Centre for Psycho-Social Studies

Postgraduate Research Degrees

The Centre has a thriving post-graduate community of doctoral students from the UK and around the globe. The students meet up for three day workshops usually organised around another two day conference twice a year. There are opportunities for research study in Psycho-Social Studies which leads to a PhD qualification. Conducted on a full-time basis doctoral research can take between two and five years, on a part-time basis between three and six. Doctoral work involves a self-managed programme of study rather than taught modules. It is normally conducted with the assistance of two academic supervisors who act as guides, sounding boards and progress chasers. Fuller details are provided in the School Postgraduate Research Handbook available from the Research Administrator, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, University of the West of England. Occasionally the School has bursaries available to support full time and part time study.

Staff working in the Psycho-Social Studies area have considerable experience of successful supervision. Past students have undertaken work on issues such as the assumptions that different psychotherapies make about human nature, the psychodynamics of organisational change in the context of race awareness programmes, and the psychodynamics of racism.

We are keen to develop psycho-social methodologies and most of our students are using these in some form. This includes the use of narrative biographical interviews, reflexive diaries, dream materials from both respondent and researcher, psychoanalytically informed observation and the use of visual imagery.

Doctoral research often leads to publication. Several of our previous students have produced books based upon their doctoral research and a number are now academics themselves. Although it can be a route into a career in higher education for most students the pleasure to be gained is in the opportunity for inquiry itself. There is a supportive atmosphere for research in the School and students are encouraged to attend monthly workshops which are held for all research students in the social sciences and encouraged to contribute to the annual seminar programme of the Psycho-Social Studies Group.

In a recent innovation, several of our PhD students who travel in from long distances, have attended termly three day doctoral research workshops during which they receive both intensive personal supervision and group seminars on psycho-social research methodologies. This has made it possible for students to undertake doctoral research even though, in some cases, they live well outside the country and it has provided an antidote to the 'individualised’ nature of most doctoral research.

If you wish to discuss an area of research please contact: Dr Simon Clarke Or for an application pack and form contact: HLSSPostgraduate@uwe.ac.uk

Current Doctoral Students