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• PhD and Research Degrees

PhD Study in the UK

What is a phd.

A PhD is a research degree and is the highest award available at universities in the UK. The study is based on a substantial research project on an area of academic interest, typically up to 100,000 words in length, written as a thesis, which then must be defended in an oral examination in front of a panel of experts. Students are assigned a supervisor, and a PhD duration is typically three years full-time and six years part-time.

Very few research degrees feature taught modules, so students are expected to take more responsibility for their work and schedule.

PhD Eligibility

UK universities are free to admit anyone, with PhD admission generally conditional on the prospective student having completed an undergraduate degree with at least upper second-class honours and a master's degree . English language ability must be proved; a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 is generally required.

PhD Research Proposal

All students who apply for a PhD must submit a research proposal ( example ). The proposal should address the research you wish to undertake, how you will do it, and why it is important. A panel of experts must accept the proposal before your programme can begin.

Other types of Research Degree

Mphil (master of philosophy).

If you wish to study for a PhD, you may first need to begin an MPhil and then transfer to a PhD programme after 12-18 months. An MPhil is also a qualification in its own right and is generally thesis-only, lasting one year full-time and two years part-time. The thesis must present the results of a study and research and be a maximum of 60,000 words.

Students choose to study an MPhil if the proposed research has insufficient scope for a full PhD.

MRes (Master of Research)

An MRes is an advanced postgraduate research degree in the areas of art, humanities, and social sciences. Some Ph.D. Programs require an MRes qualification before beginning a PhD. The programme proper, and the student is required to complete a 40,000-word dissertation.

An MRes is a good way to see if you enjoy conducting research without fully committing to and funding a full PhD.

Professional Doctorate

Professional doctorates are similar to PhDs but are intended to advance professional practice rather than improve academic ability. Joint professional doctorates include law, education, business, engineering, and medicine.

How long does a PhD last?

A PhD in the UK usually takes three to four years if you study full-time. However, it can vary depending on the subject and how quickly you make progress. If you study part-time, it may take longer, typically five to seven years.

How much does a PhD cost?

Funding and researching a PhD can be expensive, with EU students paying up to £6,000 per year, and international students more.

It is rare for a PhD student to not be supported by some form of bursary, grant or scholarship  though, and many universities and research councils provide monetary support for part or all of a PhD programme.

PhD admission - how do I apply?

Once you have decided on an area of research and have looked into how you will fund your study, you will need to fill out several documents required when submitting your application. They can include:

• Academic transcripts
• Academic references
• Personal statement
• Research proposal ( example )

Students will also need to identify a supervisor who will oversee their PhD.

Top PhD Programmes in the UK

- university of oxford.

The DPhil in Computer Science at Oxford University offers students the chance to do advanced research in a beautiful setting. You can study topics like linguistics, biology, medicine, and quantum computation alongside computer science, get one-on-one guidance from experienced supervisors, attend lectures, and gain transferable skills.

• Popular PhD course: DPhil in Computer Science
• Entry requirements: A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a four-year undergraduate degree (equivalent to a master's degree) in a relevant subject, or a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a three-year BSc/BA degree and a master's degree with merit or distinction in a relevant subject.
• International fee: £29,700

- University of Cambridge

The PhD in Computer Science at Cambridge University is research-focused. Students work on their research projects under the guidance of a supervisor for three to four years. When admitted, students undergo a probationary period and are registered for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS).

• Popular PhD courses: PhD in Computer Science
• Entry requirements: A UK First class Honours Degree or international equivalent. Additionally, having a master's-level degree or equivalent postgraduate work is highly desirable. 
• International fee: £35,673

- Imperial College London

The Imperial College Business School offers a Master's in Research (MRes) that introduces students to theory and research methods in Finance, Economics, and Management, providing a solid foundation for future doctoral studies. Depending on the chosen research area, the MRes programme can be completed in one or two years.

• Popular PhD course: One year Master’s in Research
• Entry requirements: A high academic standing (such as a distinction or merit), or a first-class or upper second-class honours undergraduate degree.
• International fee: £17,500

- University College London

The Management MRes + MPhil/PhD programme at UCL School of Management offers a prestigious research experience for students seeking scholarly careers in management studies. With a strong reputation for world-leading research, the programme provides rigorous academic training and personalised research mentorship.

• Popular PhD course: Management MRes + MPhil/PhD
• Entry requirements: A first-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an equivalent overseas qualification. UCL encourages applicants from various disciplines to apply and requires them to have taken the GMAT or GRE General Test.
• International fee: £29,000

- University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh’s PhD in Informatics focuses on training researchers with comprehensive knowledge in their discipline and a specialised area. During the first year, you will attend relevant lectures, submit a thesis proposal, and receive annual progress reviews. Successful completion of a thesis and oral examination leads to the award of a doctorate. Regular talks and seminars provide additional learning opportunities.

• Popular PhD course: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Informatics
• Entry requirements: A degree in an Informatics-related field like Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science, or Computer Science. Proficiency in computer programming is required. 

Study a PhD in the UK

If you are interested in studying for a research degree in the UK, arrange a free consultation today. The PhD Service  can also help you apply with expert application advice, interview practice and research proposal editing.

PhD Admission FAQ

Is a phd fully funded in the uk for international students.

PhD funding for international students in the UK varies. Some universities offer full funding, while others require students to find funding. Scholarships, grants, and assistantships are available, but not all PhD programmes are fully funded.

What are the requirements for studying for a PhD in the UK?

To study for a PhD in the UK, you generally need a master's degree or an equivalent qualification in a related field. You'll also need to write a detailed research proposal explaining your research objectives and academic references that assess your research abilities. Additionally, you must secure funding to cover your tuition fees and living expenses, which can come from scholarships, grants, personal funds, or sponsorship. Requirements may vary, so it's best to check with individual universities.

Can international students apply for a PhD in the UK?

international students can apply for a PhD in the UK. UK universities accept applications from students worldwide. 

How much does a PhD cost for international students in the UK?

PhD tuition fees for international students in the UK depend on factors such as the university, field of study, and location. On average, fees range from £15,000 to £35,000 per year. However, it's important to note that actual fees can vary significantly .

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Looking for funding?

Use our scholarships search tool to look for available scholarships. Also explore our latest funded PhD vacancies .

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the most common type of doctoral degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. 

It normally takes between three and four years of full-time work to complete. It is also possible to undertake a PhD part time, over five to six years.

The main activity of a PhD is to carry out an original research project under the direction of one or more supervisors, to be written up as a thesis.

Different routes to achieving a PhD

There are a number of ways to achieving a PhD at Imperial:

• by undertaking a course of study based on your own research proposal
• by joining a research project that comes with funding attached (known as a studentship)
• by combining it with Master's study in an integrated route that typically lasts four years

Pursuing your own research idea

To search for PhD opportunities based on your own research proposal you first need to identify a research group within Imperial whose area of expertise best matches your idea.

Use the links below to search the different PhD opportunities within our academic departments, centres and institutes. This includes information about current studentships and often guidance on finding a supervisor.

Our interdisciplinary approach means our expertise often spans departmental boundaries – and so do our courses – so you may find opportunities in an unexpected area of the university.

Faculty of Engineering

• Aeronautics
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• School of Design Engineering
• Earth Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

• Department of Brain Sciences
• Department of Immunology and Inflammation
• Department of Infectious Disease
• Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction
• Department of Surgery and Cancer
• National Heart and Lung Institute
• School of Public Health

Faculty of Natural Sciences

• Life Sciences
• Mathematics
• Centre for Environmental Policy

Imperial College Business School

• Doctoral programme

Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

• PhD in Arabic, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish Studies
• PhD in science communication studies

Global Challenge institutes

We have six Global Challenge institutes, which were created to address some of society's biggest challenges.

If you have an idea for a PhD that falls within the remit of one of our Global Challenge institutes please contact them directly to discuss before making a formal application.

• Data Science Institute
• Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment
• Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering
• Institute for Security Science and Technology
• Institute of Global Health Innovation

Energy Futures Lab  does not offer PhD programmes, but does deliver the  MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures .

Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies | Imperial College London-Technical University of Munich

We have recently formed  a strategic partnership in education, research and innovation  with the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany’s most international and entrepreneurial universities, producing highly ranked research, like Imperial, in science, engineering and medicine.

As part of the partnership, Imperial and TUM have launched a 'Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies' with the aim of co-developing cross-disciplinary clusters of PhD students who will have access to world-leading academic supervisors and state-of-the art facilities at both institutions.

The first round of the programme will focus on the theme of 'Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Robotics'.

Find out more about the Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies and apply

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What is a PhD?

A PhD is a postgraduate degree. It stands for ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ and is one of the highest academic qualifications you can achieve.

Courses involve both research and academic learning where you take on a significant amount of independent work.

For most PhDs, you’ll research for, write and publish an extensive thesis on a specialist subject area.

How long is a PhD? 

PhDs courses usually last between three to four years if you study full-time. Students often extend their thesis deadlines and finish the work in their fourth year. If you study part-time, courses can last six or seven years. 

Courses can begin anytime throughout the year, though most studentships (doctorate scholarships) start in September or October.

What qualifications do you need for a PhD?

You usually need a good second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject area, or equivalent. Many courses also ask for a master’s degree. 

When applying, you may need to demonstrate an ability to conduct research. This could be by showing your experience of independently working on a research project. You’ll probably also have to submit a research proposal that outlines what you’ll be studying.

How is a PhD taught?

There’s very little teaching involved in a PhD degree. Your course may begin with five or six hours per week of classes where you learn about research methods and techniques. Aside from this, you’re in control of your studies, though you’ll receive some guidance from an academic tutor.

How is a PhD assessed?

