Applying for a research degree

All potential PhD or MPhil students must first complete an online application form, which will include details of their proposal.

Professional doctorates

These programmes have one intake each year, in October, with a deadline of 30th August 2025.

We are currently accepting applications for October 2025:

• DMin Professional Doctorate in Ministry
• EdD Doctor of Education
• Professional Doctorate (DProf) in Strength and Conditioning

PhDs, MPhils to PhD Pathways, and PhDs by Published Works

These programmes have two intakes each year in October and February. We are currently accepting applications for February 2025, with a deadline of 30th November 2024.

You will need to upload a 3,000-4,000 word research proposal along with your application. Please see our research proposal guidance (PDF). 

To begin your application please select the link with your relevant subject area and degree type from these lists.

PhD by published works - February 2025 intake

• PhD by published works (Communications and Media))
• PhD by published works (Education)
• PhD by published works (English Language / Literature)
• PhD by published works (Health Studies)
• PhD by published works (History)
• PhD by published works (Law)
• PhD by published works (Management / Business)
• PhD by published works (Politics and Social Policy)
• PhD by published works (Psychology)
• PhD by published works (Sociology)
• PhD by published works (Sports)
• PhD by published works (Theology)

PhDs (full-time)

• PhD Communications and Media (February full-time)
• PhD Communications and Media (October full-time)
• PhD Drama (February full-time)
• PhD Education (February full-time)
• PhD English Language / Literature (February full-time)
• PhD Health Studies (February full-time)
• PhD History (February full-time)
• PhD Law (February full-time)
• PhD Management / Business (February full-time)
• PhD Politics and Social Policy (February full-time)
• PhD Psychology (February full-time)
• PhD Sociology (February full-time)
• PhD Sports (February full-time)
• PhD Theology (February full-time)

PhDs (part-time)

• PhD Communications and Media (February part-time)
• PhD Communications and Media (October part-time)
• PhD Drama (February part-time)
• PhD Drama (October part-time)
• PhD Education (February part-time)
• PhD Education (October part-time)
• PhD English Language / Literature (February part-time)
• PhD English Language / Literature (October part-time)
• PhD Health Studies (February part-time)
• PhD Health Studies (October part-time)
• PhD History (February part-time)
• PhD History (October part-time)
• PhD Law (February part-time)
• PhD Law (October part-time)
• PhD Management / Business (February part-time)
• PhD Management / Business (October part-time)
• PhD Politics and Social Policy (February part-time)
• PhD Politics and Social Policy (October part-time)
• PhD Psychology (February part-time)
• PhD Psychology (October part-time)
• PhD Sociology (February part-time)
• PhD Sports (February part-time)
• PhD Sports (October part-time)
• PhD Theology (February part-time)
• PhD Theology at Maryvale (February part-time)
• PhD Theology (October part-tme)

MPHIL to PhD

Full-time

• MPHIL to PhD Communications and Media (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Education (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD English Language / Literature (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Health Studies (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD History (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD History (October full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Law (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Law (October full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Management / Business (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Management / Business (October full-time)
• MPhil to PhD Politics & Social Policy (February full-time)
• MPhil to PhD Politics & Social Policy (October full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Psychology (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Psychology (October full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sociology (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sociology (October full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sport (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD in Sport (October full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Theology (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Theology (October full-time)

MPHIL to PhD

Part-time

• MPHIL to PhD Communications and Media (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Education (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD English Language / Literature (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Health Studies (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Health Studies (October part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD History (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD History (October part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Law (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Law (October part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Management / Business (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Management / Business (October part-time)
• MPhil to PhD Politics & Social Policy (February part-time)
• MPhil to PhD Politics & Social Policy (October part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Psychology (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Psychology (October part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sociology (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sociology (October part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sport (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD in Sport (October part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Theology (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Theology (October part-time)

What next?

Please note: you should expect to receive a response from Admissions within 10 working days. For general enquiries please research@stmarys.ac.uk.