request.

If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.

Important Additional Notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the programme as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your research programme.