178 PhD programmes offered by the university

In addition to scientific research, the School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences also has strengths in pedagogic research (particularly within the STEM disciplines). This Research in STEM Education programme is offered at The Open University UK.

The Open University UK Sports and Fitness Research Group includes an interdisciplinary team of researchers designing, managing and completing research projects which are ultimately aimed at understanding and improving the lives and working practices of athletes and sports coaches.

The Mathematical Biology Group is a cross-disciplinary group between the School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences and the School of Mathematics and Statistics at The Open University UK.

The Open University UK Law School’s Legal History research cluster brings together researchers who investigate and publish on a variety of areas of legal history, including members from outside the school.

The Open University UK art history discipline has a strong record of pioneering and world-class research in Modern and Contemporary Art and Theory.

The global economy is characterised by great unevenness and persistent and worsening inequality amongst peoples between and within countries. This Global Political Economy programme is offered at The Open University UK.

The Open University UK Literature and Music research group encourages wide-ranging interdisciplinary study of literature and music.

The research interests of historians working in British and Irish History Since the 18th Century at The Open University UK range from manufacturers to masculinity and from political ideas to the making of British identities.

The Philosophy discipline at The Open University UK welcomes applications for graduate work in the field of Philosophy of Mind and Language.

Discourse Studies are a key interest of researchers in in the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics at The Open University UK.

The Philosophy discipline at The Open University UK welcomes applications for graduate research work on Ethics.

The Manufacturing research theme at The Open University UK focuses on the interface between design and manufacturing.

New Media in Society research at The Open University UK aims at going beyond the study of Computing and ICT from a technology perspective, and looks at improving our understating human values and the impact of technology innovations on people's lives and their communities.

English and Creative Writing at The Open University UK supports research in a wide range of writings in this 20th Century and Contemporary Literatures programme.

The Materials Engineering Group research into Energy Materials at The Open University UK falls into two main categories: materials research for nuclear and conventional power station applications; nanoscale and surface engineering.

The Philosophy discipline at The Open University UK welcomes applications for graduate work on Continental Philosophy.

The Classical Studies discipline has distinctive expertise in the material culture of the ancient world. Greek and Roman Material Culture research at The Open University UK covers a wide range of topics, including votive offerings from ancient sanctuaries, the archaeology of Etruscan Italy, ancient dress, ceramics, and Roman funerary monuments.

Academics at The Open University UK investigate an array of musical practices, from the 15th century to the present day in this Historical Musicology programme.

The Philosophy discipline welcomes applications for graduate research work on Aesthetics at The Open University UK.

Academics at The Open University UK research various topics related to Music Education, exploring diverse aspects of teaching, learning, and the impact of music on individuals and society.