Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z

Source: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/education-2/ Parent: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/

Postgraduate research

Based at the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, Dumfries Campus. We draw on local and global links to be a world leader in addressing contemporary educational issues.

PhD: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time; Thesis of 70,000 - 100,000 words

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Overview

Our Education, Language, Policy and Sustainability research group draws on local and global links to:

be a world leader in addressing contemporary educational issues
make a difference for society’s most vulnerable and educationally disadvantaged.

Researchers benefit from links to the Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change, which aims to promote more equitable education systems through theory-driven, applied research. And the Centre for Research and Development in Adult and Lifelong Learning, which conducts inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research and development activities in adult education.

Our research group also benefits from interdisciplinary links within the School. Interests include migration, learning for sustainability and community-based education and pluralist methodologies. Our strong link with Dumfries and Galloway Local Authority provides research capacity to address the unique challenges of the South of Scotland region. We also maintain a focus on enactment and evaluation of world leading research interventions with relevance to communities across the globe.

All research students have two supervisors, providing complementary expertise. You will receive training in Dumfries. Training opportunities will also be available in Glasgow for:

Research Design
Qualitative Methods
Quantitative Data Analysis
Introduction to Social Theory for Researchers
Applied Qualitative Methods
Generalised Linear Models

Study options

PhD:3 years full-time; 5 years part-time

We particularly welcome research proposals in the areas of:

Languages learning
Second language acquisition
Science of reading
Learner motivation
Values education
Religious, moral and philosophical education
Sociolinguistics of education and policy
Education policy analysis
Digital and information literacy
Science, technology, engineering and maths education
Practitioner voice in research and policy
Participatory action research
Multi-agency practice
Learning for sustainability

In addition, we welcome applications from PhD students interested in the intersection of Education, Tourism, Sustainable Development and Environmental Science. Our PhD (Interdisciplinary Studies) option allows students to enrol for co-supervision on topics that span the different subject areas within the school.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically require a first or upper second degree or equivalent with research components. You must demonstrate academic proficiency and a commitment to the core research themes of the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme

TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

96 overall with Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

66 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 59; Speaking 59; Writing 74
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

185 overall, no subtest less than 176
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

8 overall with Reading and Listening no less than 7 and Writing and Speaking no less than 8
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

75 overall with two subtests at 75 and no subtest less than 70
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Password Skills Plus

7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEIII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)\
students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)\
students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

Pre-sessional courses

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

Heriot Watt
Kingston Upon Thames
Middlesex University
Manchester University
Reading University
Edinburgh University
ST Andrews University
UCL
Durham

Fees and funding

Fees

2025/26

UK: £5,005
International & EU: £26,580

Fees are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Tuition fees for part-time study will be charged at half the full-time annual fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School with us. The discount is applied at registration for students who are not in receipt of another discount or scholarship funded by the University. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

Re-submission by a research student £540
Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

Funding

Opportunities for postgraduate funding are available through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences and other grant funded programmes. Applications from self-funded students are also welcome.

Fully funded scholarships

Support

The College of Social Sciences Graduate School draws together internationally recognised scholars and respected practitioners to offer a range of research programmes.

Our programmes are based on thorough training in research methods and we encourage you to take part in numerous exciting seminars, conferences and events. We offer modern library, IT services and a wide-range of support services.

Our Researcher Development Programme will support you to plan your professional development over the course of your PhD and ensure your employability.

How to apply

Gather your documents

Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:

Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. References may be uploadedas part of the application form or you may enter your referees contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference. We can also accept confidential references direct to rio-researchadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk, from the referee’s university or business email account.
CV
Name of potential supervisor
Research proposal. Candidates are required to provide a single page outline of the research subject proposed (approximately 1000 words). This need not be a final thesis proposal but should include:
a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
the question that your research will address
an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
a discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums
an indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult

Identify potential supervisors

All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search.