PhD

Why do an MPhil/PhD?

What are the crucial issues facing teachers, schools, education policy makers and sports organisations today? As an expert educator working in the field, you are well placed to contribute to knowledge of what works and constrains us in improving the learning experiences of children and adults. But what research into these issues already exists? And how can this knowledge be extended further, and made to have a real impact on practice? If these questions interest you, then studying for a research degree is just the opportunity you are looking for to take your professional career forward.

Why choose the School of Education?

The School of Education is the foremost centre of educational research in the south of England. In the last TQA (Teaching Quality Assessment), the School was given the highest possible score of 24 out of 24, demonstrating our support and commitment to our students. In the 2001 national Research Assessment Exercise, The School received a 4 rating confirming recognition of excellence in research at national and international levels . The School has achieved Mode A recognition from the Economic and Social Research Council. (ESRC) for its systematic training and support programme for research students, which also opens the door to your applying for an ESRC bursary if you are a UK/EU student.

Research active staff include seven professors, four readers, eight senior lecturers and more than 25 lecturers. The School welcomes research students from all parts of the world. At present, there are approximately 20 full-time and 90 part-time students registered for research awards, bringing with them a variety of academic and professional experience, and researching across a variety of areas of education, so you will have plenty of people to share research ideas and experiences with.

Dr John Schulz

We offer you:

• A broad based and comprehensive research training programme;
• Specialist training in the methodologies which exactly match your needs;
• Effective arrangements for supervision from research active staff;
• Regular research seminars given by staff, students and visiting speakers;
• Research student representation on research and research training committees;
• A well-stocked library, with facilities for online database searches;
• Desk accommodation for all full-time research students in shared offices, with access to dedicated School computers and telephone connections;
• Access to public workstations across the university, and email/internet connection, and to a range of ICT training programmes, as required.

What is the difference between an EdD and the PhD?

The EdD differs from the traditional PhD in that it includes a much more substantial taught element during the first two years, enabling course members to study a selected specialist area and to develop a range of research skills before identifying the topic of their dissertation. It also has a strong emphasis on researching issues in the course participants’ local work environment. The EdD is assessed by a combination of course work (completed over the first two years) and a shorter thesis of 40,000 words. If you are as yet unsure of the focus of your study and would prefer a taught course element, the EdD may be a better choice for you.

What training and support will I get?

You will work with one or more supervisors who are themselves research active members of staff with expertise in your area of interest. They will meet you regularly to provide academic support and supervision.

All students have the opportunity to discuss their training and support needs with their supervisors and to negotiate and agree an appropriate development programme. This programme of activities may include following our ESRC recognised Research Training Programme; attending research seminars or specialist workshops run at a School or Faculty level.

How long does it take?

A full time MPhil must be completed within a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 48 months (part time minimum of 24 months, maximum 72 months). A full-time PhD must be completed within a minimum of 24 months and a maximum of 48 months (part-time minimum 36 months, maximum 72 months). The actual time varies from one student to another, depending on personal circumstances.

Do I have to be resident in or near to Southampton all the time?

Arrangements for research degrees are very flexible. You can study full-time or part-time, and you can study at the university or away from it, depending on what you need to be successful in completing your thesis. However, except for periods of fieldwork overseas, normally you will be expected to reside in the UK for the majority of the academic year to enable regular face-to-face contact with your tutors.

What areas can I research in the School of Education?

We welcome applications from anyone who wishes to pursue an interest within the broad field of education and sports. We welcome applications from anyone who wishes to pursue a topic or field that aligns with the interest and expertise of our staff. To get an idea of our staff and their research interests, have a look at our Directory of Academic Expertise.. We strongly recommend that you consult this directory before you apply, and that you use it to identify potential supervisors who you can contact to discuss your ideas further. Applications which fail to name a potential supervisor will take longer to process which may in turn affect when your studies can begin. If you are unsure who to contact to discuss your research idea further you can contact Jane Seale at J.K.Seale@soton.ac.uk for advice.We have a wide variety of interests, including sports. If you are interested in undertaking a sports related PhD please contact Dr John Schulz.

All students have to demonstrate satisfactory progress at the end of each year that they registered. Supervisors will complete an annual report that takes into account how students have progressed against their agreed targets, which include training and development activities. The targets and activities will vary from student to student, depending on whether they are full-time or part-time and the nature of their dissertation.

Is MPhil/PhD research right for me?

If you:

• Want to pursue a rigorous and high-level academic study
• aim to produce an original contribution to knowledge
• have mapped out an outline of the topic you wish to pursue and have thought about the methods by which you might pursue it

And if you:

• are an independent-minded self-starter
• already hold a good MA degree (or can show relevant previous experience and outstanding potential)
• have the persistence to carry out an individual study over time

You will be admitted initially to the MPhil degree, even if you intend to carry on to complete a PhD (this practice is standard in British universities). Then, if your work is satisfactory, you will be upgraded to PhD. The upgrading process gives you valuable advice and feedback on your ongoing work from an advisory panel of tutors. After a successful upgrading, you will continue work on the same thesis, but with a higher level of expectation than before.

What are the Entrance Requirements for the MPhil/PhD?

You should have a good Masters degree from a British university or its equivalent in other countries, or (exceptionally) other relevant professional experience If you are unsure about your qualifications, contact us. If you are an overseas student you must also need to demonstrate an adequate level of English language, you would therefore need a score of 6.5 IELTS or equivalent.

Do I have to submit a research proposal to apply?

Yes. We will be looking for answers to the following questions:

• What is the topic of your Research? (Try to be as precise as possible.)
• What question(s) will you aim to answer?
• What are your reasons for undertaking this research (including some theoretical justification)?
• Have you completed any previous studies which are relevant to this research proposal?
• What data will you need to collect to carry out your research? (Indicate whether or not you already have access to your data source)
• What are your proposed research method(s) and/or your plans for how you will begin your research?
• Can you give a brief list of readings directly relevant to your research?
• Can you attach a copy of any written work which you have already completed to demonstrate your capacity to produce a research report?
• Alongside your proposal, you need to complete a Postgraduate Application form. This is available from the Research Office.

We strongly recommend that you look at our directory of staff expertise and see if you can identify someone with a similar interest and contact them for an initial discussion about your proposal. If you then would like to discuss your research proposal with someone before submitting your application, please feel free to contact J.K.Seale@soton.ac.uk.

Apply online, download or print the Postgraduate Application Form

Download or print the Research Fees Information

Download or print the Research Insert Form

Download or print PhD Guide

Details on how to apply for the Research Degrees are available here...

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