Research degree opportunities at Teesside

Welcome to our postgraduate research pages. At Teesside University we believe that an investment in knowledge pays dividends; a postgraduate research degree is the highest degree awarded by a university. As well as enabling you to further explore a subject that excites you, a postgraduate research degree increases earning potential, develops your confidence and transferable skills and helps you stand out from the crowd.

Postgraduate research students are a vital part of the research community at Teesside University. As a member of this community you will benefit from working with specialists with national and international reputations who will support you to developed advanced skills and expertise applicable to industry or academia.

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Current studentships

As part of ongoing investment into areas of research strength, Teesside University is pleased to offer a number of fees-paid and fully-funded PhD studentships to exceptional doctoral candidates.

Teesside University offers a range of funded opportunities which are linked to specific research topics and are recruited on a competitive basis. These include:

The AHRC funded Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership which offers funding opportunities for PhD study in the Arts and Humanities, including:

Creative Writing
English Literature
History

To find out more about research expertise in Arts and Humanities please see the Centre for Culture and Creativity. For enquiries, please contact the following: Jenna Clake (Creative Writing; J.Clake@tees.ac.uk); Rob Hawkes (English Literature, R.Hawkes@tees.ac.uk); Charlie McGuire (History; C.McGuire@tees.ac.uk).

The ESCR funded Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP) which offers funding opportunities for PhD study in the Social Sciences, including the following Pathways:

Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work
Children, Youth and Families

To find out more about research expertise in Social Sciences please see the Centre for Social Innovation. For enquiries, please contact Kevin Dixon ( k.dixon@tees.ac.uk).

Doctoral Training Alliance Studentships which offer three-year PhD studentships as part of the following three DTA programmes:

Applied Biosciences for Health
Energy
Social Policy

Doctoral Training Alliance

Teesside University is working with the University Alliance to provide more opportunities for PhD students.

Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership Studentships, which includes full tuition fees, a stipend to cover living expenses and access to the Research Training Support

EU COFUND Research Awards, which offer opportunities for students to be employed as salaried Research Associates for three years to undertake the programme of research. The research is expected to be submitted for a PhD award and the award includes all associated fees and participation in the cross institutional research training programmes offered to Doctoral Training Alliance Students.

All of our funded studentships can be found on findaphd.com

Many postgraduate research students are supported to undertake their study by sources outside the university for example sponsorship by employers, governments inside and outside the UK or research funding charities. You can find out more about externally funded studentships on findaphd.com

Deciding to undertake a research degree is potentially life-changing and it is important that you understand what studying for a postgraduate research degree entails. To find out more about what it is like to study for a research degree at Teesside University and how to apply click on the links below or contact our PGRteam.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)	Professional Doctorate
- Critically investigate and evaluate a topic and demonstrate an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field - Present and defend a thesis in oral examination - Normal registration period for an MPhil is 1-2 years full-time and 2-3 years part-time	- Critically investigate and evaluate a topic, resulting in an independent and original contribution to knowledge - Demonstrate an understanding or research methods appropriate to the chosen field - Present and defend a thesis in oral examination - Normal registration period for a PhD is 3-4 years full-time and 4-7 years part-time.	- Undertaken by experienced practitioners in a particular sector or discipline. - PhD by completed work and an MPhil by completed work offered to staff at Teesside University only

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Professional Doctorate

- Critically investigate and evaluate a topic and demonstrate an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field
- Present and defend a thesis in oral examination
- Normal registration period for an MPhil is 1-2 years full-time and 2-3 years part-time

- Critically investigate and evaluate a topic, resulting in an independent and original contribution to knowledge
- Demonstrate an understanding or research methods appropriate to the chosen field
- Present and defend a thesis in oral examination
- Normal registration period for a PhD is 3-4 years full-time and 4-7 years part-time.

- Undertaken by experienced practitioners in a particular sector or discipline.
- PhD by completed work and an MPhil by completed work offered to staff at Teesside University only

All PGR students are supported by their own team of supervisors (lead by a Director of Studies) who will have extensive expertise in your area of interest and be able to provide guidance throughout your degree. Therefore, before you apply for a research degree it is important that you decide on a subject area and identify a supervisor. You can explore our areas of expertise and potential supervisors using a keyword search on our research portal.

Case Studies

Kate Byrnes

Kate’s PhD assesses the experiences and attitudes of women with learning disability, family carers, and paid care workers, towards the national cervical and breast cancer screening programmes.

Kate Byrnes

Kirsti J Loughran

Kirsti’s programme of studies will investigate the relationship between balance and gait impairment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and high rates of pain suffered by people with COPD.

Kirsti J Loughran

Mengyu Lu

The Library is awesome – it’s open 24/7, so I can study at any time.

PhD

Mengyu Lu

Maria O’Hanlon

PhD Researcher – Microbiology

Maria O’Hanlon

Anirudh Sharma

PhD in Ion mobility and Mass Spectrometry

Anirudh Sharma

Sean Donnelly

I gained a diverse array of richly transferrable knowledge and skills, as well as forging friendships and the opportunity to research and contribute to academic conferences internationally.

PhD Modern Irish History

Sean Donnelly

Mandella Osei-Assibey Bonsu

The campus is vibrant with so many places to go to when you don’t have lectures,

PhD in financial innovation

Mandella Osei-Assibey Bonsu

Alexandra Morris

I would recommend Teesside University. The place is friendly, kind, and nurturing, and unlike any other college or university I’ve ever attended.

PhD in History

Alexandra Morris

22 Mar 5.30PM - 6.30PM
Emergence of collective behaviours: From human altruism to AI existential risks

Research degree opportunities at Teesside