PhD in Social Work (2025 Entry)
Find out more about our Social Work PhD degree at Warwick
The PhD in Social Work allows you to select a topic of your choice linked to our expertise within the broad field of social work. 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 social work. Our faculty has a range of expertise. We support research projects linked to one or more of our main research themes.
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.
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or a good Master's level degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
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
Research themes can include:
- Social work
- Men/masculinity
- Childbirth/fatherhood
- Health and social work
- Inequalities in health
- Mental health
- Social work practice
- Social work related legal and policy issues
- Work and practice related to the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) and Mental Capacity Act 2005
- International and European approaches and perspectives in mental health practice
Find a supervisor
Please hover above the name(s) listed below for a quick overview then click to view the full profile.
- Dr Alan DolanLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink 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.
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 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.
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
- Career Development and Coaching Studies (MA)
- Career Development and Coaching Studies (PGCert)
- Career Development and Coaching Studies (PGDip)
- Career Development Theories (PGA)
- Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE (MA)
- Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE (PGCert)
- Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE (PGDip)
- Career Development Theories - CEIGHE (PGA)
- Challenges of Careers Work in Higher Education (PGA)
- Coaching (MA)
- Coaching (PGCert)
- Coaching (PGDip)
- Leadership and Team Coaching (PGA)
- Psychotherapy and Counselling (MSc)
Our Postgraduate Research courses
How to apply
The application process for courses that start in September and October 2025 will open on 2 October 2024.
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
After you’ve applied
Find out how we process your application.
Applicant Portal
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Admissions statement
See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.
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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