Program Overview

Overview

A PhD is the highest academic award for which a student can be registered. This programme allows you to explore and pursue a research project built around a substantial piece of work, which has to show evidence of original contribution to knowledge.

Completing a PhD can give you a great sense of personal achievement and help you develop a high level of transferable skills which will be useful in your subsequent career, as well as contributing to the development of knowledge in your chosen field.

Our research degrees are available as full-time, part-time and some are offered distance learning.

You are expected to work to an approved programme of work including appropriate programmes of postgraduate study (which may be drawn from parts of existing postgraduate courses, final year degree programmes, conferences, seminars, masterclasses, guided reading or a combination of study methods).

This programme of research culminates in the production of a large-scale piece of written work in the form of a research thesis that should not normally exceed 80,000 words.

You will be appointed a main supervisor who will normally be part of a supervisory team, comprising of up to three members to advise and support you on your project.

Key Information

Entry requirements

• Entry requirements for this course are normally:
  • A Master’s degree or an Honours degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent, normally with a classification of merit or distinction, in a discipline appropriate to the proposed programme to be followed, or appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level, which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment.
• If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent.

Start dates

• 1 October 2025
• 12 January 2026
• 20 April 2026

Application deadlines

• For September 2025
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For October 2025
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For January 2026
  • 17 October 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 14 November 2025 for Home Students
• For April 2026
  • 23 January 2026 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 20 February 2026 for Home Students

Duration

• The maximum duration for a PhD is 3 years (36 months) full-time or 6 years (72 months) part-time with an optional submission pending (writing-up) period of 12 months.
• Sometimes it may be possible to mix periods of both full-time and part-time study.
• If studying on a part-time basis, you must establish close links with the University and spend normally not less than an average of 10 working days per year in the university, excluding participation in activities associated with enrolment, re-registration and progression monitoring. You are also expected to dedicate 17.5 hours per week to the research.

What can I research?

• There are different ways to find the right research topic for you:
  1. Find a supervisor and design your own research project – explore the Huddersfield Research Portal to find research and researcher expertise to find the area you’re interested in.
  2. Browse our listed funded opportunities.
  3. To find out more about the research we conduct, take a look at our Research, Innovation and Skills webpages, where you will find information on each research area.

Teaching and Assessment

• As a minimum you can expect to meet with your supervisors at least once a month (once every two months for part-time students). In practice you may meet with your supervisors more frequently. This time should include at least an hour of one-to-one supervision with each student.
• Self-directed study is to be agreed in liaison with you and your supervisor. Self-directed study and supervision time should equate to 35 hours per week (for full-time research degrees).
• Teaching
  • A research degree has no compulsory taught element, the study period is for 52 weeks a year with a 35-day annual leave allowance. You are expected to study for at least 35 hours a week for full-time study.
• Variation for Professional doctorates
  • For professional doctorates there is a taught element, and you are required to attend and pass a core programme in research methods in the first 16 Months of study. Progression at the end of Module 4 will be dependent upon attendance and successful completion of these modules.
• Feedback
  • Feedback, normally written, is provided on all assessments following submission. Submission and feedback dates will be provided to you upon enrolment.
• Progression
  • You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory, or regulatory body guidelines.

Our Facilities

• Discover our facilities, in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield.
• Dedicated to exploration, students across the School of Arts and Humanities have the opportunity to cultivate, curate and showcase in a range innovative spaces, utilising extensive and purpose-built facilities. These include 3D printers for rapid prototyping and modelling, laser cutters, the virtual reality cave, print and dye capabilities, photography studios, digital print centre, specialist film studios including industry-standard equipment, and so much more.

Why choose Huddersfield?

• There are many reasons to choose the University of Huddersfield and here are just three of them:
  1. Our teaching staff rank first in England for the proportion with higher degrees and teaching qualifications, as well as being top five for those holding doctorates.
  2. £36,101.44 is the average salary of our postgraduates fifteen months after graduating.
  3. 97% of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

THE Impact Rankings

• We currently hold the following THE Impact Rankings:
  • 6th out of 796 global institutions for reduced inequalities in the THE Impact Rankings - recognising our research on social inequalities, policies on discrimination and commitment to recruitment staff and students from underrepresented groups.
  • 45th out of 850 global institutions for decent work and economic growth - which measures universities' economic research, their employment practices and our share of students taking work placements.
  • 50th out of 745 global institutions for peace, justice, and strong institutions - which measure universities' research on peace, justice and our participation as advisors for government policies and academic freedom.

World leading

• Our researchers carry out work that makes a real difference to people's lives:
  • We are in the top 50 UK universities for Research Power.
  • Three quarters of all our research is world leading and internationally excellent.
  • Over 60% of our research environment was classified as world leading and internationally excellent, especially in Music, Biological Sciences, Architecture and Built Environment, Social Work and Social Policy, History and Communication and Media Studies.

Researcher Environment

• Our postgraduate researchers contribute to our thriving research culture at Huddersfield, in return we provide an experience that enhances your potential and inspires you to think big and become a globally competitive researcher.
• Join our community of like-minded people who are passionate for research and gain access to world-leading facilities, advanced research skills training, and expert careers advice.

World-leading

• We are in the top 50 UK universities for research power, and nearly two thirds of our research environment is classified as world leading and internationally excellent (REF2021).
• As a researcher, you’ll gain access to our bespoke training programmes which are delivered in a variety of ways to take advantage of online platforms as well as face-to-face workshops and courses. You can access a range of tailored training opportunities available at each stage of your journey, including:
  • sessions on PhD thesis writing, publications and journals, post-doctoral opportunities, poster and conference presentations, networking, and international travel opportunities
  • opportunity to work and study abroad via the Turing Scheme through The Graduate School
  • externally accredited training programme with Advance HE (HEA) and CMI
  • online research training support accessed through a dedicated researcher module in Brightspace, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment
  • We also hold a series of PGR focussed events such as 3 Minute Thesis * PGR led research conference * informal events throughout the year

Student support

• At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

Fees and Finance

• Tuition fees - full-time
  • In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £5,050.
  • Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University.
  • Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).
• Tuition fees - part-time
  • In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £2,525.
  • Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University.
  • Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

Important information

• We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.
• When you are offered a place on a research degree, your offer will include confirmation of your supervisory team, and the topic you will be researching and will be governed by our terms & Conditions, student handbook and relevant policies. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.
• Whilst the University will use reasonable efforts to ensure your supervisory team remains the same, sometimes it may be necessary to make changes to your team for reasons outside the University’s control, for example if your supervisor leaves the University, or suffers from long term illness. Where this is the case, we will discuss these difficulties with you and seek to either put in place a new supervisory team, or help you to transfer to another research facility, in accordance with our Student Protection Plan.
• Changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, for example pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government. Where this is the case, we will discuss these issues with you and agree any necessary changes.
• Your research project is likely to evolve as you work on it and these minor changes are a natural and expected part of your study. However, we may need to make more significant changes to your topic of research during the course of your studies, either because your area of interest has changed, or because we can no longer support your research for reasons outside the University’s control. If this is the case, we will discuss any changes in topic with you and agree these in writing. If you are an international student, changing topics may affect your visa or ATAS clearance and if this is the case we will discuss this with you before any changes are made.