PhD students are assessed mainly by a thesis, and a closed oral examination where examiners ask questions about the thesis. 

Degrees are usually graded as pass or fail.

What skills do you learn during a PhD?

As well as subject-specific skills, you develop transferable skills such as: 

• Organisation 
• Research 
• Work habits 
• Project management 
• Critical thinking 
• Written communication 
• Presentation

How much does a PhD cost? 

Fees vary widely between courses and institutions, but are commonly between £3,000 and £6,000 per year for UK students. International students often pay more. 

Many degrees are partly or fully funded, and lots of students receive scholarships and bursaries. UK Research Councils provide universities with grants of around £4,000 per year for each funded PhD student.

PhD degree facts

Some new PhDs are more vocational and offer practical experiences as well as research. These are designed for those looking to advance their careers. 

When applying for a PhD, you show the university that you’re the right person for an advertised position, or that you’d be suitable to complete your research proposal. 

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English Language and Literature MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

One of the highest-ranking English departments in the UK ( The Guardian University Guide 2023 - English ), UCL English provides excellent opportunities for PhD students to study in the heart of literary London, with access to vast quantities of resources and research materials, and a high number of academic staff working on a diverse range of specialist research topics.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

An undergraduate degree in English Literature or a related subject is a pre-requisite for this programme, and a UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard will normally be required. Research degree students are expected to start in September, but may request to start in January if there are exceptional reasons to do so. Applicants who wish to be considered for AHRC/ LAHP funding must have submitted a complete application by 5 January 2024.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

With access to vast collections of research materials and supervision from world-leading experts* in a wide range of literary periods and topics, UCL provides an exceptionally strong environment in which to study for an English PhD. UCL English Department has specialists in every period of English and American literature, as well as English language, with an outstanding record of internationally recognised scholarship and publications. A PhD in English at UCL will allow you to pursue original research and make a significant contribution to your field. 

Students accepted for admission are given a principal supervisor with whom they will work closely during the course of the degree. A subsidiary supervisor is also appointed to provide additional advice. Great importance is attached to matching student and supervisor, and ensuring that students' progress is well monitored. Students meet either one or other supervisor approximately ten times during the academic year.

Graduate students initially register for the MPhil degree, but usually upgrade to full PhD student status in the second year, if progress is satisfactory. (The English Department does not offer a standalone research Master's programme, nor is it possible to be admitted as a PhD student directly.) In addition to the upgrade review in the second year, progress is also reviewed at the end of each year. Students who are making good progress will usually be offered opportunities to gain teaching experience from the second year onwards.

There are normally about 45 students undertaking research degrees in the department. They form a diverse, friendly, and vibrant intellectual community. There is a full programme of departmental research seminars at which papers are given by invited speakers and graduate students, and students also have access to a wide range of seminars and research events across UCL and the University of London. Research skills training is provided both within and beyond the department.

PhD students at UCL have access to an incomparable range of libraries, including the British Library and Senate House Library (the library of the University of London). They can also apply to spend a period as a visiting scholar at Yale as part of the UCL-Yale Collaborative Partnership.

Who this course is for

This programme is suitable for applicants with a strong interest or background in a wide range of literary periods or in English Linguistics, and who want to do complete research alongside specialists in literature in English and linguistics of the English language. The programme is suitable for both recent Masters graduates as well as early or mid-career professionals who have achieved the stated entry requirements.

What this course will give you

As one of the most respected academic institutions in the world ( QS World University Rankings 2023 ), UCL is an excellent place to study for a PhD in English. Our PhD students benefit from specialist supervision by world-leading researchers* as well as access to the outstanding range of research resources available to them in London.

The clear structure of the PhD programme, with regular progress reviews, supports successful completion, while the training courses offered by the department and UCL enable the development of both specific research skills and the professional skills needed for an academic career.

The relatively small department also offers many opportunities for formal and informal intellectual exchanges and collaborations, supported by our programme of research seminars. Many of our students also make the most of UCL’s partnership with Yale to spend a period of study there.

PhD students in English at UCL acquire advanced skills of the highest calibre as researchers, writers, and presenters of their work. They will also usually gain experience of teaching (both tutorials and seminars).

*UCL English has an outstanding research record, with 94% of our research outputs being graded as 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent' in the REF 2021.

The foundation of your career

The English Department is proud of its PhD alumni and values its ongoing relationship with them. We welcome alumni to departmental events, and encourage them to keep in touch with us at [email protected] . For more information on UCL’s wider alumni community, please see our website .

Employability

Our PhD graduates have an excellent record of securing employment in institutions of higher education and have progressed to academic positions here at UCL, at Oxford and Cambridge, in the wider University of London, at other universities across the UK, and in international destinations including the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. They are also well placed to pursue careers outside academia, as the skills in research, analysis, writing, and communication obtained during the PhD transfer easily to high-level work in many sectors.

Networking both among students and with academic staff and visiting speakers is facilitated by our lively programme of departmental research seminars, as well as our various reading groups and events. Beyond the department, extensive opportunities to meet fellow specialists and exchange knowledge and ideas are offered by the events programmes of the UCL Institute for Advanced Studies, the University of London Institute of English Studies, and numerous other research institutions near UCL and across London.

Teaching and learning

The MPhil/PhD degree programme primarily consists of independent research and self-directed study, and the central work of defining a thesis topic, and planning the stages of research and writing, is undertaken in close consultation with the primary supervisor. You will also undertake skills training that may take the form of seminars, workshops, and conferences. 

Graduate students initially register for the MPhil degree, but upgrade to full PhD student status at the start of the second year, if progress is satisfactory.

In addition to the upgrade review at the start of the second year, progress is also reviewed at the end of the first year, in the first-year review, where the student submits a portfolio to their supervisory team, and at the Higher Degrees Sub Committee (HDSC) in their third year, where a submitted portfolio is assessed by a panel of senior academics in the department. A successful performance at the HDSC normally means the student will achieve Completing Research Student (CRS) status. Students who are making good progress will usually be offered opportunities to gain teaching experience from the second year onwards.

The MPhil/PhD degree programme consists of independent research and self-directed study. There are no set contact hours for the programme, but it is expected that your hours of study will mirror that of staff engagement as closely as possible (and this should be pro-rata for part-time study). If you have external funding, you should also ensure that you meet the Terms & Conditions of your funder in this regard. You will typically meet with your supervisory team up to ten times per academic year, and you will also undertake skills training that may take the form of seminars, workshops, and conferences.

Research areas and structure

We offer expertise in a wide range of topics within the field of English literature and language. Some areas in which the department would particularly welcome applications are:

• Old and Middle English literature and manuscript studies
• Relations between English and insular and continental French writings from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries
• Post-medieval bibliography and palaeography
• History of the book, textual and editorial theory and practice in all periods
• Shakespeare studies, including Shakespeare’s London
• The literature of the Elizabethan court
• Women writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
• Classicism in seventeenth and eighteenth-century literary culture
• Literature and science in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
• Revolutionary Writings in the Romantic period
• Homosexuality and literary history
• Literature and technology in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century literature
• Victorian and Edwardian writings on sexuality and adolescence
• Contemporary poetry
• Postmodern fiction
• London in literature/urban literature
• English grammar
• English language
• The history of the English language
• Corpus linguistics

You can read about our staff research interests on our website .

Research environment

UCL English has, throughout its history, been a pioneer in the study of English language and English literature, from Old English to contemporary texts. The department comprises a dynamic community of scholars with a breadth of expertise across literary periods and topics, as well as in language and linguistics. The comparatively small size of the department creates a friendly, inclusive research environment, with close contact between staff and students and many opportunities for intellectual exchange and collaboration.

Members of the English department have expertise in a wide range of approaches to English literature and language. Many of our literary research activities are organised around the key themes of The City, Editions, and Intercultural Exchanges, while our research in English Language is co-ordinated by the renowned Survey of English Usage. The department hosts regular research seminars at which PhD students, members of staff, and visiting speakers present their work; these include a themed strand of seminars on Race, Power, and Poetics. There are also many more seminars, reading groups and research events, both within the department, at the UCL Institute of Advanced Studies, and at the University of London’s Institute of English Studies. The department’s PhD students organise an annual Graduate Conference, where UCL speakers are joined by others from across the UK and beyond to share their research. They also publish Moveable Type, a peer-reviewed journal of academic articles, poetry and prose fiction.

UCL Library has outstanding physical and digital collections for literary research, as well as specialist materials in its excellent Special Collections department. Among these are the George Orwell Archive; Little Magazines; the Routledge and Kegan Paul Archives (publishing history); the Brougham Papers and papers of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (19th-century liberalism); and the Chadwick Papers (19th-century sanitary reform). UCL Library also has superb holdings in London history. We enjoy unrivalled proximity to the British Library, with its vast collections, and Senate House Library (the library of the University of London), as well as other rich research resources including the Institute of Historical Research, the Warburg Institute, and the Wellcome Collection.

The period of registration for the MPhil/PhD degree programme is 3 years for full-time study. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade review 9-18 months after initial registration.

Throughout your period of registration, you will meet regularly with your supervisory team, receiving feedback on work-in-progress. Regular completion of an online research log will help you and your supervisors to assess your specific training needs. The English Department provides a course in PhD Skills Training; many further training opportunities are also offered by the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme and LAHP (the London Arts and Humanities Partnership).

To ensure timely and successful completion of the thesis, the English Department formally reviews each student’s progress at regular intervals (usually the end of each year) by requiring submission of a dossier of work which is discussed in an interview. The most important of these reviews falls during your second year (9-18 months from registration) and will assess your readiness to transfer from MPhil to full PhD student status.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration, you may apply for a further period of 1 year as a Completing Research Student (CRS) to prepare your thesis for submission. The final degree assessment takes the form of an oral examination based on the thesis and is conducted by two examiners, usually one internal and one external.

