PhD

The PhD requires a dissertation of not more than 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study, by part-time students after six years of study.

PhD by Distance Learning

As with our York-based PhD programme, our Distance Learning PhD requires a dissertation of not more than 90,000 words, to be submitted by full-time students after a period of three years' study, by part-time students after six years of study.

This programme is ideal for students with commitments which prevent them from being resident within reasonable travelling distance of York. While a minimum of two weeks of attendance per academic year is required (for registration, training, meetings with the thesis advisory panel and the annual PhD conference), this programme allows students to research overseas while still receiving support and training online and by video-conferencing. Access to an internet connection and relevant library and/or archives is essential for this programme.

Research proposal

The most important aspect of the research degree application is the research proposal. When you apply you will be asked to upload your proposal of around 2,000 words and a summary of around 250 words. You should discuss your topic and proposal with potential supervisor(s) prior to submitting an application, to establish whether the topic appears viable and a supervisor is available. The potential supervisor may require written work or request a meeting with the applicant either prior to or after a formal application. Preliminary support from a potential supervisor is normally a prerequisite for application, although it does not guarantee admission.