PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

Learn to become an independent researcher by undertaking a significant and original piece of supervised research. You will write up your research and produce a submission for examination which you will defend by viva voce.

How to apply Chat to us

UCAS Code

Start Date

January 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A


International students: £18,970*

UCAS Code

Start Date

January 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A

UCAS Code

Start Date

April 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A


International students: £18,970*

UCAS Code

Start Date

April 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A

UCAS Code

Start Date

September 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A


International students: £19,400*

UCAS Code

Start Date

September 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A

UCAS Code

Start Date

December 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A


International students: £19,400*

UCAS Code

Start Date

December 2027

Location

Pontypridd

Campus Code

A

Course overview

Become an expert, solve complex challenges, and make a meaningful impact through original research.

We are committed to nurturing a pipeline of research talent and creating a culture that enables all our researchers to achieve their research ambitions.

Research degree highlights

Supervisory Support

You will receive academic support and guidance from your Supervision Team comprising academic experts in your field of study.

Networking

You will be part of a wider Research and Innovation Group whose members share expertise and interests.

Training and Support

You will receive support from the Graduate School and access to a vibrant Research and Innovation Development Programme (RIDP) which includes a mix of in-person and online events.

What you'll study

You can study full-time or part time, on campus or by distance (if the nature of the project allows and you have the infrastructure in place to support study by distance).

Full-time study is normally for 3-4 years and part-time study for up to six years. You may apply to study by distance providing the nature of the project allows this and you can evidence that you have the necessary resources in place. Thesis submission is most common but if you already have research outputs e.g. projects / publications, then portfolio or publication route may be possible. Please refer to our entry requirements.

There are no classes to attend but you will have regular research meetings with your supervisory team.

Most applicants initially register for an MPhil/PhD and complete a ‘transfer’ report at the end of year 1 (or equivalent for part-time study) which is assessed. This must be passed to progress with the PhD.

Entry requirements

Typical requirements:

An upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) or a Masters qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, and / or appropriate, relevant equivalent qualifications/experience.

Additional requirements include:

A single research proposal of approximately 2,000 words is required unless you are applying for a funded studentship which has a specified project.  (Only one research proposal is permitted.)
Two references on headed paper. At least one referee should be able to comment on your academic/professional ability. References provided by relatives are not acceptable.

Applications that do not include references and / or a research proposal will be rejected as will applications that include multiple research proposals.

English language requirements

International applicants will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (including 5.5 in reading and writing) or evidence of a recent degree-level award from an English-speaking country. Please note: some subject areas may require a higher IELTS score.

International students

Fees and Funding

Research tuition fees Funded Studentships

Tuition fees are payable annually at the point of enrolment. If you are in receipt of sponsorship, the University will invoice your sponsor for the relevant amount. It may be possible for self-funding students to set up a monthly payment plan in line with the University's published financial procedures.

The payment of tuition fees will entitle you to supervision, use of library and other university facilities.

When you have completed (1) your normal expected period of registration and (2)  your data collection and analysis and you are in a position to formally submit your thesis within one year, you may apply to enter a 'writing-up' period. During this time you will pay a much reduced ‘writing up’ fee, normally for a period of one year only.

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

International Full-Time Fee £ 18,970 18,970 19,400 19,400

per year

Research tuition fees Funded Studentships

Tuition fees are payable annually at the point of enrolment. If you are in receipt of sponsorship, the University will invoice your sponsor for the relevant amount. It may be possible for self-funding students to set up a monthly payment plan in line with the University's published financial procedures.

The payment of tuition fees will entitle you to supervision, use of library and other university facilities.

When you have completed (1) your normal expected period of registration and (2)  your data collection and analysis and you are in a position to formally submit your thesis within one year, you may apply to enter a 'writing-up' period. During this time you will pay a much reduced ‘writing up’ fee, normally for a period of one year only.

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

What sets us apart?

Find out more

81%

of University research is recognised as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Research Excellence Framework (2021)

#1

Top university in Wales and 24th out of 123 universities in the UK.

Guardian University Guide 2027

Biological Sciences Wildlife Ecology Researcher studying a map

49% enhancement in world-leading research (categorised as 4*) at USW since the previous REF in 2014.

#1

1st in UK in Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (2023).

How to apply

To apply for a research degree at the University of South Wales, you will be required to complete an online application. Please choose the application form for your preferred start date and mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time).

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Full-time, 3 years

    • April

    • Pontypridd

    Apply direct

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Part-time, 5 years

    • April

    • Pontypridd

    Apply direct

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Full-time, 3 years

    • December

    • Pontypridd

    Apply direct

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Part-time, 5 years

    • December

    • Pontypridd

    Apply direct

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Full-time, 3 years

    • January

    • Pontypridd

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Part-time, 5 years

    • January

    • Pontypridd

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Full-time, 3 years

    • September

    • Pontypridd

    Apply direct

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    • Part-time, 5 years

    • September

    • Pontypridd

    Apply direct

The application deadlines for research degrees at the University of South Wales are as follows:

  • October admissions: The closing date for applications is 1st May, and the notification of decision is 1st July.
  • January admissions: The closing date for applications is 1st October, and the notification of decision is 1st December.
  • April admissions: The closing date for applications is 1st January, and the notification of decision is 1st March.

You can apply for a research degree at various points throughout the year. Once you submit your application, it may take up to six weeks for a decision to be made.  If you want to check the status of your application, you can contact the Graduate School via email on: [email protected].

To apply for a research degree, you must first identify a research area and potential supervisors within one of the University Research and Innovation Groups. You can then begin preparing your research proposal, which should be no more than 2,000 words and clearly outline the "what", "why", and "how" of your research. The proposal should also state your aims and objectives, the chosen methodologies, a project plan, and the potential contribution and impact of your work.

You should also consider any potential ethical issues associated with your proposed project. The proposal's layout can vary depending on your discipline. Unless you are applying for a funded studentship with a specified project, a research proposal is mandatory.

Proposals must be submitted using our proposal template which should be uploaded to your application as an attachment. All sections of the template must be completed.

For further advice and guidance on the admissions process for University research degrees and templates to support your research proposal submission, please visit: Applying for a Postgraduate Research Degree.

Research and Innovation Groups

Please review our Research and Innovation Groups to find information on our research specialisms and themes. We welcome research applications in these areas. To be considered you will need to write a research proposal on a topic relevant to one of these areas (unless you are applying for funded academic-led studentship) and submit this as a supporting document with your online application. It is a good idea to try to identify potential supervisors in advance of submitting your proposal to discuss your ideas and to see if they would be interested in supervising your topic.

Research areas

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