The period of registration for the MPhil/PhD degree programme is 5 years for part-time study. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade review 15-30 months after initial registration for part-time study.    Throughout your period of registration, you will meet regularly with your supervisory team, receiving feedback on work-in-progress. Regular completion of an online research log will help you and your supervisors to assess your specific training needs. The English Department provides a course in PhD Skills Training; many further training opportunities are also offered by the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme and LAHP (the London Arts and Humanities Partnership).   To ensure timely and successful completion of the thesis, the English Department formally reviews each student’s progress at regular intervals (usually the end of each year) by requiring submission of a dossier of work which is discussed in an interview. The most important of these reviews falls during your second or third year (15-30 months from registration) for part-time study, and will assess your readiness to transfer from MPhil to full PhD student status.   Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration, you may apply for a further period of 2 years (for part-time students) as a Completing Research Student (CRS) to prepare your thesis for submission. The final degree assessment takes the form of an oral examination based on the thesis and is conducted by two examiners, usually one internal and one external.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Additional costs may include expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying, and conference registration fees.

The Department has some funds which can be applied for, to help offset the cost of travel to conferences or archives in the UK or overseas.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

AHRC grants are available for UK/EU English PhD applicants who are applying to start a research degree in 2024. Applications are made directly to the London Arts and Humanities Partnership, who administer the awarding of AHRC funding at UCL. AHRC funding covers all fees, as well as providing a stipend for living expenses, for three years. If you have any questions about the application process please contact [email protected] .

UCL's Research Excellence Scholarships are available for UK/EU/Overseas applicants starting in 2024 and provides full funding including a stipend for living allowance for the length of the programme.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Quirk PhD Scholarship

Deadline: 26 January 2024 Value: Fees and maintenance (3yrs) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

We recommend that applicants look at our list of staff on the UCL English website before submitting an application. Whilst potential supervisors are unable to accept a PhD student without a formal application form, we attach great importance to the match between supervisors and students, so please check that we have a member of teaching staff who could potentially supervise your project before applying. Applicants who are interested in applying for AHRC funding via the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) must submit completed applications (including references) by 5 January 2024 (you will also need to complete a LAHP application form: see the LAHP website for details).

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

English Language and Literature

[email protected]

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Department of English and Related Literature

PhD in English with Creative Writing

Join a thriving community of researchers to develop a substantial research project alongside an original piece of creative writing.

Join a passionate and intellectual research community to explore literature across all periods and genres.

Your research

Our PhD in English with Creative Writing encourages distinctive approaches to practice-based literary research. This route allows you to develop a substantial research project, which incorporates an original work of creative writing (in prose, poetry, or other forms). As part of a thriving community of postgraduate researchers and writers, you'll be supported by world-leading experts with a wide range of global and historical specialisms, and given access to unique resources including our   letterpress printing studio  and   Writer in Residence.

Under the guidance of your supervisor, you will complete a critical research component of 30-40,000 words and a creative component written to its natural length (eg a book-length work of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction). A typical semester will involve a great deal of independent research, punctuated by meetings with your supervisor who will be able to suggest direction and address concerns throughout the writing process. You will be encouraged to undertake periods of research at archives and potentially internationally, depending on your research.

Throughout your degree, you will have the opportunity to attend a wide range of research training sessions in order to learn archival and research skills, as well as a range of research and creative seminars organised by the research schools and our distinguished Writers at York series. This brings speakers from around the world for research talks, author conversations, and networking.

Applicants for the PhD in English with Creative Writing should submit a research proposal for their overall research project, along with samples of creative and critical writing, demonstrating a suitable ability in each, as part of the application. Proposals should include plans for a critical research component of 30-40,000 words and a creative component written to its natural length (eg a book-length work of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction), while demonstrating a clear relationship between the two.

Students embarking on a PhD programme are initially enrolled provisionally for this qualification until they pass their progression review at the end of their first full year of study. 

[email protected] +44 (0) 1904 323366

Related links

• How to apply
• Research degree funding
• Accommodation
• International students
• Life at York

You also have the option of enrolling in a PhD in English with Creative Writing by distance learning, where you will have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world. You will attend the Research Training Programme online in your first year and have supervision and progression meetings online.

You must attend a five-day induction programme in York at the beginning of your first year. You will also visit York in your second and third years (every other year for part-time students).

Apply for PhD in English with Creative Writing (distance learning)

World-leading research

We're a top ten research department according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

35th in the world

for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023.

Committed to equality

We're proud to hold an Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of the work we do to support gender equality in English.

Writers at York series

We host a series of hugely successful seminars, open to everyone, where a stellar cast of world-famous contemporary writers deliver readings and workshops.

Explore funding for postgraduate researchers in the Department of English and Related Literature.

Supervision

Explore the expertise of our staff and identify a potential supervisor.

Research student training

You'll receive training in research methods and skills appropriate to the stage you've reached and the nature of your work. In addition to regular supervisory meetings to discuss planning, researching and writing the thesis, we offer sessions on bibliographic and archival resources (digital, print and manuscript). You'll receive guidance in applying to and presenting at professional conferences, preparing and submitting material for publication and applying for jobs. We meet other training needs in handling research data, various modern languages, palaeography and bibliography. Classical and medieval Latin are also available.

We offer training in teaching skills if you wish to pursue teaching posts following your degree. This includes sessions on the delivery and content of seminars and workshops to undergraduates, a structured shadowing programme, teaching inductions and comprehensive guidance and resources for our graduate teaching assistants. Our teacher training is directed by a dedicated member of staff.

You'll also benefit from the rich array of research and training sessions at the Humanities Research Centre .

Course location

This course is run by the Department of English and Related Literature.

You'll be based on  Campus West , though your research may take you further afield.

We also have a distance learning option available for this course.

Entry requirements

For doctoral research, you should hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or high upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualification) and a Masters degree with distinction. 

The undergraduate and Masters degrees should be in literature and/or creative writing, or in a related subject that is related to the proposed research project. 

Other relevant experience and expertise may also be considered:

• Evidence of training in research techniques may be an advantage.
• It would be expected that postgraduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.
• Publications are not required and the Department of English and Related Literature does not expect applicants to have been published before they start their research degrees.

Supervisors interview you to ensure a good supervisory match and to help with funding applications.

The core deciding factor for admission is the quality of the research proposal, though your whole academic profile will be taken into account. We are committed to ensuring that no prospective or existing student is treated less favourably. See our  admissions policy  for more information.

Take a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.

Before applying, we advise you to identify a potential supervisor in the department. Preliminary enquiries are welcomed and should be made as early as possible. Please email one member of staff at a time, after checking that their research expertise matches your project. Emailing several staff members at a time regardless of the relationship between their research interests and yours means that you are unlikely to find a good supervisory match. 

If it's not clear which member of staff is appropriate, you should email the Graduate Chair .

Apply for the PhD in English with Creative Writing

Students embarking on a PhD programme are initially enrolled provisionally for that qualification. Confirmation of PhD registration is dependent upon the submission of a satisfactory proposal that meets the standards required for the degree, usually in the second year of study.

Find out more about how to apply .

English language requirements

You'll need to provide evidence of your proficiency in English if it's not your first language.

Check your English language requirements

Research proposal

In order to apply for a PhD, we ask that you submit a research proposal as part of your application.

When making your application, you're advised to make your research proposals as specific and clear as possible. Please indicate the member(s) of staff that you'd wish to work with

You’ll need to provide a summary of between 250 and 350 words in length of your research proposal and a longer version of around 800 words (limit of 1000). The proposal for the MA in English (by research) should be 400–500 words.

Your research proposal should:

• Identify the precise topic of your topic and communicate the main aim of your research.
• Provide a rigorous and thorough description of your proposed research, including the contributions you will make to current scholarly conversations and debates. Creative Writing proposals should include plans for a critical research and a creative component.
• Describe any previous work you have done in this area, with reference to relevant literature you have read so far.
• Communicate the central sources that the project will address and engage.
• Offer an outline of the argument’s main claims and contributions. Give a clear indication of the authors and texts that your project will address.
• Include the academic factors, such as university facilities, libraries resources, centres, other resources, and / or staff, which have specifically led you to apply to York.

What we look for:

• How you place your topic in conversation with the scholarly landscape: what has been accomplished and what you plan to achieve. This is your chance to show that you have a good understanding of the relevant work on your topic and that you have identified a new way or research question to approach the topic.
• Your voice as a scholar and critical thinker. In clean, clear prose, show those who will assess your application how your proposal demonstrates your original thinking and the potential of your research.
• Your fit with York, including the reasons for working with your supervisor and relevant research schools and centres.
• Above all, remember that there isn’t one uniform way to structure and arrange your research proposal, and that your approach will necessarily reflect your chosen topic.

Careers and skills

• You'll receive support in applying to and presenting at professional conferences, preparing and submitting material for publication and applying for jobs.
• You'll benefit from training in handling research data, various modern languages, palaeography and bibliography. Classical and medieval Latin are also available. The   Humanities Research Centre   also offers a rich array of valuable training sessions.
• We also offer training in teaching skills if you wish to pursue a teaching post following your degree. This includes sessions on the delivery and content of seminars and workshops to undergraduates, a structured shadowing programme, teaching inductions and comprehensive guidance and resources for our graduate teaching assistants.
• You'll have the opportunity to further your training by taking courses accredited by Advance HE:   York Learning and Teaching Award (YLTA)   and the   York Professional and Academic Development scheme (YPAD) .

Find out more about careers

Discover York

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.

Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Graduate Research School

Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.

