Employment Research PhD

Find out more about our Employment Research PhD degree at Warwick

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

P-N6P3

PhD

4 years full-time;
7 years part-time

6 October 2025

Institute for Employment Research

University of Warwick

Embedded in an interdisciplinary high quality research environment, the PhD in Employment Research, at Warwick's Institute for Employment Research (IER) provides unparalleled learning opportunities at a leading international social science research centre.

As an interdisciplinary research-only department within the University of Warwick, the work of the Institute for Employment Research (IER) provides wide-ranging opportunities for prospective doctoral candidates to engage in high quality social science doctoral-level research which is policy-relevant and academically rigorous. 

IER’s doctoral programme aims to train independent social science researchers who can develop and deploy theory effectively, assess the relative merits of different methodological approaches, choose and use appropriate empirical methods, manage their time and other research resources effectively. Being located in a specialist research environment will provide a wider understanding of the research process (including dissemination, funding, relationships with sponsors, and different organisational models for research). 

Our extensive research portfolio has meant that we have fostered and maintained links with national and international research centres; UK government departments and agencies; European Commission and other international bodies; local authorities and sectoral organisations, as well as extensive academic networks. 

Supervision for IER doctoral students will be provided by academic researchers with significant experience of undertaking research across employment research. We supervise students from a variety of different countries and backgrounds and welcome this diversity among our student body. 

Former students have gone on to work in a variety of areas in different countries, including academia, government, the private sector or third sector organisations. 

We also offer a joint PhD in Employment Research with our partner institution Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. 

Teaching and learning

Supervision for IER doctoral students will be provided by academic researchers with significant experience employment research. 

During their first year of PhD study, students will normally be expected to undertake training in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. 

The Institute for Employment Research (IER) is an interdisciplinary institute. It brings together a breadth of expertise from a variety of disciplines, including economics; statistics; geography; social and public policy; sociology; education; organisational behaviour; and industrial relations.  

Methodologically, researchers at IER employ a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, including but not limited to surveys; big data; large data sets; focus groups; and interviews.  

Current strengths in IER are: 

• Job quality; fair, decent and good work  
• Education; training and skills 
• Future of work; digitalisation and automation  
• Equality, diversity and inclusion in the labour market  
• Welfare, work and public policy  
• Labour market assessment and forecasting  
• Employment relations and employer behaviour 

More information about IER’s research areas are listed on https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/aboutier/. For information about individual research interests please visit https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/study_with_us/phd/supervisors. 

IER’ doctoral students are supervised by academic researchers with significant experience of undertaking research and expertise in the topic area. 

Visit Potential IER PhD Supervisors to find out more about potential supervisors and explore the subjects and techniques they would be interested in supervising.  

You can read our general University research proposal guidance. 

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor. 

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and a good Master’s degree (or equivalent) in the social sciences. Previous studies and/or work experience should have included training in social science methodology.

An application should be supported by a good research proposal.Link opens in a new window 

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.