Which research degree should I study?

A Doctor of Philosophy is the highest university degree you can achieve and is awarded to students who complete an original thesis that contributes new knowledge in their subject. Successful completion of a PhD will prepare you for a future role as an independent researcher.

Length of programme

Full-time: 3 years (plus 1-year Research Completion Period, if required)
Part-time: 5 years (plus 1-year Research Completion Period, if required)

Faculty

Art, Design and Humanities (ADH)
Business and Law (BAL)
Computing, Engineering and Media (CEM)
Health and Life Sciences (HLS)

Intake

We offer 3 intakes per year:
1 October
1 January
1 April

Applicants must have already contacted a potential supervisor to discuss their research proposal, prior to applying. This will establish a mutual interest in research and will help your application to be aligned with like-minded academics. If accepted, you will follow a comprehensive Researcher Development programme throughout your time spent with us. You will be assigned at least 2 supervisors, who will be experts in the field of research you plan to investigate. You will meet regularly with your supervisors, discussing progress and future plans to develop your line of research further.

This programme helps you to develop original solutions to real-world issues, further your professional skills and create novel, holistic and research-led solutions that bring lasting impact for your organisation. This course is for senior professionals, researchers in commercial or public organisations, managers, entrepreneurs, consultants and anyone else who wants to build their forensic and investigative skills to deal with knowledge-based investigations, organisational innovation, change and ambiguity. Unlike a PhD programme, the DBA is a peer-based experience and focuses on research that emerges from a field of practice to draw in academic knowledge.

Length of programme

Full-time: 4 years
Part-time: 6 years

See more detailed information about our DBA programme.

The IPhD is a distance-learning research degree programme that allows research students to do a PhD entirely remotely. You will have access to a dedicated supervisory team with whom you will be in touch remotely. You will have access to our robust Researcher Development Programme that we are proud of, providing additional professional development opportunities, both in relation to the PhD itself (research skills, research methods, tips and tools, and guidance through the various stages of a PhD), as well as wider training and development in areas such as delivering research impact, public speaking and public engagement, enterprise skills etc. Further, you can participate live in these programmes or watch a recording of workshops if you are not able to participate live. The PhD is also a time to build new communities, and we offer you the opportunity to build online communities as well as engage online to present, discuss and share your research through various competitions and invited forums. Students on the International PhD (IPhD) programme can visit the DMU Leicester campus for up to 7 weeks per academic year. Students must visit once during the duration of the programme.

Length of programme

Full-time: 3 years (plus 1-year Research Completion Period, if required)
Part-time: 5 years (plus 1-year Research Completion Period, if required)

Faculty

Art, Design and Humanities (ADH)
Business and Law (BAL)
Computing, Engineering and Media (CEM)
Health and Life Sciences (HLS)

Intake

We offer 3 intakes per year:
1 October
1 January
1 April

Applicants must have already contacted a potential supervisor to discuss their research proposal, prior to applying. This will establish a mutual interest in research and will help your application to be aligned with like-minded academics. If accepted, you will follow a comprehensive Researcher Development programme throughout your time spent with us. You will be assigned at least 2 supervisors, who will be experts in the field of research you plan to investigate. You will meet regularly with your supervisors, discussing progress and future plans to develop your line of research further.

The MA or MSc by Research is a masters degree that emphasises independent study over taught instruction. It is often used as a training course in advanced research work and lays the foundation towards doing a PhD.

Length of programme

Full-time: 12 months (plus a 3-month Research Completion Period, if required)
Part-time: 24 months (plus a 6-month Research Completion Period, if required)

Faculty

Computing, Engineering and Media (CEM)
Health and Life Sciences (HLS) only.

Intake

This programme is available in line with October intakes only.

This degree is organised and run within faculties who provide a programme of research methods training appropriate to the particular academic discipline. You will undertake a research project under the supervision of a member of staff to allow you to develop your research skills. At the end of the project you will write up your findings in the form of a thesis and take part in an oral examination.

This format of PhD is a form of doctoral thesis in which the student presents journal articles published, or in a publishable form, written during the course of a supervised programme of research. The portfolio of papers submitted for examination should represent an interconnected approach to the core research question(s) and will be contextualised by an accompanying critical narrative, drawing together the content of the papers and demonstrating an overall contribution to knowledge. This PhD route is not necessarily suitable for all research disciplines or all research students so it is important to have a detailed conversation with a potential supervisor. Students will follow a supervised programme of research and there is a minimum requirement of no fewer than three papers accepted by, or in a format suitable for submission to, an appropriate journal or equivalent academic publication.

More detailed information about our PhD by Concurrent Publication can be found in our Research Degree Regulations.

This programme is available to current DMU members of staff who have worked in the university for at least 2 years. Specific criteria which must be met in order to achieve a doctorate by this route are specified in section 19.8 of the current Research Degree Regulations.

More detailed information about our PhD by Published works can be found in our Research Degree Regulations.

This route is available to professionals or practitioners with substantial professional experience at a senior level and who have a demonstrable portfolio of achievements that have had considerable impact on their profession, on practice or on knowledge, which would, itself, be worthy of a doctoral degree (determined at the application phase). The award would be primarily concerned with the individual contextualising and critiquing their own contributions and deriving further learning from the knowledge outcomes they have achieved within their professional practice.

Length of programme

Full-time: 2 years
Part-time: 4 years

Faculty

Art, Design and Humanities (ADH)
Business and Law (BAL)
Computing, Engineering and Media (CEM)

Intake

We offer 3 intakes per year:
1 October
1 January
1 April

De Montfort University welcomes applications to our Visiting Research Student programme from research students who are registered at another university, UK or International. As a registered Visiting Research Student coming to De Montfort University, you will gain research experience which will directly contribute to your degree. You will gain full access to our world class research facilities and become fully immersed in our vibrant student and academic community.

Length of programme

Visiting Research Students can visit De Montfort University at any time of the year. The minimum visit period is 1 month and the maximum visit period is 6 months. You must apply 4 months in advance of your intended start date.

For further information regarding our Visiting Research Student programme, please email pgradmissions@dmu.ac.uk

If English is not your first language, you may need to join a PSE programme before starting your research degree at De Montfort University. This is a specialist programme to prepare international research degree students for research study in UK higher education.

The Research Degree PSE Programme is 8-weeks of semi-intensive study in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), aimed at prospective students who need to provide evidence of English ability to begin a PhD at De Montfort University.

The overall aims of the PSE are for students to:

• Develop ability in the four language skills of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, to the level required for a PhD, equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall and no less than 5.5 in each component.

• Develop a vocabulary which is appropriate for various academic contexts, both spoken and written.

• Develop a range of study skills necessary for PhD study.

• Develop an awareness of UK Academic Culture, including key issues such as critical thinking, plagiarism and autonomy.

For further information, please visit our Research Degree PSE programme webpage.