Find a supervisor

Explore our staff expertise

Find out all you need to know about applying to York

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How to Find a PhD in the UK

Laura Bridgestock

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Table of contents

• Introduction

1. Identify your research interests

2. look for relevant phd projects, 3. contact supervisors and write proposals, 4. apply for phd funding, 5. choose the best phd for you.

After receiving the QS Academic Scholarship (worth US$10,000) in 2012, Indian student Rajesh Kumar headed to the UK’s University of Glasgow to complete an MRes in Biomedical Science. Having thoroughly enjoyed both the course and the wider research environment offered by the UK, he was keen to stay on and find a PhD program.

He’s spent the past six months immersed in researching PhD projects , writing proposals, applying for PhD funding and seeking advice, and has been successful in receiving offers of places at a number of the UK’s leading universities.

Now all set to start a fully funded PhD program at the University of Sheffield , as part of a research collaboration with the University of Oxford, Rajesh shares his advice on how to find a PhD, how to secure PhD funding, and how to choose when faced with a confusing selection of options.

The first important step, Rajesh says, is to gain a clear understanding of your own research interests – which in his case are in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative science. Studying an MRes certainly helped him get a better idea of the “driving questions” he wanted to help answer, as well as giving him a “flavor” of what to expect from a PhD. The MRes, or Masters by Research, is a kind of “squeezed PhD”, as Rajesh puts it, often specifically designed to prepare students for PhD-level research.

Once you’ve identified your research interests, you can start searching for relevant PhD projects, Rajesh says. He suggests using websites which advertise PhD studentships such as Nature.com and FindaPhD.com , as well as consulting the department websites of universities you’re especially interested in. Here, he says his MRes supervisor and lab-mates were helpful sources of information and inspiration, suggesting different approaches to finding out about relevant PhD projects and supervisors.

Having identified a list of relevant PhD projects with openings, Rajesh then began contacting supervisors and departments to find out if he might be suitable for each position. He also sent out research proposals of his own, which he says received a very positive response – so far resulting in offers of PhD positions at the Universities of Oxford , Cardiff , Glasgow and Sheffield , as well as invitations to take on research assistantships at Leicester and Cambridge .

Even after being offered places at such an impressive array of leading UK universities, however, Rajesh faced a new challenge. Most of the PhD projects he’d been invited to join were not fully funded, so he needed to do his own research to find some external PhD funding. “I started researching the different funding organizations in the UK and Europe, writing to them to explain my offers from different universities,” he says. Unfortunately, most of the deadlines for PhD funding had already passed; those seeking PhDs are advised to start the process as early as possible to allow adequate time for this stage.

In addition to the major PhD funding bodies in the UK and at European level , Rajesh also notes that individual universities also often have dedicated funding available for specific PhD projects. “I’m still learning – there are a lot of different ways to find PhD funding!” The ideal situation, he says, is to find a PhD which is fully funded from the start – and this is what he’s succeeded in doing, at the University of Sheffield.

For Rajesh, the choice was ultimately made easier by the fact that only one of his current options offered full PhD funding – and he was reluctant to wait an extra year in order to pursue additional PhD funding avenues. However, there was a period when he felt a little overwhelmed by all the different options being presented to him, and here he says it helped to consult information such as that provided by the QS World University Rankings by Subject , to get a better idea of the research strengths of each institution. He promises that this is not just because he received a QS Scholarship!

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The former editor of TopUniversities.com, Laura oversaw the site's editorial content and student forums . She also edited the QS Top Grad School Guide and contributed to market research reports, including ' How Do Students Use Rankings? '

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Study Postgraduate

Phd in chemistry (2025 entry).

Course code

6 October 2025

3-4 years full-time; u p to 7 years part-time

Qualification

University of Warwick

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Find out more about our Chemistry PhD .

A PhD in Chemistry enables you to carry out a unique research project and write outstanding scientific papers and a thesis. You will join a community of leading Chemistry research groups and utilise Warwick’s specialist facilities to produce an original contribution to science.

Course overview

A PhD in Chemistry will give you an opportunity to devote up to four years conducting full-time research, addressing real-world problems in an area of your choice. Find a supervisor in the tab below and let us know what areas you would like to research. You write up a thesis at the end of your studies. In some cases, the project may be carried out in collaboration with an external sponsor, for example industry. Warwick offers comprehensive training in transferable skills, access to taught modules, and a supportive research environment.

To contact the department directly with any questions please email chem-postgraduate at warwick dot ac dot uk .

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry or a related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page Link opens in a new window .

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Our research

Established ground-breakers and highly talented early-career researchers unite to deliver internationally excellent and world-class research across the chemical sciences with 100% of our research judged world-leading or internationally excellent by REF 2021.

Through close collaboration with the wider STEM community, our fundamental chemistry challenges the frontiers of knowledge for tomorrow whilst impactful research tackles the issues of today. Ambitious entrepreneurism and effective routes to real-world applications ensure benefits to academia, industry, and society.

With ongoing investment into state-of-the art research and education facilities and infrastructure, we sit firmly at the forefront of science globally, both now and in the future as we grow to meet the rising demands for flexible, world-class innovation.

Our current research groupings include:

• Chemical, Structural and Synthetic Biology
• Computational and Theoretical
• Energy Materials
• Measurement and Analytical
• Synthesis and Catalysis

You can find out more information about each grouping on our website.

You can also read our general University  research proposal guidance Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window  to help guide you in articulating your research question.

Find a supervisor

You can use the link below and discuss with prospective supervisorsthem the area you would like to research.  

Explore our Chemistry Staff Directory where you will be able to filter by:  

• Research Grouping
• Research Specialism  
• Global Challenge  

A list of current funded opportunities is also available on our website.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.  

Research proposals

If you are applying for a research degree, please let us know on the form what area of research you are interested in and/or which research groups you would like to join. It is not necessary to submit a research proposal at this stage. You can work on that together with your chosen supervisor.

Please make sure you state your research area and any academics you would like to work with in the first paragraph of the additional information/reason for study section. We shall distribute your application, once received, to the members of staff you have listed. If you do not name any academics then we will not be able to process your application any further.

Please feel free to contact any of the academic staff listed on our directory pages Link opens in a new window to discuss potential project areas.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our  Module Catalogue  (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support.

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Chemistry at Warwick

Do you share our enthusiasm for chemistry and its applications, from medicine to renewable energy?

We are one of the UK’s top chemistry providers, highly-ranked for both teaching and research. Our courses will offer you an excellent all-round experience that allows you to explore and follow your curiosity.

The skills you will develop will equip you to pursue a future career in a number of industries with a number of employers.

Find out more about our research students’ careers and destinations on our website .

Find out more about us on our website Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

We offer non-accredited and Royal Society of Chemistry accredited course routes, depending on your career aspirations.

• Analytical and Polymer Science (MSc)
• Analytical Sciences and Instrumentation (MSc)
• Chemistry with Scientific Writing (MSc)
• Global Decarbonisation and Climate Change (MSc/PGDip/PGCert)
• Global Decarbonisation and Climate Change (Policy) (MSc/PGDip/PGCert)
• Global Decarbonisation and Climate Change (Science) (MSc/PGDip/PGCert)
• Polymer Chemistry (MSc)
• Polymer Science (MSc)
• Scientific Research and Communication (MSc)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• MSc in Chemistry by Research
• PhD in Chemistry

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2025 will open on 2 October 2024.

For research courses that start in September and October 2025 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2025. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course  

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See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

• Warwick hosted events
• Postgraduate Fairs
• Talk and Tours
• Department events

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

9th in the UK

of the UK's best universities (The Guardian University Guide 2024, The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.)

5th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers Research Ltd.)

67th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2024.)

10th in the UK

for our 'Graduate Prospects' score. (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.)

Gold Standard Teaching

Gold, the highest possible rating across all three categories (student experience, student outcomes, and overall) (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history .

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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8 big differences between the US and UK PhD experience

And one important similarity. 

Helen Robertson

Credit: Malte Mueller/Getty

And one important similarity.

11 March 2020

Malte Mueller/Getty

In 2019, I took a risk by moving halfway around the world as a postdoctoral researcher in molecular evolution.

Since then, I’ve been struck by how different the grad school experience is here at the University of Chicago in the US, compared with my time at the University College London in the UK, where I completed my PhD in 2017.

Here’s what I’ve noticed:

1. UK grad school interviews are shorter and more lab-specific

In the UK, you’re likely to apply directly to a lab for an advertised project or one that you develop with your supervisor.

In the US, the application process is more centralized. You usually apply to a school instead of a lab. Some programs even require you to take a standardized Graduate Entry Program test, though this seems to be on the decline .

Grad school interviews in the US tend to be longer. They can involve a series of interviews, tours, and faculty events over a number of days.

2. In the US, a work-life balance is harder to achieve

I’ve been surprised by how all-encompassing a US doctorate can be. Even after the first year of teaching, the number of seminars, journal clubs, and university-related activities make the US PhD experience very grad school-centric.

I was fortunate during my UK-based PhD to approach it more like a full-time job than a continuation of my masters year. There were intense periods that required late nights in the lab, but I had time to pursue other interests , which provided some balance and made me more productive at work.

Of course, it’s difficult to generalize about working patterns. Demanding schedules are not wholly dictated by the country you’re studying in. A recent study found that 76% of surveyed grad students spent more than 41 hours a week on their project.

3. It takes longer to complete a PhD in the US

Probably the best-known difference is the time it takes to complete a PhD.

UK PhD programs tend towards three years in length, although it’s increasingly getting closer to four years – a trend that might soon be reflected in funding arrangements .

It’s a different story in the US, where, according to the Survey of Earned Doctorates , students take an average of 5.7 years to graduate.

