PhD Social Change: The University of Manchester

Course description

The Institute for Social Change is an inter-disciplinary research centre in the Faculty of Humanties. PhD topics within the broad area of comparative social change can be developed by individual applicants. The Institute's staff are collaborating on research on Social Change with members of Harvard University, led by Professor Robert Putnam.

Module details

While you study for the PhD/MPhil you will be trained in generic skills as well as quantitative research skills.  You may also take course units in Sociology or Politics.  The PhD may take three years, or four years including a one year MSc in Social Change.

They encourage you to develop a proposal on a topic in one of the areas below:

• Civic Engagement Across Countries
• Immigration and Ethnicity
• Comparative Study of Relgion
• Inequalities or Trends in Social Capital
• Social and Political Aspects of Changing Values or Behaviour
• Other topics in comparative social and political change

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

Applicants for the PhD are expected to have a UK Masters degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant Social Science subject with a minimum overall average of 60%.

English language:

Applicants whose first language is not English must attain one of the following:

• IELTS - Overall 7, writing score  7
• TOEFL - Overall 623, TWE 5 (PBT)
• TOEFL - Overall 263, TWE 5 (CBT).  This test is no longer available but results less than 2 years old can be submitted.
• TOEFL  - Overall 100, with 25 in each of the 4 sections (IBT)

Applicants with scores below their requirements may be eligible to attend one of their pre-sessional English courses.  Duration will be confirmed when an official result has been received.

Exemption to the requirements is at the discretion of the School.  Applicants who have been taught and assessed in English on previous degrees may still be required to show proof of English proficiency via TOEFL/IELTS.

TOEFL Certificates - please designate the University of Manchester as a recipient of your result.  The code is 0757.  Results must come directly from ETS (TOEFL).