Research degrees (DProf/MPhil/PhD)

New research students to the School of Health and Social Sciences are joining a community of over 250 academic staff and approximately 1000 postgraduate students studying for taught Masters, professional doctorates or MPhil/PhD degrees. Most students study on a part-time basis but there is a growing number of full-time postgraduate students within the School.  We offer the following research degree routes:

Conventional research degrees

MPhil research requires critical investigation and evaluation of an approved topic, and a contribution to knowledge of that topic.

PhD research investigates an approved topic generating an original contribution to knowledge, or applies current knowledge in new contexts, or to new processes or artefacts. (All candidates aiming for the PhD enrol for MPhil with transfer possibility to PhD. Transfer is made to PhD when progress has been made with the research, usually after 18 to 24 months

PhD by Public Works. If you have work(s) on a single or predominant theme or topic already in the public domain (journal articles, books, reports, software, artistic works etc) these works form the core of your submission. You write a context statement under supervision to complete the submission. These degrees are equivalent in level to the MPhil and PhD by thesis.

Professional studies research degrees

These degrees have a generic framework enabling a wide range of professionals from the public, private, and voluntary sectors to negotiate programmes which are customised to the needs of their own professions or organisations.

MProf. Open to professionals and managers, this applied alternative to an MPhil can be taken as a qualification in its own right or as a stepping stone leading to a DProf.

DProf. Aimed at high-level professionals. It offers an opportunity to focus on personal excellence and/or instigate major change within an organisation. (All candidates aiming for the DProf enter at MProf level and then upgrade to DProf status after completion of certain modules or through claim for the accreditation of existing learning).

MProf/DProf by Public Works. If you have work(s) on a single or predominant theme or topic pertaining to professional work or practice already in the public domain (academic/professional journal articles, books, policy documents, strategic plans, new products/processes, evaluation studies curriculum design etc.), these works can form the core of your submission. You write an evaluative and reflective context statement to complete the submission. These degrees are equivalent to the MProf and DProf by research project.

In addition to the DProf, we offer the DPsych and DSC/DLit. These higher Doctorates are open to graduates and non-graduates research experience usually of around 10 years and substantial publications.

For further information on the above programmes, please contact the Research Office (details below).

Current and prospective students can also download the 2009-2010 Research Degrees Handbook.  This contains the School’s regulations concerning doctoral research and provides further information on the progression throughout the doctoral degree.

Application procedures

We operate a biannual intake onto our research degree programmes- one in January and one in September.  To enable the timely processing of applications, we ask that applicants observe these application deadlines, although applications can be considered outside those times:

It is preferable for applications to be made electronically. An electronic application form and applicant guidelines can be downloaded below:

All completed applications should be sent to:

Research and Business Office
School of Health and Social Sciences
Middlesex University
Model Farmhouse
The Burroughs
Hendon
NW4 4BT

Admission onto MPhil/PhD programmes will depend on the expertise of our staff and the availability of a supervisory team.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to research the specific interests of staff and liaise with potential supervisors prior to application. Applicants will then be assessed via an interview with a panel (alternative arrangements are possible for international students) which would normally include potential supervisors and the Research Degrees Co-ordinator for the area.

Research Degrees Board

The Research Degrees Board is responsible for the governance of postgraduate/doctoral research in the School, and reports directly to the School Research Directorate. It is Chaired by Professor Hemda Garelick and comprises Senior Administrators from the Research Office, and the Research Degrees Co-ordinators (RDCs) for each area.  The current RDCs are:

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