4. UK PhD fees tend to be lower

Fees err on the more expensive side in the US, as they do for undergraduate degrees – although this isn’t always true for international students.

US PhD fees, coupled with the longer study time, means that the costs associated with grad school are generally higher than in the UK, even before living costs are considered.

If you have a funding body attached to your project, it will likely pay your tuition fees as part of its finance package. But this flags a major difference between the two countries: funding and scholarships.

5. Many US students need to apply for their own funding

From my understanding, most advertised science-based PhD projects in the UK are attached to funding, which covers tuition fees, bench costs, and living expenses. The tax-free PhD stipend set by all UK Research Councils is £15,285 (approximately US$20,000), although other funding bodies pay more.

In the US, there is no national funding level – your level of financial support will be dictated by your school or lab. This means there is generally much more encouragement for US PhD students to apply for their own funding than there is in the UK.

This is good experience for a future scientific career, but if you have to work additional hours to supplement scholarships, you’ll ultimately end up with less time for your project.

6. US PhD programs are more structured

This is particularly true in the first year for US PhDs, which includes lectures, exams, and lab rotations. Only at the end of the first year, after passing your qualifying exam, do you have the opportunity to pick the lab you’re going to pursue your PhD research in.

In the UK, I started in the lab that I spent the duration of my studies in. This meant no structured classes or rotations in my first year, and I began my own research right away.

PhDs that are run through a Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) – centres that manage the Research Council-funded PhD degrees – are increasingly popular in the UK, and include classes and rotations during the first year, but often without the frequent exams and coursework that characterize grad school in the US.

7. There is more focus on defending your thesis in the UK

Writing my thesis was the final hurdle of my UK PhD experience. It gave me the opportunity to document my ideas, successes (and failures), and the context of my project. I defended my thesis in a closed session with two examiners: one internal to my institution, and one external.

From what I’ve seen, finishing a doctorate in the US is less focused on a thesis. Instead, your committee determines that you have completed sufficient work and skill attainment to warrant your defense. Only then can you write your thesis, and defend it in a public session.

In the UK, it’s unlikely you’ll know your examiners well, but a US PhD defense is assessed by the same thesis committee that have known you for the duration of your studies.

8. Teaching is an added bonus in the UK

My UK PhD funding set no teaching requirements: instead, I was free to teach labs and mark coursework at the discretion of my supervisor. And I was paid for any teaching hours I did.

Teaching requirements in the US vary from school to school. For some students, working as a teaching assistant is necessary to pay fees and living expenses – particularly if you don’t have comprehensive funding.

There might also be minimum teaching requirements for the duration of your PhD in the US. In this respect, the time commitment and financial compensation of teaching is very institution-specific.

One important similarity: The lab you join will determine your experience

Despite the differences in structure and requirements between UK and US PhDs, one thing that is common to them all is that, ultimately, your PhD is going to be shaped by the lab you decide to join.

If have a positive working environment and appropriate guidance and support from your supervisor, and you’re interested in and motivated by your thesis topic, then your grad school experience will likely be rewarding.

And that’s true regardless of the country you’re studying in.

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• Schools & departments

PhD by Distance

The PhD by Distance programme allows students who are unable to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh to study for a PhD in a field of History, Classics or Archaeology from their home country or city.

What's involved?

The PhD by Distance mode is available to all applicants for eligible HCA PhD programmes, who will apply via the Postgraduate Degree Finder . Applicants will select between on-campus and distance options, as well as between part-time and full-time options.

PhD by Distance students will receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students. The frequency with which students will meet with their supervisors, and method of communication for supervision sessions, will be provisionally agreed at the point of application and confirmed during induction. 

Please be aware that some funding bodies do not permit students to study by distance, for example both  ESRC  and  AHRC  regulations currently state that students must be residents at the Institution where they are studying.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for the PhD by Distance are the same as for the School’s on-campus PhD programmes.  

In addition, applicants to the PhD by Distance will also be required to complete a PhD by Distance Applicant Admission Form. This form must be emailed to the Postgraduate Research Office ( [email protected] ) who will upload this to your application on your behalf.

Applicants should provide information about previous experience of distance study together with a statement detailing the potential risks and characteristics of distance learning. It is important that student’s applying for this mode of study recognise its particular challenges. While experience of studying at a distance is desirable in applying for the programme, this is not a specific requirement for admission. All of this should be discussed with the potential supervisor(s) prior to application and can be reflected on further during the admissions interview.

Applicants should also use this additional application form to provide details of the access they will have to research facilities at the normal site of study and where the core datasets that they will rely on are located.

Working whilst studying

The School understands that many students will take on paid work alongside their studies. The University’s guidance for full-time PhD students is that they should work no more than an average of 9 hours per week for across the academic year, to ensure they have time for their studies . While there are no specific rules about how many hours part-time students can work, the School recommends that part-time students allocate at least two to three days a week, on average across the year, to their PhD research. You should discuss any working patterns that you have with your proposed supervisor and reflect on the time you are devoting to your studies throughout your programme, particularly if you are struggling to make sufficient progress; this might well be a topic for discussion at annual reviews. Please note that if you need to apply for an extension at the end of your programme, you cannot use the fact that you had a job alongside your studies as a justification for this – an extension request can only be based on unforeseen circumstances. If you need to take on more work for a temporary period of time and this will impact on your studies, you should consider an Authorised Interruption of Studies.

Rankings: The 112 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2024/2025

• United Kingdom
• University rankings

The United Kingdom is famous for its universities: Every year, British institutions dominate the top places in international rankings. The best universities in the UK are also among the very best in the world: The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge usually secure the foremost ranks, regularly followed by Imperial College, UCL, the University of Edinburgh, and the London School of Economics. With such a remarkable track record of academic excellence it is no wonder that the UK attracts so many international students every year.

While going to the UK for your studies may be expensive - tuition fees are higher than anywhere else in Europe - it’s a decision that will almost certainly benefit your academic or professional career, especially if you get a degree from one of the top-ranking universities.

All study programmes in the United Kingdom

Top ranked universities in the United Kingdom

Explained: How do the university rankings work?

The QS World University Rankings are among the most important, most-referenced rankings. The QS ranking relies heavily on its academic survey, asking thousands of academics worldwide about the reputation of universities.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Equal weight is put on teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact through citations (meaning how often a university’s research is referenced elsewhere).

The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (often just Shanghai Ranking , or ARWU ) focuses on research output and quality, for example measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni winning the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.

Study in the United Kingdom

The UK is Europe’s most popular country for international students. At more than 100 universities, you can choose from literally tens of thousands of study programmes. British universities enjoy a reputation for cutting-edge research and world-class education. And there are plenty of exciting career opportunities for international graduates.

Read more about studying in the United Kingdom

Find the right study programme for yourself:

Relevant links.

• Studying abroad in the United Kingdom: Basic information for international students
• Study programmes in the United Kingdom
• Visit the website of the QS World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities

You might be interested in this:

We have 3,884 PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK

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United Kingdom

Institution

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All PhD Types

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PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK

Barocaloric organic ionic plastic crystals and prototype development, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Translating Deep Learning protein bioinformatics methods to accelerate structural determination by X-ray crystallography

Self-funded phd students only.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Indoor Environmental Quality of Schools Built Post-2010 Part L Changes - as designed vs in-use performance

Funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Inclusive community-led Place Plan development

Phd in chemistry - bridging the gap between biomass and sustainable chemicals, funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

PhD in Engineering - Develop passive acoustically coupled magnetoelectric antenna for wireless power feeding to the sensory patch.

Improving chemical and immunological assessment to drive safer development of the new breed of drugs: protacs, developing approaches to surveillance for antimicrobial resistance (amr) in the equine population, competition funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Bayesian Computation for Modern Slavery Statistics

Anthelmintic efficacy in ascarids parascaris spp. populations in foals and youngstock and existing management strategies on uk stud farms, geotechnics: climate change impacts on slope stability (ref: abce-asm1-24), geotechnics: acoustic emission monitoring in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering (ref: abce-asm2-24), developing diffusion models for electric vehicle: spatial-temporal analysis and policy evaluation (ref: abce-cm1-24), impact of genetic regulation of molecular phenotypes and its role on disease development, phd in local structure analysis of nanostructured energy materials.

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Discover more about Religions and Theology

PhD Religions and Theology

Year of entry: 2024

• View full page
• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)
• Any strong, relevant work experience will be considered on a case by case basis.

Full entry requirements

Apply online  

Please ensure you include all  required supporting documents  at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered. 

Application Deadlines 

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  12 January 2024. 

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self–funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed. 

• For September 2024 entry:  30 June 2024 
• For January 2025 entry:  30 September 2024

Programme options

Programme overview

• Our PhD students draw on the expertise of specialists in a wide range of disciplines in Religions and Theology.
• Our research themes cover specialisms from Biblical studies, Islamic philosophy, Jewish thought, applied theology and the relationship of religions with science, technology, politics and gender.
• We have world-class research resources including The John Rylands Library - home to a substantial collection of manuscripts and papyri, including the oldest manuscript fragment of a New Testament book.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 12 January 2024. 

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.  

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• The Wellington Scholarship (Religions and Theology) - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)

Contact details

See: About us

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Religions and Theology

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview, english language.

International applicants must provide one of the following: 

• IELTS test minimum score – 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing. 
• TOEFL (internet based) test minimum score – 100 overall, 25 in all sections. 
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) UKVI/SELT or PTE Academic minimum score – 76 overall, 76 in writing. 
• To demonstrate that you have taken an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a majority English speaking nation within the last 5 years. 
• Other tests may be considered.

Please note, CAS statements are only issued when all conditions of the offer have been satisfied, offer accepted, and a PDF copy of passport received.

