Open Professional Studies PhD

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

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P-X3S1

MPhil/PhD

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

January, April and September

Centre for Lifelong Learning

University of 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.

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.

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.

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

• Dr Anil AwestiLink opens in a new window
• Professor Will CurtisLink opens in a new window
• Dr Alan DolanLink opens in a new window
• Dr Steve GascoigneLink opens in a new window
• Dr Phil GossLink opens in a new window
• Dr John GoughLink opens in a new window
• Professor Ruth HewstonLink opens in a new window
• Dr Nalita JamesLink opens in a new window
• Dr Charlotte JonesLink opens in a new window
• Dr Tania LydenLink opens in a new window
• Dr Phil McCashLink opens in a new window
• Dr Kevin StoneLink opens in a new window

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

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).

• 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.