Open Professional Studies (PhD) (2026 Entry)

Course code

P-X3S1

Start date

January, April and September

Duration

3-4 years full-time; Up to 7 years part-time

Qualification

MPhil/PhD

Led by

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Location

University of Warwick

Open Professional Studies (PhD) (2026 Entry)

Course code

P-X3S1

Start date

January, April and September

Duration

3-4 years full-time; Up to 7 years part-time

Qualification

MPhil/PhD

Led by

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

Apply now

Find out more about our Open Professional Studies PhD degree at Warwick

The Open Professional Studies PhD allows you to select a topic of your choice within any of our professional areas of expertise, namely: adult education, career development work, coaching, counselling, education, psychotherapy, early childhood, social work, and social policy. Warwick's Centre for Lifelong Learning provides a rich, transdisciplinary academic environment supported by a dedicated team including supervision and personal tutoring.

Course overview

This PhD provides an opportunity to undertake in-depth research linked to our expertise in any professional field within the Centre for Lifelong Learning. Our faculty has expertise in a range of people-focused professions. We support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research projects linked to one or more of our main professional areas are welcomed.

Teaching and learning

We provide a pleasant PhD study room and dedicated personal tutor support in addition to the supervisory team. A combined staff and student seminar programme provides a collegiate forum for sharing and discussing current topics and ideas.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or a good Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. Supported by a good research proposal (2500 words).

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

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.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Research themes

Our research

Research themes can include:

Career development work
Coaching
Counselling
Early childhood
Education
Learning and development
Lifelong learning
Psychotherapy
Social policy
Social studies
Social work

We may also be able to offer supervision linked to one or more of the following cross cutting themes related to the main areas above: culture, gender, ethnicity, social justice, intellectual history, policy / politics, work / employment, professional identities / learning, life history, widening participation, depth psychology, mental health, well being, spirituality, loving kindness, and/or playfulness. This list is not exhaustive and alternatives may be considered.

This PhD is an open route that covers a range of professional and academic areas. Along with other departments at the University, we provide both open and named routes. This reflects the fact that your PhD research, as with life more widely, may not necessarily fit neatly into any one disciplinary box. It leads to the award of a University of Warwick PhD without a specific named route on your University transcript. If you prefer to follow a PhD with a named route, there are strong links between this PhD and our named route in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning (P-X352). So this option can be pursued.

Supervisors and proposals

Find a supervisor

Please hover above the names listed below for a quick overview then click to view the full profile.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their potential supervisor. The most important aspect is the nature of your project and its potential for supervision in our department. You are asked to view your intended supervisor's profile and read their work. Please think about what might make your proposed PhD attractive to your supervisor, and customise the proposal accordingly.

How does your project relate to your intended supervisor's work?
How might your project enhance, advance, or develop it?
Could you take it in a different direction?
What kind of methods and approaches are likely to appeal to your potential supervisor?

We receive a large number of proposals every year and only have capacity for proposals that are carefully tailored to our specific areas of expertise.

See the University's Find a Supervisor Guidance

Research proposals

When putting together your research proposal please:

Provide an overview of your research question, explaining why it is of academic and or practical importance
Outline the main objectives of your research, providing details of two or three key aspects
Indicate the importance of previous related research and how your own research question might make a useful contribution to the area
Briefly state the main research techniques (interviews, case studies, modelling, literature review, etc.) you might use
Indicate your suggested literature and/or data collection procedures, indicating sources and any possible difficulties
Explain the techniques you intend to use
Add an outline timeline of activities

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Department

Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL)

For more than 30 years, the Centre for Lifelong Learning has been a centre of expertise in the education of lifelong learners in different contexts. It has a focus on enabling adult learners to achieve their personal and professional goals by accessing a Warwick education, irrespective of background.

Our departmental research strategy focuses on four interconnected themes: concepts of lifelong learning; people-focused professions; wellbeing and identity; participation and collaboration. We seek to enthuse staff, students, and the wider community with this vision. More information is available on our website.

Find out more about us by visiting our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

Our Postgraduate Research courses

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How to apply checklist

Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application

Read the checklist

I'm ready to apply

Learn more about the Applicant Portal.

Apply now

Application deadlines

The application process for course that start in September and October 2026 opens on 2 October 2025.

For research courses that start in September and October 2026 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2026. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

Useful links

Applicant portal
After your applied
Admissions statement
Join a Live Chat

2025 entry

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Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

Warwick hosted events
Postgraduate Fairs
Live chats
Talk and Tours
Department events

See 2025 entry »

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Page updates

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

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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Open Professional Studies (PhD) (2026 Entry)

Open Professional Studies (PhD) (2026 Entry)

Find out more about our Open Professional Studies PhD degree at Warwick

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

How to apply checklist

I'm ready to apply

Explore ways to connect with us

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

8th in the UK

6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

5th best student city in the UK

Gold standard teaching

92% of our research

Page updates

About the information on this page

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