13 PhD programmes offered by the university

The Sociology programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced expertise in social research, critical analysis, and multidisciplinary inquiry, preparing researchers to examine contemporary social issues and contribute to positive social change through evidence-based scholarship.

The Economics programme offered by Queen's University Belfast focuses on economic theory, applied economics, and econometrics. Research strengths span areas including game theory, economic history, labour economics, regional economics, economic growth, panel data, and financial econometrics.

The Archaeology and Palaeoecology programme at Queen's University Belfast explores long-term changes in ecosystems, environments, climate and human societies, using approaches such as pollen analysis, tephra dating, dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating, alongside investigations of culture through time and space.

The Politics programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced research expertise in political institutions, public policy, international relations, political theory, and conflict studies, enabling students to investigate contemporary political challenges through original and independent research.

The International Studies programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced research expertise in international relations, global politics, security, political economy, and conflict studies, enabling students to investigate contemporary international issues through original and interdisciplinary research.

The Cognition and Culture programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced expertise in the cognitive and evolutionary study of cultural phenomena, preparing researchers to investigate cultural transmission, belief systems, social reasoning, and human behaviour through scientific methods and cross-disciplinary perspectives.

The Criminology programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced expertise in the study of crime, harm, justice, and social responses to offending, preparing researchers to generate evidence that informs policy, professional practice, and societal improvement.

The Social Policy programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced research expertise in social welfare, inequality, wellbeing, public policy, and social change, enabling students to investigate complex societal challenges through multidisciplinary research with local and global impact.

The Irish and Celtic programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced research expertise in Irish language, literature, history, linguistics, and cultural identity, enabling students to undertake original interdisciplinary research across modern and medieval Irish studies.

The Anthropological Studies programme at Queen's University Belfast examines human behaviour and relationships through advanced research training, supported by interdisciplinary expertise across topics including migration, human rights, environmentalism, ethnomusicology, political movements, and material culture.

The Geography programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced research expertise in environmental change, human geography, spatial analysis, and geospatial technologies, enabling students to investigate interactions between society, culture, landscapes, and the natural environment through interdisciplinary research.

The French programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced expertise in Francophone literature, language, culture, and identity, preparing researchers to investigate the diverse historical, linguistic, and cultural dimensions of the French-speaking world.

The Psychology programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced expertise in psychological theory, research design, and scientific investigation, preparing researchers to explore behaviour, cognition, development, health, and biological processes through original inquiry.