PhD in Employment Research (2025 Entry)
Find out more about our Employment Research PhD degree at 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.
Course overview
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.
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
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
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.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Our research
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.
Find a supervisor
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.
Research proposals
We accept applications that fall within IER’s areas of research. You should send your application including your CV (indicating your research training and/or experience), transcripts, and an outline research proposal to ierphd@warwick.ac.uk, mentioning any potential IER supervisors that you have identified.
More information on the application process can be found here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/study_with_us/phd/interest/. Please note that your proposal should follow the https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/study_with_us/phd/interest/research_proposal_guidelines.pdf.
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 2022/23 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 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.
Warwick Institute for Employment Research
Established in 1981, the Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER) is a leading international social science research centre. Its research is interdisciplinary and made relevant to policy makers and practitioners. It is renowned for consistently delivering high quality research. Research questions are tackled in projects funded by a range of public and private sector organisations.
IER researchers have diverse disciplinary backgrounds and work both within and across disciplines. Publishing theoretical, methodological and empirical academic outputs is a core activity, but IER also places great emphasis on maximising its impact among potential users of research. IER uses multi-method, interdisciplinary approaches to generate and tackle substantive questions. Our strategy has been to broaden the methodological basis of IER work in order to deal more effectively with research problems that cross the boundaries of conventional academic disciplines and the methods of analysis associated with them.
How to apply
Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.
For research courses that start in September and October 2025 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2025. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.
How to apply for a postgraduate research course
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About the information on this page
This information is applicable for 2025 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.