English language test validity

Other international entry requirements.

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country.

The University requires you to reside within a commutable distance from Manchester during your time as a registered student, unless you are on approved fieldwork/a formal placement or are on a period of Submission pending. This is to ensure that you are able to meet attendance expectations and participate in wider research activities within your discipline area and/or School.

Other entry requirements

Application and selection, how to apply, advice to applicants.

Before you start your application, you should: 

• Develop your own research proposal and project title. 
• Find a supervisor by browsing our academics’ profiles, and reach out directly to discuss if they are interested in supporting your research. 
• Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor. 

When you submit your application, you must include each of the below required documents: 

• A 1,500 word PhD research proposal.
• Copies of the academic transcript and certificate from both your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. If your Master’s degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript. 
• An up to date academic CV, detailing your education and qualifications; employment history; publications; and any other relevant information. 
• You must nominate two academic referees (including one from your most recent institution). Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following submission of your application form. You may wish to contact your referees to request they submit your reference in a reasonable timeframe as this forms part of the review process. 
• International applicants must additionally provide English Language evidence (e.g IELTS)

Interview requirements

As part of the offer making process applicants will be required to undertake an interview assessment. This may be in the form of an in–person interview, or video call. 

The interview is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the broad topic area, the viability of your proposed research and its intellectual contribution, alongside the fit of your project with the supervisory team. You also may be asked to identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research, and discuss how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance.

The interview panel will consist at minimum of your primary supervisor and an independent interviewer.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful, you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard programme entry criteria for that year of entry. 

 In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen programme. 

Programme details

Programme description.

Our full-time and part-time Religions and Theology PhD programme involves substantial original research in Religions and Theology, leading to the production of a thesis (of up to 80,000 words) that constitutes a significant contribution to knowledge.

Areas available for research include: 

• Biblical studies, especially the Bible in context (Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish, Graeco-Roman), linguistic approaches, Bible and gender;
• early Christianity, especially Nag Hammadi and magical texts;
• papyri and other manuscripts in the John Rylands Library;
• Rabbinic and medieval Judaism;
• Jewish thought;
• Jewish-Christian and Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations;
• Islamic philosophy and medicine;
• Christian doctrine;
• philosophical and political theology;
• applied theology;
• ecotheology;
• theology and technology;
• contemporary Christianity;
• religious archives in the John Rylands Library;
• religion and philosophy;
• existentialism;
• philosophy of law;
• religion and science;
• religion and politics;
• religion and gender.

Find out more about our staff's research interests on the People page.

One of our particular strengths is the ability of our research students to draw on the expertise of specialists in a wide range of disciplines.

This offers the possibility of developing interdisciplinary projects with high level expertise in both disciplines. For instance, recent PhD students have had supervision jointly between lecturers in Biblical studies and Roman social history, theology and music, and South Asian Studies and sociology.

Within Religions and Theology, our doctoral students also participate in a thriving disciplinary research culture. There are regular research seminars in Religions and Theology, Biblical Studies, and Jewish Studies.

Research students are also welcome at a wide range of seminars in other areas, for instance, in linguistics or in gender, sexuality and culture.

PhD students in Religions and Theology get to meet and discuss with many top international visiting scholars at seminars and public lectures. These include The Manson Memorial Lecture in New Testament, The Sherman Lectures in Jewish Studies, and The Ferguson Lecture in Theology.

Many of our students undertake some undergraduate teaching, following appropriate training which is offered to all doctoral students.

Funds are available for students to organise conferences and travel to attend events and undertake research.

There are opportunities to organise, participate in, and present papers at conferences led by PhD students and joint events, such as the Manchester-Durham-Sheffield PhD student conference in Biblical Studies.

Additional programme information

Humanities Doctoral Academy

Our Humanities Doctoral Academy combines the strengths of our four schools to bring expertise, knowledge, support and high quality services for postgraduate researchers.

We are a community of academic leaders and postgraduate researchers across all levels in the Faculty of Humanities. The Doctoral Academy Hub houses our specialist professional service teams who support postgraduate researchers throughout the programme journey. This includes admissions, registration, student experience, progression, examination and graduation. We collaborate closely with other University directorates including Manchester Doctoral College, Researcher Development team, and the corresponding Doctoral Academies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Together we provide the best experience and support for your studies and research.

Equality, diversity and inclusion  is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. 

We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. 

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status. 

All appointments are made on merit. 

The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Teaching and learning

The PhD programme is based on supervised independent research. The student-supervisor relationship thus sits at the heart of this programme.

Doctoral supervision is on a one-to-one basis, with meetings usually fortnightly in the first year.

Each student has a main supervisor, a co-supervisor and an additional panel member who acts as an independent reviewer. The Religions and Theology Postgraduate Research Officer provides more general academic advice and support.

In addition to regular personal supervision, our graduate research students each have a research panel which meets a minimum of two times per year (on more occasions if necessary).

The research panel increases the breadth of expertise available to the student and widens the informational and networking opportunities accessible to them.

In addition the panel reviews the development of the student's research proposal, provides feedback on draft chapters and conference papers, discusses research progress, and provides guidance on the formulation of realistic objectives.

During the course of your programme, research postgraduates need to develop both broad generic research skills and specialised skills relevant to your specific discipline and field study.

Some of these skills will be acquired as part of our skills training, as well as a range of courses available across the University. Weekly seminars are sponsored by various research centres.

artsmethods@manchester  is a programme of talks, workshops and events running throughout the academic year, which explores approaches to arts research, research methods and the dissemination of arts and languages research at Manchester.

There is also training available in a wide range of disciplines that can support a Religions and Theology PhD. For instance, Manchester provides one of the UK's widest selections of language teaching.

Coursework and assessment

Programme unit details.

There are no compulsory taught units as part of the PhD programme.

However, where appropriate, you are encouraged to audit undergraduate and master's course units subject to advice and approval by your supervisory panel.

You will also select from a range of research training workshops and short courses as appropriate to your doctoral research project.

Related research

Particular research strengths are in: Biblical Studies, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls; Christian Studies including Practical Theology and Church History; Cultural, Political and Gender Studies; Jewish Studies; South Asian Studies, including ethnic minorities in Britain. Most supervision is on a one-to-one basis at least once a month and often more regularly, especially at the start of the programme. Weekly seminars are sponsored by various research centres. These form the backbone of a vigorous research culture in the discipline which is enhanced by the hosting of international and national conferences.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), 74% of our Religions and Theology research was recognised as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'.

Find out more about our Religions and Theology research at Manchester.  

What our students say

The single most important piece of advice I could give anyone considering a PhD is to pick a research topic that you're obsessed with. I've come across too many PhD students who have a really hard time getting through it because they find it a drag.

You want to pick something that you spend every day thinking about, where you have to force yourself to hang up the keyboard and leave your office or desk as you've overdone it again. It's not unusual that I leave my office at 8 or 9pm, only to carry on when I get home. I just can't leave it alone - I'm obsessed with my research and love every minute of it!

-  Lev Eakins, PhD Religions and Theology student. Read the full blog post here .

Find out more about what it's like to undertake a postgraduate research degree at Manchester on our Humanities PGR blog .

Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.

We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research. There are extensive computing facilities across campus, with access to standard office software as well as specialist programmes, all connected to the campus network and internet.

Every student is registered for email, file storage and internet access. If more demanding computer access is required, our specialist computing division can provide high-end and specialist computing services.

Disability support

Career opportunities.

Many of our Religions and Theology PhD graduates have gone on to leading academic positions in countries such as the UK, USA, South Korea, Australia, Burundi and South Africa.

Among past PhD graduates are Morna Hooker, Donald Hagner, W Ward Gasque, Robert Gundry, Itumeleng Mosala, Quek Swee Hwa, Seyoon Kim, Ronald Fung, Moises Silva, Charles Wanamaker, David Wenham, Peter O'Brien and Peter H Davids.

Recently, our PhD graduates have gone on to become department heads, post-doctoral fellows, principles and professors at leading institutions in the UK, Canada and Burundi, as well as going on to positions the John Rylands Research Institute, and with leading European research projects.

Through this PhD, you will develop research skills valuable for careers other than academic teaching. Many professions today require investigative skills, while some in the media spend time researching angles of events that relate to religions. Others in the health service investigate the experiences of various cultural groups in accessing services, and many in museums, libraries and other archives require the textual and historical research skills that our courses teach.

To read about careers that our PhD graduates have followed, see our Careers Page .

PhD study in Religions and Theology gives you a high level qualification for a wide range of investigative tasks. More broadly, careers in a wide range of fields are available as for all those graduating with PhDs in Humanities subjects.

Whatever employment area you choose, your studies will provide you with transferable skills, as well as enhancing your intellectual and personal development.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help support you with your goals for the future.

Great Scott! Stonehenge’s Altar Stone origins reveal advanced ancient Britain

New research led by Curtin University has revealed Stonehenge’s monumental six-tonne Altar Stone, long believed to originate from Wales, actually hails from Scotland.

Furthermore, the findings point to the existence of unexpectedly advanced transport methods and societal organisation at the time of the stone’s arrival at its current location in southern England about 5000 years ago.

Curtin researchers studied the age and chemistry of mineral grains within fragments of the Altar Stone, which is a 50cm thick sandstone block measuring 5 x 1 metres, that sits at the centre of Stonehenge’s iconic stone circle in Wiltshire.

Lead author PhD student Anthony Clarke from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences said analysis of the age and chemical composition of minerals within fragments of the Altar Stone matched it with rocks from northeast Scotland, while also clearly differentiating them from Welsh bedrock.

“Our analysis found specific mineral grains in the Altar Stone are mostly between 1000 to 2000 million years old, while other minerals are around 450 million years old,” Mr Clarke said.

