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Postgraduate courses 2024/25

Human Sciences, MPhil/PhD

Our doctoral programme in Human Sciences allows you to conduct cutting-edge research in fields including Psychology, Social Work, Public Health and Sports Science with support from our experts.

When you undertake a research degree (MPhil/PhD) at our School of Human Sciences, you are supported by a team of world-leading experts and active researchers. You also get access to a range of state-of-the-art facilities, including observation laboratories, eye-tracking capabilities, EEG, Edu-Logger, Nexus 4 and Biotrace.

As a research student in Human Sciences, you join a community of research students and benefit from the resources, community, and events at our Institute for Lifecourse Development (ILD). There are opportunities for PhD students to gain support with research costs and to present their research at national and international conferences.

Location

Greenwich Campus

Duration

  • 3 - 4 years full-time
  • 4 - 7 years part-time

Start month

September

Home/international fees 2024/25

TBC /£17,450

What you should know about this course

  • The standard entry route requires you to register as an MPhil/PhD student in Human Sciences and to transfer to PhD once you have demonstrated satisfactory progress.
  • We have several subject endorsement pathways so that you can specialise your research in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health or Sports Science.
  • You will work with a team of 2-3 supervisors who will provide ongoing support and guidance.
  • Flexible registration with both full and part-time routes available.
  • As a part-time student, you will need to devote at least 12 hours per week to your studies.

What you will study

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Course information is currently unavailable for this programme. Please contact course-info@gre.ac.uk for more information.

About the course team

We are a team of academics in the School of Human Sciences who are highly experienced academics and practitioners from various disciplines including Psychology, Social Work, Public Health and Sports Science.

Come and meet us

We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.

Next Open Days

Got a question?

To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have:

  • A taught Master's degree, with a minimum average of 60% in all areas of assessment (e.g. Merit or above), in a generic subject area relevant to the subject matter of the proposed research project, and/or
  • A First Class or Second Class, First Division (Upper Second Class) Honours degree in a subject area relevant to the proposed research project.

Required documentation:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV), including the names of two referees (written references can also be provided using the reference form)
  • A detailed research proposal of about 1,500 words (see details).

Further information about entry

Before applying, please make informal contact with a potential supervisor within the School to express your interest and discuss your proposal.

When you apply online, attach a single PDF which includes the following documents: 1) a research proposal approx.1,500 words (for scholarship applications, please see specific instructions in the advert and include the scholarship reference to the personal statement section)), 2) a personal statement outlining your motivation for a PhD and previous research experience, 3) a complete tabular CV, 4) transcripts of all degrees, 5) two reference letters, and 6) evidence of language proficiency (if relevant).

Your personal statement should name the supervisor you had a discussion with. You can include a Gantt chart at the end of your proposal as a schedule for your PhD project (excluded from the word count).

A research proposal template can be found here

Pathways:
  • Psychology
  • Sports Science
  • Public Health
  • Social Work

Available to overseas students?

Yes

Can I use Prior Learning?

Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.

How you will learn

Teaching

There are advertised research study days but most of the teaching takes the form of regular supervision meetings with members of the supervisory team.

Class sizes

Information coming soon.

Independent learning

The majority of your work is in the form of independent learning. Our libraries and online resources will support your further reading and research.

Overall workload

Independent research, but also training in research, teaching and transferable skills. Postgraduate research events such as talks, seminars and conferences. You will be expected to keep a record of your research activities, skills and training in a portfolio and upload it.

Assessment

As your MPhil/PhD progresses, you will move through several review points including a transfer viva to ensure good progress and high quality-work. You will be assessed through your research thesis. Following your submission, you will have an oral examination.

Feedback summary

Once a postgraduate research student has submitted their thesis for examination, the examination should take place within three months of the date the Faculty Research Degrees Committee approves the examination arrangements.

Dates and timetables

Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.

Fees and funding

Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Full time Part time Distance learning
Home TBC TBC N/A
International £17,450 £8,725 per year N/A

Accommodation costs

Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.

Accommodation pages

Funding your study

There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.

EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.

Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.

Financial support

Careers and placements

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

You will be well equipped for a research career within universities, private research organisations, charities or government departments.

Do you provide employability services?

We have a growing postdoctoral and early career researcher community within the Institute for Lifecourse Development. Equally, the mandatory postgraduate research training provides you with training, accreditation and experience of research and teaching in Higher Education.

The University also offers a careers service which postgraduate students can access.

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre. There are research-related modules that you may benefit from. For further details contact the programme leader. You can also drop into relevant undergraduate and Master's programmes, upon agreement with the teaching teams.

Support from the department

In addition to the core postgraduate researcher training, the Research and Enterprise Training Institute (RETI) also run additional training courses aimed at the training needs of postgraduate research students.

Accommodation information

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Mode of study

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Apply now

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study full-time then you apply through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study part-time then you can apply directly via our online application form.

If you are from outside the UK, you can apply via UCAS, directly via our online application form or via one of our in-country representatives. If you require a student visa, you cannot study part-time at undergraduate level.