These allow you to broaden and deepen your subject knowledge at the same time as undertaking your own research and developing a set of transferable professional skills in preparation for a variety of careers.
Your coursework in year 1 will be taken in the MA in Social Research programme, within the University’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) recognised Doctoral Training Centre. This Local Government and Public Policy with Integrated Study from University of Birmingham provide postgraduate researchers with a thorough and advanced education in social research design and the most up-to-date training in methods of data collection and analysis. The combination of core modules and short courses on more advanced topics provides flexibility to relate training to the thesis topic.
If you pass the coursework component, you will progress to normal PhD study in years 2 – 4. You will work closely with your supervisors in designing and undertaking your own research project, leading to an 80,000 word thesis. You will also undertake additional training in advanced methods and transferable skills, guided by the regular training needs analysis that forms an essential basis for your Career Development Plan.
The training enables graduates to develop advanced skills in designing and conducting research, in ways that are applicable to a variety of careers in academia, business, government and non-profit organisations.
Graduates from the School have gone on to work in a range of careers, with recent graduates working with organisations such as the United Nations, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, local authorities in the UK and overseas and the Department for International Development.
Starting in
Always verify the dates on the programme website.
Courses include:
Minimum required score:
The TOEFL iBT ® measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The test has four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), each with a score range of 0-30, for a total score range of 0-120.
Minimum required score:
The IELTS – or the International English Language Test System – tests your English-language abilities (writing, listening, speaking, and reading) on a scale of 1.00–9.00. The minimum IELTS score requirement refers to which Overall Band Score you received, which is your combined average score. Read more about IELTS.
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.