Overview

The School of Social Sciences is now accepting applications for its PhD programmes, open to both UK and international candidates. This competitive opportunity includes a full fee waiver, applicable for UK or international tuition fees, for up to 36 months. Fee waivers will be awarded based on academic merit.

This call is exclusively for new applicants starting in April 2025. It is not open to candidates who already hold an offer for a PhD programme at the school or are currently enrolled in one.

The School of Social Sciences promotes interdisciplinary research spanning Economics, Law, Sociology, Politics, and International Relations. With programmes ranked among the best in the UK, the school is renowned for producing research of world-leading quality. PhD candidates will join a dynamic community of postgraduate researchers committed to exploring both theoretical and practical challenges.

As a PhD student, you will collaborate with internationally recognised faculty members and benefit from the school’s strong connections with academic communities locally and globally. The vibrant academic environment includes engaging seminars, workshops, and lectures delivered by distinguished academics and practitioners, offering comprehensive and impactful research training.

Who Can Apply?

Open to UK or international candidates (new applicants only).

This call is open only for new applicants. Candidates who already hold an offer from one of our PhD programmes or existing PhD students are not eligible to apply. Applicants will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for the relevant PhD programme. Please note that programmes have specific requirements. You can find the specific entry requirements on the relevant programmes page below: 

• Law PhD
• Politics PhD
• Sociology PhD.

Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted through the programme pages relevant to your chosen subject area:

• Law PhD
• Politics PhD
• Sociology PhD

Instead of providing a full research proposal, applicants should upload a document specifying the project title they are applying for and the name of the corresponding supervisor.

For any questions related to specific PhD programmes, please contact the appropriate academic staff:

• Law PhD Programme:

  • Dr Lucas Miotto: l.miotto@surrey.ac.uk
  • Dr Conor Casey: c.a.casey@surrey.ac.uk

• Sociology PhD Programme:

  • Prof. Christine Hine: c.hine@surrey.ac.uk

• Politics PhD Programme:

  • Dr Malte Philipp Kaeding: m.kaeding@surrey.ac.uk

What Financial Support is Available?

•  Successful applicants will have their tuition fees covered for the duration of the PhD program.

Other Details

Research Areas

The department welcomes PhD proposals across various sociological domains, allowing you to align your research with your interests. Key areas include:

• Criminology and Criminal Justice
  Delve into the complexities of crime, law, and justice, exploring topics such as criminal behavior and legal systems.
• Digital Societies
  Examine the societal impacts of digital technology, addressing concerns like privacy, communication, and digital divides.
• Families and the Lifecourse
  Investigate evolving family structures, relationships, and transitions influenced by societal and economic changes.
• Inequalities and Diversities
  Research social inequalities, discrimination, and diversity across gender, race, and class, and their implications for communities.
• Innovations in Methodology
  Advance sociological research by developing and applying innovative methodologies.
• Science, Health, and Sustainability
  Explore the intersections of science, health, and environmental sustainability within social systems.