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/Integrated PhD
To initially discuss postgraduate research options in our school, please contact Dr Dirk Schubotz (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/Integrated 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.
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.
STUDY OPTIONS
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Postgraduate Research
Postgraduate Research Courses Course Qualification Duration Social Work PhD 3 Academic Years (Full Time) / 6 Academic Years (Part Time) Description You’ll be a social scientist committed to ways of working, through multidisciplinary research, that build knowledge and capacities in the communities around us and have a positive impact on human wellbeing. You’ll care about young people and families, conflict and social change, social inequality, disability, ageing and health, criminal justice, drugs and alcohol, trauma, violence and abuse....
Sociology PhD 3 Academic Years (Full Time) / 6 Academic Years (Part Time) Description You’ll be a social scientist committed to ways of working, through multidisciplinary research, that build knowledge and capacities in the communities around us and have a positive impact on human wellbeing. You’ll care about young people and families, conflict and social change, social inequality, disability, ageing and health, criminal justice, drugs and alcohol, trauma, violence and abuse....
Education PhD 3 Academic Years (Full Time) / 6 Academic Years (Part Time) Description You’ll be part of a dynamic doctoral research environment and will study alongside students from over 25 different countries; we supervise students undertaking research in key educational areas including: education in divided societies; effective education; children’s rights in education; educational assessment and inclusion.
As part of a lively community of over 200 full-time....Education (Integrated) PhD 4 Academic Years (Full Time) / 7 Academic Years (Part Time) Description The Integrated PhD in Education is designed to prepare you for doctoral-level study by providing a year of taught research-focused modules before you move on to your PhD research.
The programme is suitable for all those wishing to engage in research but should appeal to those who have the basis of a research project but require additional support to develop this into a feasible PhD study.....Sociology (Integrated) PhD 4 Academic Years (Full Time) / 7 Academic Years (Part Time) Description The Integrated PhD in Education is designed to prepare you for doctoral-level study by providing a year of taught research-focused modules before you move on to your PhD research.
The programme is suitable for all those wishing to engage in research but should appeal to those who have the basis of a research project but require additional support to develop this into a feasible PhD study.
The....Social Policy (Integrated) PhD 4 Academic Years (Full Time) / 7 Academic Years (Part Time) Description The Integrated PhD in Education is designed to prepare you for doctoral-level study by providing a year of taught research-focused modules before you move on to your PhD research.
The programme is suitable for all those wishing to engage in research but should appeal to those who have the basis of a research project but require additional support to develop this into a feasible PhD study.
The....Social Work (Integrated) PhD 4 Academic Years (Full Time) / 7 Academic Years (Part Time) Description The Integrated PhD in Education is designed to prepare you for doctoral-level study by providing a year of taught research-focused modules before you move on to your PhD research.
The programme is suitable for all those wishing to engage in research but should appeal to those who have the basis of a research project but require additional support to develop this into a feasible PhD study.
The....Social Policy PhD 3 Academic Years (Full Time) / 6 Academic Years (Part Time) Description You’ll be a social scientist committed to ways of working, through multidisciplinary research, that build knowledge and capacities in the communities around us and have a positive impact on human wellbeing. You’ll work in any area of social policy research or practice, including young people and families, education, conflict and social change, social inequality, disability, ageing, health,....
Criminology PhD 3 Academic Years (Full Time) / 6 Academic Years (Part Time) Description You’ll be a social scientist committed to ways of working, through multidisciplinary research, that build knowledge and capacities in the communities around us and have a positive impact on human wellbeing. You’ll work in academia and/or social research, or in the public or third sector, including areas such as victims and/or perpetrators of crime, rights-based approaches, people that have....
Criminology (Integrated) PhD 4 Academic Years (Full Time) / 7 Academic Years (Part Time) Description The Integrated PhD in Education is designed to prepare you for doctoral-level study by providing a year of taught research-focused modules before you move on to your PhD research.
The programme is suitable for all those wishing to engage in research but should appeal to those who have the basis of a research project but require additional support to develop this into a feasible PhD study.
The....
Use the expanders below to compare our PhD and Integrated PhD programmes.
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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. If you are on an Integrated PhD pathway you normally commence your programme with taught modules and research topic options before completing the supervised research project.
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.
- Integrated PhD
- Duration: 4 years full-time; 7 years part-time
- Thesis length: 80,000 words (including references, bibliography and appendices).
The Integrated PhD is a hybrid interdisciplinary programme, made up of taught and research elements. It is ideal if you want to study for a PhD but don't have a Master's degree in a relevant subject or if you are an international student who needs additional support adjusting to the UK education system. You can benefit from studying and learning together with fellow students with research projects in Criminology, Education, Social Policy, Social Work and Sociology.
Integrated PhDs are Research Degree Programmes, where the main focus is on research outputs, however the Master's level taught component allows you to develop important specialist and transferable skills.
You are required to undertake one-year of Master's level taught modules (full-time) followed by research that represents a distinct contribution to knowledge in one of five areas: Education, Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology or Social Work (full-time or part-time).
Year 1 involves taught modules equivalent to an MRes, followed by either 3 years (full-time) or 6 years (part-time) of PhD study in one of 5 subject areas: Criminology, Education. Social Policy, Sociology and Social Work. The first year aims to provide you with training to prepare for your PhD research, which isn't available to students taking the traditional PhD programme.
You can exit the programme with an MRes degree should you choose not to continue to the PhD element.
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
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.
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Mohammed Owianeh
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.
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Emilia Symington
An Investigation into the Experiences of Parents and Young People with Regards to Freedom of Expression and Religious Beliefs
Emilia Symington is a PhD candidate in the field of Children's Rights. Her thesis will look at the relationship between parents and children in an Anglican context with regards to freedom of expression and religious beliefs. Data will be collected through dyadic biographical interviews, and interpreted through a theoretical lens based on theories of resolving conflicts in human rights.
Read more Read lessTHE GRADUATE SCHOOL
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.