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In This Section
  • Research Support and Facilities
  • Find A PhD Studentship
  • Find a PhD Supervisor
  • Fees and Funding
  • How to Apply

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Postgraduate Research

The School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work comprises colleagues from a range of disciplinary groups including Criminology, Education, Social Policy, Social Work and Sociology.

In addition to promoting the strength of our core disciplines and social science more generally, staff in the School are committed to cross-disciplinary work on global challenges and to creativity and innovation in research agendas and methodologies.

We welcome students who want to develop their research potential in a vibrant research community that prioritises the cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovation in the advancement of knowledge.

School research is informing thinking and the development of policies in many areas including the wellbeing of children, social cohesion and mental health. View our key interdisciplinary research themes, which include:

  • Education: Advancing Understanding, Improving Outcomes
  • Children, Young People and Families: Policy and Practice
  • Crime and Criminal Justice
  • Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion
  • Peace in Societies

Applying for a PhD

To initially discuss postgraduate research options in our school, please contact Professor Alison MacKenzie (Director of Graduate Research Studies). If you're considering a research degree with us, you will need to identify and make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss your research idea before you apply. Read our How to Apply page for more information including guidance on writing a research proposal.

Why study for a PhD at Queen’s?

Our doctoral students play a full and active role in relation to the wide range of research activities in the School. They organise and lead their own regular programme of postgraduate student activities including seminars and conferences.

You are expected to become involved in the research culture of the School and our Research Centres frequently hold seminars and events that will be of relevance to you as you progress through the programme. The School's newsfeed is regularly updated with information about events and you are encouraged to consult this regularly.

We offer office space and a computer as well as supporting the travel costs of students presenting at conferences. Many of our research students contribute to our undergraduate degree teaching as University Tutors. Our doctoral students play a full and active role in relation to the wide range of research activities in the School.

If you're considering a research degree with us, you will need to make contact with a potential supervisor before you apply.

Read our How to Apply page for more information including guidance on writing a research proposal.

Marie Coleman and students 800x533
Find a PhD Supervisor

If you already have a research proposal idea, start the process of joining our research community by talking to an academic supervisor.

Find a PhD supervisor


PHD STUDY OPTIONS

  • Criminology
  • Education
  • Social Policy
  • Social Work
  • Sociology

Use the expander below to read more about our PhD programme and find out how to apply.

  • PhD
    • Duration: 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time
    • Thesis length: 80,000 words, including references, bibliography and appendices (other than documentary appendices).

    You will produce a traditional thesis, or, in the case of creative practice projects, your original creative works and an integrated critical analysis. 

    The PhD programme is open to both full and part time candidates and is often a useful preparation for a career within academia or consultancy.

    Full time students are often attracted to research degree programmes because they offer an opportunity to pursue in some depth an area of academic interest.
    The part time research degree is an exciting option for professionals already working in the education field who are seeking to extend their knowledge on an issue of professional interest. Often part time candidates choose to research an area that is related to their professional responsibilities.

    There is no specific course content as such.  You are expected to take research training modules that are supported by the School which focus on quantitative and qualitative research methods.  You are also expected to carry out your research under the guidance of your supervisor.

    Over the course of study you will attend postgraduate skills training organised by the Graduate School, carry out a piece of independent research and complete a thesis of 80,000 words. The thesis is awarded after a successful oral examination with an internal and external examiner.

    How do I Apply?

RESEARCH SUPPORT
SUPPORT AND FACILITIES

Research in the our School is supported by the outstanding resources of our Library with its Subject Librarian and subject-specific journals and databases.

Our close links and partnerships with local and international health and social care agenices, government departments, post-primary schools and many vocational organisations and NGOs make Queen's University the ideal place for postgraduate study in Education, Social Sciences and Social Work.


PHD PROFILES

PHOTO: Clare Kilgannon
Clare Kilgallon

An exploration of the links between SEN student’s acceptance of support and attainment in inclusive classrooms and their awareness of interventionist and pathognomonic practice.

The purpose of this study is to explore Special Educational Needs (SEN) student’s cognizance of interventionist and pathognomonic beliefs and practice, and how these affect their willingness to engage with additional SEN support, and their success and participation in inclusive schools. 

I will examine SEN students’ own beliefs about whether their conception of inclusion and the interventionist-pathognomonic belief system conceived by academics and teachers matches their own conceptions and awareness. This conception will then be compared to existing academic models, and students’ beliefs will be examined for correlation with their acceptance of aid and personal sense of achievement at school. This research aims to refine our understanding of pathognomonic and interventionist beliefs and the associated teaching practices as a means of offering mainstream teachers an effective set of tools to aid the learning and inclusion of SEN pupils based upon said pupils own lived experiences and expertise.

I first graduated with a degree in Law and Politics from QUB, followed by a Masters in Irish History and Politics from Ulster University and finally a Masters of Inclusion and Special Education from QUB. My interest in my current research comes from having been a SEN student myself, followed by 8 years working as a learning support assistant with SEN pupils in mainstream schools and my completion of the Inclusion and Special Educational needs Master's program at Queens. I have chosen to use participatory action research and Young Person's Advisory Groups to ensure my research fully takes advantage of the expertise and knowledge of SEN pupils and to ameliorate some of the more traditional power imbalance between researcher and researched.

PRIMARY SUPERVISOR: Dr Alison MacKenzie

SECONDARY SUPERVISOR: Dr Jennifer Roberts

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PHOTO: Mohammed Owaineh
Mohammed Owaineh

Epistemic Injustices and Capability Opportunities: Understanding Palestinian Girls Well-being in Education 

My research aims at assessing Palestinian young girls’ opportunities to inclusive and equitable quality education in lights of the political conflict, and the socio-economic difficulties they face. I will draw heavily on Miranda Fricker's (2007) account of Epistemic Injustice and Nussbaum’s (2011) version of the capabilities approach as the frame for my argument.

I am particularly interested in contemporary social epistemic studies, especially the ones that tackles epistemic relations from a decolonial perspective. I am interested in children, women, and people with disabilities rights in contexts of conflict, particularly Palestine. I am also interested in applying the philosophies of social epistemology on works of fiction, particularly anime and manga.

PRIMARY SUPERVISOR: Prof Joanne Hughes

SECONDARY SUPERVISOR: Dr Alison Mackenzie

 

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Student innovation
Research programmes and training
group shot the graduate school 800x533
POSTGRADUATE SPACE

The Graduate School provides an exclusive postgraduate hub that values the needs of our postgraduate students. Based in the beautifully restored and remodelled Victorian Lynn library, this fully-accessible space has modern, hi-tech meeting and group study rooms, a silent study area and social spaces creating a vibrant hub for intellectual exchange and collaboration.

Visit The Graduate School


Postgraduate Research
  • Study
  • Research Support and Facilities
  • Find A PhD Studentship
  • Find a PhD Supervisor
  • Fees and Funding
  • How to Apply

Subject pages

Criminology

Education

Social Policy

Social Work

Sociology

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