202 PhD programmes in Sociology in Europe

Develop an in-depth understanding of gender theory, epistemology and methodology, while preparing for a career in academia or policy research. Learn more at the Gender programme from London School of Economics and Political Science.

This Historical Sociology programme offered at Charles University aims to advance research activities and pedagogical training of experts focusing on issues of long-term social processes and trends that significantly impact contemporary societies' lives.

The doctoral programme in Social Sciences at the University of Vienna serves to prepare doctoral candidates for academic work in their field of doctoral research as well as to educate and promote early stage researchers. University of Vienna offers the Social Sciences programme. 

All of the Academic Divisions in the Faculty of Health, Education and Society invite Research applications from graduates in Sociology, Psychology, or similar disciplines. This Psychological and Sociological studies PhD at University of Northampton offers an excellent route to expand your knowledge and research skills.

Research within Social Policy and Criminology at The Open University UK explores the intersections of Social Policy and Social Justice.

The University of Milan takes pride in presenting the Economic Sociology, Organization, and Labor doctoral program, a distinguished academic venture that delves into the intricate relationships between economics, sociology, organizational dynamics, and labor studies.

In the Political and Social Sciences programme offered at European University Institute (EUI) researchers will study the important issues of our time that social science can uniquely address, with PhD opportunities across politics and comparative politics, political theory, international relations, and sociology.

University of Klagenfurt offers the Social Sciences and Economics programme. The cross-curricular courses complement the subject-specific teaching events and thus expand the range of doctoral-level classes. 

Advanced Quantitative Methods at University of Glasgow offers a specialism focused on quantitative literacy in social sciences.

Sociology’s postgraduate culture centres on students completing a PhD. Abertay University has been a key partner in a number of large European grants specifically examining the interaction between technology, society and social innovation, as well as exploring social network dynamics for collective awareness.

Epistemology of the Humanities and Social Sciences from University of Ljubljana is very problem-oriented. Its purpose is to show the logic behind theoretical processes in the humanities and social sciences. It analyses the way theories create their own sphere of problems and raise questions, and the way they open up new prospects for theoretical work and renounce the rest.

The Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences is part of the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS). The field of a Doctor of Social Sciences can be philosophy, contemporary history, social policy, social work, sociology, economic sociology, political science, sociology of education, or East Asian Studies. 

The Migrations, Diasporas, Transnational Communities discipline at The Open University UK has extensive interests and an international profile in this field. It is engaged in a number of lived-experience, policy-, welfare- and criminologically related research projects.

University of Plymouth’s Sociology programme has a long and distinguished history and we have an international reputation for research excellence.

The Social Policy and Criminology - Crime, Harm, Criminalisation and Criminal Justice research group at The Open University UK is recognised for critical scholarship, that challenges assumptions about ‘crime’, ‘the criminal’ and/or ‘justice’ and critically interrogates criminology as a discipline.

This Feminism, Law and Gender research cluster at The Open University UK provides an intellectual and collaborative space for academics, visiting researchers and PhD students interested in gender-focused and feminist analysis of the law.

As a PhD researcher in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Stirling, you’ll benefit from our desire to engage with communities around the world and produce research that makes a positive difference to society.

Sociology students from The University of Manchester are supervised by a member of staff who is an expert in their area of research or co-supervised with another supervisor if other areas of expertise are required.

For Applied Social and Economic Research programme from University of Essex we offer supervision in quantitative research in sociology and other social sciences.

The Social Anthropology PhD programme at The University of Manchester involves substantial original research, normally including ethnographic fieldwork and leading to the production of a thesis.