PhD Development Policy and Management

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Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 19 January 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024

1. Develop your own research proposal and project title.
2. Find a supervisor by browsing our academics' profiles, and reach out directly to discuss if they are interested in supporting your research.
3. Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor.

• A 1,500 word  PhD research proposal. Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
• Copies of the academic transcript and certificate from both your Bachelor's and Master's degrees. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript;
• An up to date academic CV, detailing your education and qualifications; employment history; publications; and any other relevant information.
• You must nominate two academic referees (including one from your most recent institution). Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following submission of your application form. You may wish to contact your referees to request they submit your reference in a reasonable timeframe as this forms part of the review process;
• International applicants must additionally provide English Language evidence (e.g IELTS).

As a PhD researcher in Development Policy and Management you will pursue research as part of a multidisciplinary research community in the  Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College , a part of the  Global Development Institute (GDI) .

The Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College is a world-class community of doctoral researchers contributing to socially just global development through the research of its members and their progression into leadership roles in public, private and civic institutions.

The College aims to:

• create an identity for groups of postgraduate researchers so that they feel part of a cohesive sub-community in a larger and stimulating academic community (the GDI);
• encourage all postgraduate researchers to think about the relevance of their research for policymakers, practitioners and public understanding, and to pursue opportunities to share their findings;
• provide opportunities for postgraduate researchers to gain practical skills and work experience that are beyond the opportunities provided by existing doctoral programmes (e.g. communications training, policy advocacy, public engagement, providing consultancy services to governments and other development agencies, convening and running conferences);
• enhance engagement between postgraduate researchers and academic staff in the GDI to encourage innovation and collaboration in research and teaching. This, in addition, will enable PGRs to contribute support to the learning experienced by GDI's 450-plus intake of master's students;
• facilitate PGR contributions to research within the GDI, the School and the University.

In the Global Development Institute (GDI) we are organised into seven  research groups working on a range of themes. The seven research groups are:

• Digital Development ;
• Migration, refugees and asylum ;
• Global urban futures ;
• Growth and distribution ;
• Politics, governance and management ;
• Global production networks, trade and labour ;
• Resources, environment and development

• We're Europe's largest dedicated development research and teaching institute and have been at the forefront of development studies for over 60 years .
• We are home to the internationally recognised African Cities Research Consortium , Effective States and Inclusive Development and FutureDAMS research centres.
• You will be part of a vibrant research community, including our public lecture series which brings world experts, former heads of state, and leading development thinkers, to discuss current issues and research in development.

When you become a postgraduate researcher, you'll join a diverse and vibrant community of doctoral students from nearly 100 different countries, all studying within the Faculty of Humanities.

You'll be assigned to a specific research grouping that complements your research interests and have access to a variety of interdisciplinary research institutes.

Our working environments are often spacious and open plan, giving you plenty of opportunities to communicate with colleagues and staff within the School, and you will have your own desk space as well as access to our fantastic range of libraries on campus.

All our academic supervisors are research active and will support you to work on challenging research problems and develop rigorous, creative and original research.

You can expect to meet with your supervisor at least once a month to discuss progress on your project.

As a postgraduate researcher, you'll have access to a large and diverse community of internationally recognised academic experts offering an environment that will stimulate intellectual debate and development. We provide additional financial support for several activities related to your PhD, including:

• presenting at international conferences;
• attending workshops that provide relevant professional opportunities;
• conducting fieldwork in the UK and overseas.

Discover what it's really like to conduct postgraduate research at The University of Manchester on our student spotlights page.

Find out more about what it's like to undertake a postgraduate research degree at Manchester on our Humanities PGR blog .

The University of Manchester Library

Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.