Social Work - PhD

Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD)
School: School of Education and Social Sciences
Campus(es): Paisley
Start date: October, February, April, or June
Admissions Deadline: September, January, March, or May
Duration: Minimum of 36 months full-time or 72 months part-time
Fees: Tuition Fees for Research Degrees

Social Work Research

A PhD in Social Work offers a valuable opportunity to explore a range of social issues through a social justice lens. The aim of social work research is to enhance society by its impact on crucial dimensions of social policy, law, and contemporary practice. Social work research is anchored in values of social justice, human rights, co-production, inclusiveness, anti-racist and radical practice.

As a researcher in social work, you will develop and hone your skills, knowledge, and expertise across a range of social science methodologies and tools. Your research will focus on making a positive impact on the wellbeing of communities, individuals, and society. Overarching topics of interest may include social inequality, domestic violence, honour-based abuse, peace-conflict studies, criminal justice, refugee studies, sexual offending, addiction and dependency studies, social work law & policy, and health inequalities, through to dimensions of professional practice and the professional development of social work practitioners.

Our social work researchers, located within the Division of Psychology and Social Work within the School of Education and Social Sciences (ESS), conduct internationally excellent research on many of the most pressing issues in social work practice, policy, and education.

Our PhD graduates have gone on to academic positions within University of the West of Scotland and other universities and senior careers in social work, government, education and the third sector.

As a doctoral student in Social Work, you will get the opportunity to work alongside an active and supportive research team that has strong established links with local, national, and international social work providers and users.

Our broad-based research themes and areas of expertise include:

  • Honour based abuse
  • Primary, secondary, and tertiary socialisation of professional groups
  • Criminal justice policy and practice in Scotland and Europe
  • Professional development of newly qualified social workers
  • Mental health law and policy
  • Forced migration and refugee studies
  • Transitional justice
  • Peace development in conflict-post conflict regions

We welcome applications from anyone whose research ambitions links, however broadly, with these areas, and members of the Unit are happy to discuss the possibility of developing studentships and funding applications.

We can confidently state that our research activities in social work directly map to 5 UN SDGs:

SDG 3 - Good Health & Wellbeing; SDG 5 - Gender Equality; SDG 8 - Decent Work & Economic Growth; SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities; SDG 16 - Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

UWS aims to be among the global leaders of excellent, relevant and purposeful research aligned with the United Nations SDGs by placing them at the heart of our Strategy 2025.

In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, UWS was officially recognised in the top 400 universities worldwide as assessed against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UWS was recognised as the 2nd most impactful university in Scotland, and 16th globally, for 'reducing inequalities' (UN SDG 10).

Find out more about UWS and UN SDGs

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirements for an applicant for registration for the degree of MRes or MPhil or for the degree of MRes/MPhil with the intention of transfer to PhD shall be a first or second class honours degree of a university in the United Kingdom, or of an equivalent qualification.

Applicants holding qualifications other than those specified in (above) shall be considered on their merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the programme of work proposed.

Direct registration for the degree of PhD may also be approved, at the discretion of the University if the applicant holds an MRes/MPhil degree of a United Kingdom University, or an MRes/MPhil degree of equivalent standard of a non-UK University, provided that the MRes/MPhil degree is in a subject area which is appropriate to the proposed programme of work.

Exceptionally, direct registration for the degree of PhD may also be approved, at the discretion of the University, even if the applicant is not the holder of an MRes/MPhil degree, but does hold an exceptionally high-quality honours degree or taught master’s degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline, AND has appropriate research experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in significant peer-reviewed publications, and where verifiable evidence of accomplishment is supplied.

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • Overall score of 6.5
  • No sub-test less than 6.0

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

HOW TO APPLY

Applying for postgraduate research study at UWS has never been simpler. Click the link below to find more information about:

Postgraduate Research step-by-step guide – everything you need to know to submit a successful application
Link to our online application system

applying for research degrees

Last updated: 14/10/2024

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