Program Overview

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MPhil/PhD Sociology

Overview

We offer MPhil and PhD research programmes in Sociology for full or part-time study. The Department of Sociology is home to some 40 scholars and researchers whose work is known and cited internationally.

Research Areas

We offer a stimulating research environment for undertaking postgraduate research in a wide range of sociological fields, including:

• Race, ethnicity, religion and nationalism
• Gender and social life
• Sociology of culture
• Inventive and sensory methods
• Urban culture, world cities, economies and social exclusion
• Migration
• Medicine and the life-sciences, health, illness and disability
• Science and technology
• Children and young people
• Human rights and political sociology
• Socio-legal studies and global justice
• Social and cultural theory
• Political theory and political sociology
• Philosophy of social sciences
• Visual sociology

Length

3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time

Fees

• Home - full-time: £TBC
• Home - part-time: £TBC
• International - full-time: £19000

Department

Sociology

You'll Research

Our community of postgraduate researchers is an integral part of the department's vibrant research culture. We actively foster the full participation of our research students in the work of our research Centres and Units.

Structure

First Year

In the week before the beginning of the academic year in September, there is an Induction Programme for all new research postgraduates at Goldsmiths. You will be introduced to Goldsmiths-wide and departmental facilities and procedures, and attend workshops on what is involved in doing a research degree.

In the first year, work on your own research project is coupled with general training in sociological research methods – run both within the department and by the Goldsmiths Graduate School. Mandatory training modules take place during the first term of the first year (for full-time students) or can be spread over two years (for part-time students).

Training for students on the MPhil/PhD in Sociology consists of:

• Core Qualitative Research Methods
• Modelling Social Data I

You may also take other modules depending on your specific training needs, such as learning a language, or auditing an MA course, either in the department or elsewhere, of particular relevance to your research project.

Fieldwork, Upgrade from MPhil to PhD, and Writing Up Your Thesis

Unless you are writing a theoretical dissertation, your fieldwork or other process of data collection will typically start sometime between your first and your second year – in any case, after you have obtained ethical clearance for the research.

Between 18 and 24 months from your initial date of registration, you are required to present a detailed thesis outline and two draft chapters for consideration by an internally appointed panel of examiners. This formal assessment (also referred to as 'upgrade') includes an oral examination and normally sanctions your transfer from MPhil to PhD registration.

You are expected to complete a PhD in three to four (full-time registration) or six to eight years (part-time registration).

Teaching Experience

Ideally, we would like all our students to gain some teaching experience. The department has Graduate Tutors and Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellows who do undergraduate teaching.

We also encourage our students to do some teaching at other institutions. However, we require that all students who wish to teach have successfully upgraded to PhD status before doing so.

Assessment

Assessment for the PhD in Sociology consists of a written thesis (not exceeding 100,000 words) and a viva voce examination.

Careers

You will develop advanced research skills covering a wide range of qualitative and quantitative sociological methods, and an ability to develop advanced and extended forms of written argument and scholarly practice.

Our PhD students have taken up academic posts in sociology and related fields all over the world. Some have joined NGOs, GOs, or companies in the private sector, and taken employment as researchers, teachers, designers, and managers.

Staff and Their Research

Research by staff in the department is esteemed internationally, and has been externally funded by the ESRC, the AHRC, the British Academy, the Wellcome Trust, the Leverhulme Trust, and the European Research Council.

Entry Requirements

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a taught Masters in a relevant subject area, of at least high merit standard. We normally also expect an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard.

You might also be considered if you are not a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

You do not need a degree or MA in Sociology to apply to do a PhD in Sociology, but you will need to be familiar with sociological ideas and debates. If you don’t have a background in sociology, you may be required to sit additional courses in order that you become familiar with the discipline.

International Qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme.

Fees and Funding

Annual Tuition Fees

• Home - full-time: £TBC
• Home - part-time: £TBC
• International - full-time: £19000

Funding Opportunities

You may be eligible for the following funding:

• ESRC/SENSS fully funded studentships
• AHRC studentships
• Goldsmiths scholarships

Paying Your Fees

Find out about paying your tuition fees.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying.

How to Apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.

Before submitting your application, you'll need to have:

• Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
• The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
• Contact details of a second referee
• A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
• Details of your research proposal
• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When you apply, please indicate your intended research area and any preference for a particular supervisor. If you wish to study on a part-time basis, you should also indicate how many hours a week you intend to devote to research, whether this will be at evenings or weekends, and for how many hours each day.

Selection Process

Admission to the programme is based on an interview and the panel’s assessment of your application. Online interviews can be arranged when necessary.

Further Guidance

Find out more about applying for a postgraduate research degree.