PhD/MPhil Language and Communication Sciences

Doctoral level study involves independent academic research, supported by supervisors, that makes an original contribution to knowledge within the discipline. The work carried out is therefore of sufficient quality to satisfy academic peer review and merit publication.

There are two main routes to doctoral-level research degrees (PhD) within the school:

MPhil/PhD by major thesis and PhD by publication.

MPhil/PhD by major thesis

The standard route involves you pursuing a research project under the guidance of your supervisors over a period of 3 years (full-time) or 4-6 years (part-time).

You will present a thesis of around 70,000 words (no longer than 100,000 words). Articles prepared or submitted for publication, or published peer-reviewed articles, will typically be appended to the thesis. Producing such work is a key expectation of engagement and indicator of achievement in doctoral study.

You will register initially for an MPhil (which is a substantial and valid qualification in its own right). Following an upgrade examination, at the end of the first year of study, full-time students may transfer to the PhD programme.

MPhil and PhD study will commonly involve:

• A structured programme of research activity, potentially comprising systematic literature review
• Pilot or developmental study
• Main study phases. This is a focus on building a coherent body of work via structured activities. May be particularly appropriate to health professionals engaging in clinical research.

Preparing work of a standard appropriate for peer-reviewed publication is central to study at doctoral level. MPhil and PhD students will produce several such works as part of their research (for example, presenting such elements as their literature review, preliminary studies, protocol or main study findings), which will be appended to the thesis.

PhD by publication

There are two routes in PhD by publication: prior publication and prospective publication. You will be required to submit your published or prospective research together with an accompanying analytical commentary. The accompanying critical commentary identifies:

• your knowledge and skills acquisition
• your part in developing the research
• the relevance and importance of the work within the submitted publication series.

Prior publication

If you have already published a series of significant research papers submit these together with an accompanying analytical commentary. This body of work must be principally your own work.

The number and range of publications must be sufficient. It should demonstrate that your work forms a coherent contribution to knowledge or scholarship within the particular field. This typically involves around six papers.

These publications must show evidence of:

• Development of research skills appropriate to the focus of the research
• your capacity to pursue further research
• demonstrate a depth of scholarship, critical insight and originality comparable with that required in a traditional PhD.

The extended analytical commentary will draw together your previously published work into a single thesis, you will expand on:

• your involvement in each work
• the skills developed and knowledge acquired in undertaking these works
• the contribution of these works. Both individually and as a series of research papers in generating and extending knowledge about the particular field.

This commentary is not normally expected to exceed 20,000 words.

Prospective publication

You will publish several (generally around four to six papers, dependent on their depth, quality, significance and impact) significant research papers. Addressing various aspects of their research topic during their period of PhD registration.

These published (or accepted for publication) papers will be submitted together in a single thesis. Normally between 40,000 and 80,000 words (including the publications), although this word count might vary by subject discipline.

As with the prior publication route, the accompanying critical commentary identifies your knowledge and skills acquisition. Also identifying your part in developing research, and the relevance and importance of the work within the submitted publication series.

For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students.

Entry requirements vary by subject area. You should approach academic staff working in your area of interest to discuss your proposal ahead of submitting an application.

• You would usually be expected to hold an upper second class honours degree or the equivalent from an international institution.
• Where the applicant’s academic profile shows no evidence of training in research methods. It will normally be recommended that you first complete an MSc or MRes programme to prepare you for MPhil/PhD studies.
• Substantial employment or research experience may be considered for some subject areas alongside or in place of academic qualifications.
• For the Clinical MRes programme, applicants are required to be registered with a clinical professional group such as Nursing, an Allied Health profession or Medicine.

English requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an IELTS score of at least 7 (with a minimum of 7.0 in writing) is required.

For more information see our main entry requirements page.

Visa requirements

If you are not from the European Economic Area/Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:

• Students on courses of more than six months
• Students on courses of less than six months
• Students on a pre-sessional English language course.

For more information see our main Visa page.

Fees for doctoral candidates are charged annually and cover registration, supervision and examination. Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration.

Support for PhD study

Prospective students are encouraged to explore doctoral Grants and funding opportunities such as:

• NIHR and MRC Fellowship schemes
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• Specialist scholarship schemes (such as those provided by Arthritis UK, Diabetes UK, and the British Heart Foundation)
• Research Council studentship awards, if available.

Our bursaries are non-repayable sums of money granted by the University, usually based on need.

Our loans are repayable sums of money granted by the University or other body.

Our scholarships are when the University pays towards your Study fees. You may also be eligible for further funding.

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans

The Government has introduced a new Postgraduate Doctoral Loans scheme which can provide a loan of up to £25,000.

This will be over three years to support study for a doctoral degree.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study. It can be used alongside any other forms of support you may be able to receive.

For more information, please see our Postgraduate Doctoral Loans page.

City has a well-established structure and processes to support your research.

Supervision

You will have the opportunity to become an integral member of the School of Health & Psychological Sciences’ research teams. We are based in the school’s research centres, designed to assist and encourage you to complete your studies. A wide range of formal and informal research groups are also available to support you.

You will be assigned to a team of supervisors, usually consisting of two academics who are expert in your field of study. You will meet regularly with your supervisors, reviewing learning needs and planning work towards progression and completion of your research.

All full-time students are provided with a computer and workstation in close proximity to their related research team. Full time students are required to meet with their supervisors at least twice a term. Part time students are required to meet at least once a term. Notes are recoded from these meetings and other indicators of progress on the web-based system, Research And Progress (RAP).

Progress is monitored regularly and supported by an annual review. You may have the opportunity to discuss your research design and written work with an advisor from outside your supervision team. You also have access to ongoing support from Senior Tutors for Research.

Student representatives also offer support meeting regularly with the student-staff liaison committee. Here they can respond to any student concerns that cannot be addressed by the supervision team.

Training

You will have access to a wide range of MSc modules and other training programmes across City, normally without charge. Attendance at these programmes is discussed with and, if appropriate, approved by the supervision team.

A number of workshops, seminars and retreats are organised for research degree students across the School and within particular areas. You are also invited to attend the research seminars that are organised for academic staff.

Institution-wide research related activities can also contribute to your development as a researcher. An annual programme of research and enterprise development activities is kept under review and updated. This is in response to feedback from research students and academic and research staff.

The City Doctoral College can provide more information about graduate degrees.

In the first, instance, we recommend that you visit the relevant school and research centre. Here you can read about our research and establish areas of specific staff interest. This will help you to decide whether the School of Health & Psychological Sciences at City is the best place for your study.

You then need to submit a formal online application with a curriculum vitae and a 1-2 page proposal of study. This should include:

• Background and rationale including other work in the area leading up to the PhD study.
• Proposed methodology such as aims, design, participant groups, measures, analysis.
• Potential outcomes of the research in terms of academic outputs (papers and presentations) and real world impact (for example, its potential usefulness for teachers and speech language therapists, etc.).

We realise that at this stage you may not have a completely clear plan of study. You may wish to change your proposal is after you begin study. The proposal gives us an idea of your writing and organisational ability. As well as your motivation and rationale for the study and potential wider benefits.