Research Degrees

Glamorgan is a significant research-active university with a strong commitment to the conduct of user-valued research that has specific relevance to the major challenges facing society.

As the University has grown, so has our reputation for research and scholarship. In the past ten years, we have seen a six-fold increase in the number of research students to reach over 400. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), we submitted staff in 17 subject areas and achieved excellent results, with more than 70% of our research activity assessed as being of a quality recognised internationally for its originality, significance and rigour, with around 10% of this research recognised as world-leading.

All applicants for research degrees must submit an application form accompanied by a research proposal to the Graduate Research Office gro@glam.ac.uk

You will agree an area of study and develop a research outline with a supervisor who has expertise in the field. You will be responsible for the initiative, techniques and execution of the programme. Help with the development and progress of the programme will be provided as well as training in research methodology from a supervisory team.

Research study options can be taken full or part-time. If you choose to study part-time, you may be able to work in collaboration with your employer, with supervision provided at work and the University.

The University also offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Research which is part of the our commitment to help you develop personal and research skills as set out in the Quality Assurance Agency’s Code of Practice. The award is recommended for all MPhil and PhD students and may be compulsory for those on MRes and professional doctorate programmes.

What can I study?

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students critically investigate and evaluate an approved topic, resulting in an independent and original contribution to knowledge in that field. They will submit and defend a thesis via oral examination.

Duration:

Full-time: 33 to 60 months
Part-time: 45 to 72 months

PhD by publication

You will submit for examination an approved body of published work, together with an overview. Your work should demonstrate significant authorship and the originality of your contribution to the field. The submission should demonstrate an independent and original contribution to knowledge at least equivalent to that normally demonstrated by the submission of a thesis. PhD by Publication is restricted to past and present members of staff, alumni and applicants who have very strong links with the University of Glamorgan.

Duration:

Part-time: 12 to 24 months

PhD by Portfolio

You will submit for examination an approved portfolio of material relating to a maximum of three projects, together with an overview. The projects may be work-related and derived from empirical or conceptual investigation. The overview must show the relationship between the projects; the portfolio should demonstrate an independent and original contribution to knowledge at least equivalent to that expected in a PhD thesis.

Duration:

Part-time: 12 to 60 months

The Professional Doctorate

The Professional Doctorate (Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Business Administration Public Services Management (DBA PSM) Doctorate in Public Leadership (DPL), Doctorate in Health or Doctorate in Social Care (DHealth or DSocial Care) involves completion of taught elements at advanced level and supervised, independent research of clear value, relevance and application to a defined area of professional practice, concluded by the submission of a thesis to be examined by oral examination at Doctoral level.

Master of Philosopy

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students must submit and defend via oral examination, a thesis or portfolio demonstrating critical investigation and analysis of a topic. They must also demonstrate an understanding of appropriate research methods and their application to the chosen field.

Duration:

Full-time: 18 to 36 months
Part-time: 30 to 48 months

Masters by Research (MA or MSc by Research)

Masters by Research (MA or MSc by Research) students must demonstrate an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field by completing an advanced programme of supervised research and present and defend a thesis by oral examination.

Duration:

Full-time: 12 to 18 months
Part-time: 18 to 30 months

Postgraduate Study