Social Change PhD

Academic entry qualification overview:

UK Masters degree (or overseas equivalent) with a coursework/examination average of 60% or more AND a dissertation mark of 60% or more in a relevant Social Science subject.

Points Based System (PBS)  International applicants who will require a visa to study in the UK, please click here for up-to-date information on the PBS.

Having an expert supervisor is extremely important for success in Research degree programmes and it is part of the application process that we seek suitable supervision for candidates.  We cannot provide supervision across all areas and we are therefore sometimes unable to offer admission to excellent applicants. We strongly advise candidates to read the webpages of the staff or group in whose discipline they intend to specialise and to read some of their publications BEFORE applying.  You may conduct a keyword search via the Social Sciences home page to identify potential supervisors/research areas.

Feel free to make direct contact with any academics to discuss your proposed research topic.  Please note that such contact can only be informal and no decision can be made on your application until it is submitted and processed through the Postgraduate Admissions Office.  If you make a positive contact with an academic, please make sure to include their name on your application form when you submit it.  

When submitting a research proposal with your application please follow the guidelines carefully.  Please click here to see the guidelines.

English language:

IELTS - overall score of 7, including 7 in writing (with no further component score below 6.0)

TOEFL IBT - overall score of 100 with 25 in each section.

TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757

Scores are valid for 2 years.

For students who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, your test score is valid for 2 years preceding the date that your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is issued.  CAS statements will be issued from June-September 2013.

For example;

Test taken on or after 1 June 2011 - CAS issued from 1 June 2013 - Score iS VALID

Test taken before 1 June 2011 - Score is INVALID

Please note that CAS statements are issued only when all conditions of the offer have been satisfied, a PDF copy of the passport has been received and the offer has been accepted.

Applicants from certain countries MAY be exempt from having to provide an IELTS or TOEFL score.  Please emai l us for advice.