“This provides a distinct chemical fingerprint suggesting the stone came from rocks in the Orcadian Basin, Scotland, at least 750 kilometres away from Stonehenge.

“Given its Scottish origins, the findings raise fascinating questions, considering the technological constraints of the Neolithic era, as to how such a massive stone was transported over vast distances around 2600 BC.

“This discovery also holds personal significance for me. I grew up in the Mynydd Preseli, Wales, where some of Stonehenge’s stones came from. I first visited Stonehenge when I was one year old and now at 25, I returned from Australia to help make this scientific discovery – you could say I’ve come full circle at the stone circle.”

Study co-author Professor Chris Kirkland, also from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group at Curtin, said the findings had significant implications for understanding ancient communities, their connections, and their transportation methods.

“Our discovery of the Altar Stone’s origins highlights a significant level of societal coordination during the Neolithic period and helps paint a fascinating picture of prehistoric Britain,” Professor Kirkland said.

“Transporting such massive cargo overland from Scotland to southern England would have been extremely challenging, indicating a likely marine shipping route along the coast of Britain.

“This implies long-distance trade networks and a higher level of societal organisation than is widely understood to have existed during the Neolithic period in Britain.”

Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said much of the research and analysis done by Mr Clarke and Professor Kirkland was undertaken at the University’s renowned John de Laeter Centre.

“This fascinating study is another example of the stellar work being undertaken by Curtin University’s Timescales of Mineral Systems Group with the John de Laeter Centre, using state-of-the-art equipment in our GeoHistory Facility that supports important minerals research,” Professor Hayne said.

“It offers specialist mass spectrometers which are used to examine the composition of materials such as rock-forming minerals, archaeological artefacts, meteorites, ceramics and even biological substances such as teeth, bones and shell.

“Ongoing investment is required to maintain cutting-edge facilities like this, which are crucial for attracting the world’s best minds. In this case, we are delighted that our outstanding research reputation and facilities led PhD student Anthony Clarke to travel 15,000 kilometres from his home in Wales to study at Curtin and make this significant finding.”

Mr Clarke said he chose Curtin for his PhD because it also offered the chance to work alongside renowned researchers, such as Professor Kirkland.

“Curtin has given us the freedom and independence to explore fascinating work, such as Stonehenge and access to the world’s most advanced equipment and expert staff means I can complete all my work there,” Mr Clarke said.

“Western Australia itself as home to the oldest minerals on Earth, is an outstanding natural laboratory. So I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to do this research in this outstanding place.”

Funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project, the research was performed in collaboration with Aberystwyth University, The University of Adelaide and University College London.

The full study, published in journal Nature , can be found here: A Scottish provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge | Nature . (DOI: 10.1038/S41586-024-07652-1 )

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How did Team GB win their Olympic medals?

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Olympics 2024: Every Team GB Olympic medal in Paris

• Published 11 August 2024

Let the celebrations begin - Team Great Britain have finished Paris 2024 with 65 medals, beating their total from Tokyo by one.

The total matches the team's medal haul from London 2012 and is the joint-third-highest for Team GB at a single Games behind Rio 2016 ( 67 medals) and London 1908 ( 146 ).

But GB did get eight fewer golds than they did three years ago in Tokyo.

In fact 14 golds was only good enough for seventh in the medal table, GB's lowest placing since Athens 2004.

This is because the official medal table is ordered by golds won.

So, was Paris 2024 a record-breaking Games or a backwards step? Let's go through the stats.

British fans have been spoiled at recent Games. Third in London, second in Rio and fourth in Tokyo.

Seventh almost feels like a disappointment.

But if we change the table from most golds to total medals won, things suddenly look much better.

And there is a precedent. The US media have been presenting Olympic medal tables this way for years.

Below is BBC Sport's official medal table from the Paris 2024 ordered by golds. Then take a look at what it looks like in the US media...

Team GB move up to third on the total medals table of broadcaster NBC

Plus, GB coming home with 14 golds would have been unthinkable 28 years ago.

Sir Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent won the rowing men's coxless pair at Atlanta 1996 for GB's only gold, in case you were wondering.

What were GB's best sports at Paris 2024?

On medals won it was cycling, but on golds alone rowing was Team GB's best sport at Paris 2024.

Rowing last topped GB's medal table at Atlanta, but has joined cycling in number one.

With equestrian being GB's third-best sport based on golds, Paris was the Olympics for sports which required British athletes to be sitting down.

How much funding did Team GB get from UK Sport?

Money talks. UK Sport awarded £245,837,685 of funding for the Paris Olympic cycle.

It means each GB medal cost, on average, £3,782,118.

Cycling received £29,314,683, the most funding for any sport, followed by rowing (£23,794,482) and sailing (£22,800,520).

Hockey (£13,689,907) had the most funding of any sport in which GB did not win a medal in Paris.

UK Sport - funded by the government and National Lottery income - does not give Olympic funding to golf, making Tommy Fleetwood's silver GB's cheapest medal.

The next cheapest medal was Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe's silver in the artistic swimming women's duet. Artistic swimming received just £467,250 from UK Sport.

Which region won most GB medals?

If we go by place of birth London was Britain's best source of medals with 32, just short of Germany's total of 33.

The South East of England contributed 21, the West Midlands 14 and the North West of England and Yorkshire were locked together on 12. Yorkshire was briefly and famously above Australia in the London 2012 medal table . No such luck this time but a dozen medals was still the equal of Ukraine and one more than Sweden.

Scotland took home 10, the same as Belgium, Wales seven like Croatia and Northern Ireland four, joining Portugal on that haul.

Any other Team GB medal stats?

In the battle of the sexes British male athletes won 31 medals, with female athletes winning 30. Four of GB's medals were in mixed events.

The average age of British medallists was 27 years and three months. The youngest winner was 16-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown. The oldest was 57-year-old dressage rider Carl Hester.

Thanks to McEwan, Pidcock, Dean, Digby, Ford, Daley, George and Fleetwood the most common first name for a GB medallist was Thomas.

So, if you are a 23-year-old male rower living in London called Tom - get training now. You are our best hope for Los Angeles 2028!

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Great Scott! Stonehenge’s Altar Stone origins reveal advanced ancient Britain

Curtin University

The Altar Stone at Stonehenge.

Credit: Credit: English Heritage

New research led by Curtin University has revealed Stonehenge’s monumental six-tonne Altar Stone, long believed to originate from Wales, actually hails from Scotland.

Furthermore, the findings point to the existence of unexpectedly advanced transport methods and societal organisation at the time of the stone’s arrival at its current location in southern England about 5000 years ago.

Curtin researchers studied the age and chemistry of mineral grains within fragments of the Altar Stone, which is a 50cm thick sandstone block measuring 5 x 1 metres, that sits at the centre of Stonehenge’s iconic stone circle in Wiltshire.

Lead author PhD student Anthony Clarke from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences said analysis of the age and chemical composition of minerals within fragments of the Altar Stone matched it with rocks from northeast Scotland, while also clearly differentiating them from Welsh bedrock.

“Our analysis found specific mineral grains in the Altar Stone are mostly between 1000 to 2000 million years old, while other minerals are around 450 million years old,” Mr Clarke said.

“This provides a distinct chemical fingerprint suggesting the stone came from rocks in the Orcadian Basin, Scotland, at least 750 kilometres away from Stonehenge.

“Given its Scottish origins, the findings raise fascinating questions, considering the technological constraints of the Neolithic era, as to how such a massive stone was transported over vast distances around 2600 BC.

“This discovery also holds personal significance for me. I grew up in the Mynydd Preseli, Wales, where some of Stonehenge’s stones came from. I first visited Stonehenge when I was one year old and now at 25, I returned from Australia to help make this scientific discovery – you could say I’ve come full circle at the stone circle.”

Study co-author Professor Chris Kirkland, also from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group at Curtin, said the findings had significant implications for understanding ancient communities, their connections, and their transportation methods.

“Our discovery of the Altar Stone’s origins highlights a significant level of societal coordination during the Neolithic period and helps paint a fascinating picture of prehistoric Britain,” Professor Kirkland said.

“Transporting such massive cargo overland from Scotland to southern England would have been extremely challenging, indicating a likely marine shipping route along the coast of Britain.

“This implies long-distance trade networks and a higher level of societal organisation than is widely understood to have existed during the Neolithic period in Britain.”

Funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project, the research was performed in collaboration with Aberystwyth University, The University of Adelaide and University College London.

Co-author Professor Richard Bevins from Aberystwyth University said the findings overturned what had been thought for the past century.

“We have succeeded in working out, if you like, the age and chemical fingerprints of perhaps one of the most famous of stones in the world-renowned ancient monument,” Professor Bevins said.

“While we can now say that this iconic rock is Scottish and not Welsh, the hunt will still very much be on to pin down where exactly in the north-east of Scotland the Altar Stone came from.”

Co-author Dr Robert Ixer of the UCL Institute of Archaeology said the findings were genuinely shocking, but if plate tectonics and atomic physics were correct, then the Altar Stone is Scottish.

“The work prompts two important questions: why and exactly how was the Altar Stone transported from the very north of Scotland, a distance of more than 700 kilometres, to Stonehenge?”

Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said much of the research and analysis done by Mr Clarke and Professor Kirkland was undertaken at the University’s renowned John de Laeter Centre.

“This fascinating study is another example of the stellar work being undertaken by Curtin University’s Timescales of Mineral Systems Group with the John de Laeter Centre, using state-of-the-art equipment in our GeoHistory Facility that supports important minerals research,” Professor Hayne said.

“It offers specialist mass spectrometers which are used to examine the composition of materials such as rock-forming minerals, archaeological artefacts, meteorites, ceramics and even biological substances such as teeth, bones and shell.

