Program Overview

Social Work (PhD)

Overview

A PhD in Social Work equips students with the skills and experience to apply social research methods and tools to critically examine some of the most pressing contemporary issues in social work practice, policy, and education. Students are encouraged to develop a topic of interest that directly relates to their own practice experiences or is of wider interest and relevance to the delivery of social work services and support to disadvantaged individuals and groups, either in the UK or overseas.

Programme Duration

• Up to four years full-time
• Up to eight years part-time

Start Date

• We welcome new PhD students all year round. However, the largest intake is in September each year with a second intake in January. We strongly recommend applicants consider a September or January start.

Application Deadline

• We welcome applications at any time of year; early application is advised.
• Programme application deadlines apply where applicants intend to apply for scholarship funding.
• For China Scholarship Commission funding and South-West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) funding, the programme application deadline is 2 December 2024.
• For University of Bristol scholarship funding, the programme application deadline is 6 January 2025.

Delivery Method

• On-Campus

Location

• Clifton

Awards Available

• PhD

Entry Requirements

• An upper second-class honours degree and a pass at MSc/MA level (or equivalent experience/qualification).
• 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 C.
• 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.
• More about tuition fees, living costs, and financial support.

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.
• Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career Prospects

• Studying social work will equip you with a wide range of skills across a broad spectrum of interests and fields. The skills in analysis and research you will develop are relevant to vocational or non-vocational work in many different settings.
• Previous graduates have gone on to have careers in higher education, policy-related fields, local government, other public sector bodies, and third sector organisations. Careers have included those related to health and welfare, social work practice, academic posts, community work, the criminal justice system, management, and research consultancy.

Meet Our Supervisors

• The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
  • Professor David Abbott
  • Professor Isabella Aboderin
  • Dr Nadia Aghtaie
  • Professor Sarah Ayres
  • Dr Aggie Bezzina
  • Professor Ailsa Cameron
  • Dr Natasha Carver
  • Dr Sebnem Eroglu-Hawksworth
  • Dr Eldin Fahmy
  • Professor David Gordon
  • Dr Julia Gumy
  • Professor Misa Izuhara
  • Professor Patricia Kennett
  • Professor Gernot Klantschnig
  • Dr Noemi Lendvai-Bainton
  • Professor Alex Marsh
  • Professor Christina Pantazis
  • Dr Angeliki Papadaki
  • Dr Demi Patsios
  • Dr Lucy Series
  • Dr Vicky Sharley
  • Ann Singleton
  • Professor Corinne Squire
  • Professor Jo Staines
  • Dr David Sweeting
  • Dr Jon Symonds
  • Mrs Beth Tarleton
  • Dr William Turner
  • Dr Afua Twum-Danso Imoh
  • Professor Debbie Watson
  • Dr Joe Webb
  • Mrs Dinithi Wijedasa

Research Groups

• The school houses seven specialist research centres:
  • Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences
  • Children and Families Research Centre
  • Centre for Gender and Violence Research
  • Centre for Research in Health and Social Care
  • Centre for the Study of Poverty and Social Justice (including the Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research)
  • Centre for Urban and Public Policy Research
  • Norah Fry Research Centre

How to Apply

• Apply today via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.
• Application deadline:
  • We welcome applications at any time of year; early application is advised.
  • Programme application deadlines apply where applicants intend to apply for scholarship funding.
  • For China Scholarship Commission funding and South-West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) funding, the programme application deadline is 2 December 2024.
  • For University of Bristol scholarship funding, the programme application deadline is 6 January 2025.

Start Your Application

• Select your start date to begin your application for Social Work (PhD).
  • Start date:
    • Apply for September 2025 start
    • Apply for January 2026 start