The PhD and MRes programmes are closely linked to our growing and dynamic research culture. You'll benefit from engaging with highly qualified academic staff, working alongside a portfolio of dynamic and popular masters programmes.
A member of staff, expert in the chosen field, is directly responsible for guiding and supporting your research programme. As a research student you'll become part of our thriving academic community. Explore the staff, facilities and more in the Division of Social Sciences.
Research students who study at LSBU become a vital part of our dynamic research culture and are one of the essential elements which make LSBU an exciting intellectual environment.
All research students are enrolled in the LSBU’s postgraduate Key Skills programme. In addition, you can undertake research methods training from relevant MA and MSc courses, as well as taking part in specialist events and activities, which ensure an inclusive and thriving research culture.
An MRes is distinct from a taught Masters in that your final output will be an extended dissertation (30,000 words) rather than module-based coursework and exams.
A PhD, by definition, is an original contribution to knowledge. A research degree is different from a taught course. Research students are expected to self-direct their learning with support from a supervisory team.
To find out more about what to include in your proposal download our Law and Social Sciences PhD Proposal Guidelines (PDF File 97 KB) presentation.
In the 2014 REF 75% of our research into Social Work and Social Policy was awarded the quality rating of 3* out of 4* for 'environment' - quality that is defined as conducive to producing research of internationally excellent quality, in terms of its vitality and sustainability. We receive a wide range of external funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Department for International Development (DfID), the British Academy, charities, government departments and local authorities.
ModePhD Full-time | Duration3 years | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code9019 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
ModePhD Part-time | Duration5 years | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code9039 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
ModePhD Distance learning | Duration6 years | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code9075 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
ModeMRes Full-time | Duration1 year | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code4985 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
ModeMRes Part-time | Duration2 years | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code4986 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.
If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.
When applying for a Research Degree Programme at LSBU you are expected to have a 2.1 honours degree, and a relevant Postgraduate qualification at Masters level would be beneficial.
If you have the equivalent of lower second class honours you would also need a Postgraduate qualification at Masters level.
You will also be required to show proof of all of your qualifications. If English is not your first language you will be expected to prove your competency in English, showing an IELTS score of at least 7.0 at postgraduate level.
Select country here:
£4820.00
Tuition fees for home students
£16900.00
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 1PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2410.00 | International fee: £8450.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4986 | Session code: 1PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £4820.00 |
International: £16900.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 1DS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 1PS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 1PS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2410.00 | International fee: £8450.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4986 | Session code: 1PS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £4820.00 |
International: £16900.00 |
UK fee: £2410.00 | International fee: £8450.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4986 | Session code: 1PS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £4820.00 |
International: £16900.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 1DS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 1DS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 2PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2410.00 | International fee: £8450.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4986 | Session code: 2PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £4820.00 |
International: £16900.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 2DS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 2PS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 2PS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2410.00 | International fee: £8450.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4986 | Session code: 2PS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £4820.00 |
International: £16900.00 |
UK fee: £2410.00 | International fee: £8450.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4986 | Session code: 2PS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £4820.00 |
International: £16900.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 2DS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 2DS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 3PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 3DS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 3PS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 3PS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 3DS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 3DS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 4PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 4DS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 4PS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 4PS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 4DS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 4DS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 5PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 5DS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 5PS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £2892.00 | International fee: £10140.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: 5PS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 5DS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £4820.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: 5DS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: WUS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: WUS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: WUS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9039 | Session code: WUS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: WUS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9075 | Session code: WUS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £25290.00 |
International: £25290.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4985 | Session code: 1FS00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 1FS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4985 | Session code: 1FS10 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 4985 | Session code: 1FS20 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 1FS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 1FS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 2FS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 2FS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 2FS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 3FS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 3FS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £4820.00 | International fee: £16900.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: 3FS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: WUS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: WUS10 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
UK fee: £1190.00 | International fee: £1190.00 |
AOS/LSBU code: 9019 | Session code: WUS20 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £15650.00 |
International: £51890.00 |
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
At the London Doctoral Academy we are committed to supporting and developing professional researchers who are driven to make a difference. We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations - and when they're available we'll publish notices on the London Doctoral Academy site.
Mode PhD Full-time | Duration 3 years | Start date January; April; September | Application code 9019 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Mode PhD Part-time | Duration 5 years | Start date January; April; September | Application code 9039 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Mode PhD Distance learning | Duration 6 years | Start date January; April; September | Application code 9075 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Mode MRes Full-time | Duration 1 year | Start date January; April; September | Application code 4985 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Mode MRes Part-time | Duration 2 years | Start date January; April; September | Application code 4986 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Home/EU postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system.
Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
International applicants should use our international application system. Full details can be found on our How to apply section for international students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Your application will be circulated to a number of potential supervisors who will look at your academic qualifications, experience and the research proposal to decide whether your research interest is something that could be supervised at LSBU.
There will also be an interview either by telephone or at the University. If you are successful you will be offered a place on a course and informed of the next enrolment date. The whole process normally takes between six to eight weeks, from receipt of your application to a decision being made about your application at the School.
The Director of Postgraduate Research Studies for the School of Law and Social Sciences (LSS) is Dr Helen Young but you should contact an appropriate potential supervisor in the first instance.
Before applying formally, we would strongly recommend that you discuss your draft proposal with a potential supervisor whose profile indicates that their research area is similar to yours. See the list of supervisors below.
If you are a PhD applicant, please attach an outline of your research proposal (up to 1,000 words).
To find out more about what to include in your proposal download our Law and Social Sciences PhD Proposal Guidelines (PDF File 97 KB) presentation.
If you are an MRes applicant, please provide a short statement, of no more than 500 words, outlining the area of research you are interested in focusing on.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
All research students are required to participate in a Key Skills Development programme aimed at developing transferable skills in addition to those employed in carrying out research. Training in research methods is available through frequent research seminars.
When necessary the research student can follow, in part, relevant Masters courses available within the School and in particular units on research methodology. In some cases, research students are encouraged to follow other courses available within the University or externally aimed at improving their general expertise in their chosen areas.
In addition, they may be encouraged to follow language courses aimed at improving their oral and written skills - both essential in their future careers.
A research degree will equip you with many transferable skills. The self-discipline, the demand for clear analytical thinking, and the ability to turn criticism of others work into something constructive of your own, all constitute a unique training for almost any kind of career. The excitement and satisfaction of finding new facts, a new idea, or a new way of looking at something can be highly rewarding.
Research students are often sponsored to attend national and international conferences and to meet leading scientists in their fields and to present their research findings. The progress of all research students is formally monitored by the University's Research Degree Committee.