“Ongoing investment is required to maintain cutting-edge facilities like this, which are crucial for attracting the world’s best minds. In this case, we are delighted that our outstanding research reputation and facilities led PhD student Anthony Clarke to travel 15,000 kilometres from his home in Wales to study at Curtin and make this significant finding.”

Mr Clarke said he chose Curtin for his PhD because it also offered the chance to work alongside renowned researchers, such as Professor Kirkland.

“Curtin has given us the freedom and independence to explore fascinating work, such as Stonehenge and access to the world’s most advanced equipment and expert staff means I can complete all my work there,” Mr Clarke said.

“Western Australia itself as home to the oldest minerals on Earth, is an outstanding natural laboratory. So I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to do this research in this outstanding place.”

The full study titled ‘A Scottish Provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge’ will be published in the journal Nature.

Method of Research

Imaging analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

A Scottish Provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge

Article Publication Date

14-Aug-2024

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

Original Source

Chinese Olympic gold medallists Wang twins to begin PhDs in Hong Kong in September

• Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi who won China’s first gold medal in the duet artistic swimming event in Paris received scholarships in Doctor of Education programme

The twins who won China’s first gold medal in the duet artistic swimming event at the Paris Olympics will begin their doctoral studies at a university in Hong Kong in September.

The Education University of Hong Kong said on Sunday Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, 27, already completed the enrolment registration procedures after they were admitted to its Doctor of Education programme.

“It is understood that the sisters will combine their sports profession and conduct more in-depth theoretical exploration and research during their PhD studies,” the university said.

“The Education University will provide all-round support to the two Olympic gold medallists to help them enrol in relevant courses and also better adapt to campus life.”

The Wang sisters were awarded scholarships for being outstanding athletes, it added.

University president John Lee Chi-kin also praised the duo for their determination and hoped their “tenacious and hardworking” spirit would inspire fellow students and more young people to give their all in chasing their goals.

The twins clinched the gold on Saturday. They received a total of 566.4783 points, holding off Great Britain and the Netherlands, who claimed the first artistic swimming medals for their countries.

UChicago political scholars reflect on the DNC, 2024 election

Profs. elisabeth clemens, john mark hansen and william howell discuss harris’s nomination and look back on 1968 convention.

As Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention, the 2024 U.S. presidential race looks entirely different than it did a few short weeks ago. 

Vice President Kamala Harris is now the Democratic candidate—with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate—after President Joe Biden made the unprecedented decision to drop out of the race, only a week after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt.

Now, Democrats will gather in Chicago from Aug. 19-22, setting the stage for the final months of the election. Chicago has hosted the DNC several times, but the 1968 convention often sticks in popular and historical memory. Earlier that year, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he would not seek reelection, requiring delegates to vote for a new nominee. Outside the convention, thousands of police and anti-Vietnam War protestors clashed violently, all televised for the world to see.

We spoke to Profs. Elisabeth Clemens, John Mark Hansen and William Howell, leading University of Chicago scholars, to get their thoughts on the significance of this political moment, comparisons to the 1968 convention and the issues that will shape the remainder of the election.

A lot has happened in the past few weeks. From your scholarly perspective, how are you thinking about this unique political moment?

Clemens: After years of focus on democratic erosion, the past few months have unsettled any confidence in predictions. The election results in India, for the European parliament, in France, in Britain, or in Venezuela provide evidence of both deep vulnerabilities and unexpected possibilities for democratic politics. In this context, I will watch for how the U.S. candidates are—or are not—able to persuade voters that it is worth voting.

Howell: Historically, there have been instances when an incumbent president withdrew during an election year, as in 1968. There have been previous assassination attempts on presidents, former presidents and candidates. There have been plenty of elections when uncertainty about a party’s nomination ran right through a brokered convention.

What we've been observing over the course of the last month is altogether exceptional: An incumbent president who secured all the delegates needed for the nomination but who withdrew from the campaign just weeks before the convention for reasons that have nothing to do with a political scandal or with a falling out with his party on the basis of policy issues—and a vice president emerging within hours as the new candidate. On split screen, meanwhile, you have Trump not just wielding, but flaunting his total control over the Republican Party, which was only enhanced through this recent assassination attempt; and then him selecting, if not a facsimile, then certainly a loyal servant as his vice president.

All of this has happened in a matter of weeks. Have we seen some of the elements of this drama before? Sure. Have we seen them strung together in the way that we have this last month? Not even close.

Hansen: In my election analysis, I tend to emphasize the “fundamentals”—partisanship, state of the economy, war and peace, positioning on issues—over the particulars of the candidates. The fundamentals work because they prioritize historical experience and discount idiosyncrasies. But we’ve never had so many idiosyncrasies.

It’s difficult not to compare this DNC to the one held in Chicago in 1968. What are a few key parallels and differences between them?

Hansen: Some people seem to fixate on the comparison out of hope and some out of fear, but I don’t think the parallels are so great. In 1968, two national leaders were assassinated (King and Kennedy), there were riots in cities large and small (including Chicago), U.S. soldiers were fighting in Vietnam, and the movement against the war was vastly larger than anything we’ve seen this year. Chicago was controlled by a machine. The Democratic Party was deeply split over the war, and George Wallace was running an independent campaign to reverse the progress in civil rights. There are deep social cleavages now, but they are between the parties rather than within the parties.

Howell: After Biden stepped down, there was a brief moment where we might have seen something like the ‘68 convention—if a stalwart of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party had stepped forward to contest Harris, and if a divided party had sought to reconcile its differences in a brokered convention. But that moment vanished almost instantly. The party fell in line behind Harris. And despite lingering cleavages—particularly over the war in Gaza—the party appears entirely unified in its support for Harris.

Moreover, this convention is coming on the heels of a sustained period of social, racial and political tumult, as occurred in ‘68. And let us also note that Chicago's mayor today looks very different from the Mayor Daley from ‘68. It’s inconceivable that Mayor Johnson will encourage the police force to crack down on protesters, as Daley did. On the whole, then, it’s hard to see how this year’s convention looks anything like the division, upheaval and violence that defined the one in 1968.

How do you view the role of protest during national conventions?

Clemens: In contrast to 1968, conventions are now—literally—fenced about in ways that contain protest while lowering its visibility given the distance of the approved protest sites from media personnel. Instead, the challenge will be to find ways to acknowledge the deep concerns and grievances that motivate protest. Whether centered on Gaza or racial justice, those acknowledgements must be heard as significant and authentic without alienating other constituencies in the party. This, perhaps, is the most treacherous minefield for the convention.

How do you think the change from Biden to Harris will affect voters who had planned to sit out of this race? How do you think it’ll affect younger voters?

Clemens: If the polls are accurate, this remains a tight race. One way to influence a tight race is to change minds, to focus on swing voters. But the other is to think about turnout. On this score, the change to a Harris/Walz ticket may well have important consequences for at least two reasons.

The first turns on affect, or emotion. Depression and anxiety are demobilizing. The sour tone and despondency of the spring and early summer signaled an important weakness for the Democrats. But joy—as well as the sense that victory is possible and the desire to be on the winning side—mobilizes.

A second impact may follow the sharpening of focus on reproductive rights. Harris has taken the lead in making the case after Dobbs while Walz speaks powerfully of his personal commitment to IVF. This shift aligns with the networks and infrastructures of mobilization built through signature gathering and voting on state ballot issues. In many cases, these efforts have been surprisingly successful. But even where defeated, the prior experience of canvassing and signing and voting primes the electorate—and younger voters in particular—to be receptive to the new ticket.

Howell: It wasn’t some spasm of misguided anxiety that led the Democratic Party to impulsively boot their front-runner from the race; it was done with real cause. President Biden’s debate performance in June spoke to lingering, deep, and abiding concerns about his age and his ability to perform the duties of office. Would Biden have ended up winning in November? Probably not, but we don’t really know. Will Kamala Harris necessarily win by virtue of this shift? We’ll have to wait and see. 

How will this change of guard affect younger voters? The early signs look good for Harris, who is attracting a level of support—enthusiasm even—that eluded Biden. And given that her policy positions, by and large, mirror Biden’s, it’s hard not to ascribe this newfound energy to Harris’s own biography, the unique skills she brings to the ticket, and, not least, the fact that she is decades younger than the opposition.

What are the key issues that you think have the opportunity to sway voters during the remaining months of the campaign?

Clemens: In addition to reproductive rights and the tragically complex conflict between Palestinians and Israel, I expect voters to be attuned to the arguments that are made about the economy. The baseline progressive case has been redistributive, captured in the slogan of the “99%." But Harris has given early signals that she will reorient the discussion toward the excessive market power of corporations while Walz is quite eloquent in speaking to those middle-income voters who strain to meet the costs of housing, childcare and health care.

Hansen: The Republicans are going to try to keep the focus on immigration, the Democrats on abortion and, more broadly, individual freedom. In the swing states, which were also the swing states in 2020, I think we’re likely to see the Democrats frame Trump’s election denialism and January 6 in personal terms: He tried to throw out your vote.

Howell: I don’t think there is any great mystery here. The economy will loom large. It always does in presidential elections. Meanwhile, the Republican Party will try to make the most of immigration, which they see as playing to their political advantage; and Democrats will emphasize abortion rights, which they see as playing to theirs.

I’m interested to see how Harris speaks to persistent concerns about democracy. Early indications suggest that they are not going to be featured prominently in her campaign. From a purely electoral standpoint, this may be the right move. But if we are going to put our democracy on more stable footing, we need to see some genuine leadership from the top that sets an agenda for meaningful reform.

—Parts of this story first appeared on UChicago’s Harris School of Public Policy website.  

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