Program Overview

Overview

This degree provides an opportunity to develop your own research expertise by studying a sociological issue in an interdisciplinary school. You will study with internationally renowned sociologists in a dynamic and supportive research environment. They are involved in funded research, research centres and groups looking at everything from digital economies and futures, food security, and integration, to music festivals, migration, modern slavery and social inequalities. Our staff also have particular expertise across a range of cultural and social theory and champion diverse research methodologies.

You will join an international community of students working in a range of sociological areas. You will be assigned two PhD supervisors whose current active research interests and expertise are relevant to your chosen research area.

We are committed to rigorous conceptual and empirical research that is politically and socially relevant and problem-orientated. We aim to advance theory, knowledge and methods at the cutting edge of Sociology. Our aim is not just to monitor the social world but to contribute to a better understanding and to ways that might improve it.

Key Information

Programme Duration

• Up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time.

Start Date

• Most students will start in September 2025 or January 2026, however other dates can be considered.

Application Deadline

• We welcome applications at any time of year; early application is advised.

Delivery Method

• On-Campus

Location

• Clifton

Awards Available

• PhD

World-Leading Research

• 5th: The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94%: 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

• An upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) and normally a merit at MSc/MA level (or equivalent).
• See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Admissions Statement

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

English Language Requirements

• If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.
• Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and Funding

Home: Full-Time

• £4,850 per year

Home: Part-Time

• £2,425 per year

Overseas: Full-Time

• £21,300 per year
• Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

Alumni Discount

• University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and Scholarships

• Applicants may apply for an SWDTP studentship and/or a University of Bristol scholarship. Eligible applicants can also apply for a China Scholarship Council scholarship. Please note that programme application deadlines apply where applicants intend to apply for scholarship funding. These deadlines will be published in early autumn 2025.

Career Prospects

• Bristol graduates are in high demand and have an excellent record of employment following graduation. Please visit the school website for statements from our former graduates.

Meet Our Supervisors

• The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
  • Professor Bridget Anderson
  • Professor Will Atkinson
  • Professor Katharine Charsley
  • Dr John Downer
  • Professor Jon Fox
  • Professor Susan Halford
  • Professor Jo Haynes
  • Dr Nazia Hussein
  • Professor Saffron Karlsen
  • Professor Lee Marshall
  • Dr Sveta Milyaeva
  • Professor Tariq Modood
  • Dr Marcus Morgan
  • Dr Rosie Nelson
  • Professor Julia O'Connell Davidson
  • Professor Therese O'Toole
  • Dr Jessica Ogden
  • Dr Samuel Okyere
  • Professor Thomas Osborne
  • Dr Jessica Paddock
  • Dr Maud Perrier
  • Dr Thomas Sealy
  • Professor Paula Surridge
  • Dr Leonidas Tsilipakos
  • Dr Jennifer Whillans
  • Dr Junko Yamashita

Research Groups

• Our research activity in the school is guided by focusing on key themes:
  • climate emergency
  • critical (in)securities
  • cultural work
  • decoloniality and race
  • ethnicity, migration and citizenship
  • European politics and societies
  • digital society
  • science and technology
  • food security
  • gender and sexuality
  • peace, conflict and violence
  • political and social inequalities
  • social, cultural and political theory
  • South and East Asia.
• All researchers across the school identify with one or more of the themes. This enables collective identification over themes within the school and aims to generate further collaboration and interdisciplinarity in our research activities. In addition, the themes provide a basis for internal and external recognition of the main questions and topics that our research addresses.