Bath Spa University

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Research Degrees

Bath Spa offers opportunities for supervised, original research leading to the degrees of MPhil and PhD.

Work at research degree level is one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences in higher education. It involves direct engagement with a chosen field of study and, through this, the chance to explore ideas and problems in considerable depth, and innovative ways. Successful completion of an MPhil or a PhD represents the fulfilment of a person's intellectual potential and a major life achievement.

Graduate School

Bath Spa organises its research degree programme through the Graduate School, which works closely with other Schools and all research supervisors. It also provides training, a seminar series and a range of formal and informal activities for graduate students.

Every research student can expect close, experienced supervision and access to good library resources. In turn, they are expected to demonstrate consistent progress in their work and a commitment to the pursuit of excellence. Study can be on either a full-time or part-time basis. Most researchers work on campus; all are expected to be here on a frequent and regular basis.

Working With Academics

Bath Spa provides a lively research environment in which to study. The University is big enough to offer variety and diversity; yet small enough for a personal approach. There is space here to think, create and move forward. There is also the opportunity to work with academics who are not just authoritative, but also passionate about their subject.

Working With Other Students

Our research group holds regular events for students to collaborate on interdisciplinary study.  The Bath Spa Research Network aims to bring together undergraduate and postgraduate students within an academic environment whilst promoting the Universities various research interests.

Assessment Methods

A research degree is examined through the presentation of a thesis and through a viva voce examination. For more details about the requirements, please visit the Graduate School website, and especially the Handbook to be found there.

The word length requirement for an MPhil in science or art and design is 20,000 words. For a PhD it is 40,000 words. In humanities, social science and education the word length requirement is a maximum of 40,000 for an MPhil and 80,000 for a PhD. It is possible to submit creative work as part of the thesis, in which case the word requirement is adjusted. The creative and written elements of the thesis are carefully related. It is expected that the written element will set the creative work in its relevant theoretical, historical, critical or design context.

Research Strengths

Bath Spa has particular research strengths in the following areas:

Bath School of Art and Design

In Art and Design we are able to offer supervision in research degrees that involve creative work in the following disciplines: contemporary studio ceramics; fine art, which includes painting, photography, sculpture and video; graphic design; fashion and textile design; illustration; new media, interactivity and narrative; digital imaging; electronic printmaking; interactive film; electronic design; media art practice.

We can also offer supervision in aspects of the history and theory of art and design, visual culture and critical theory from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

School of Education

Research programmes can be offered in the areas of education policy and practice, curriculum studies, and environmental and future issues.

School of Humanities and Cultural Industries

The School can offer supervision in English and Related Literature and Creative Writing. In Creative Writing candidates are invited to submit proposals for PhD projects that combine a proposed manuscript (fiction, poems or play-script) with an element of supporting or contextualising research. The School is a leading centre for Creative Writing with a distinguished team of published writers. Creative Studies was flagged in the 1996 RAE and rated 4 in RAE 2001.

In English Studies candidates are invited to submit proposals for PhD projects in any of the following areas: the early modern period, romanticism, gothic studies, modernism, 19th and 20th century English, Irish or American writing, contemporary writing, eco-critcism. The School was awarded 'excellent' in the 1994 TQA and rated 4 in RAE 2001.

History: Research proposals are particularly encouraged in the following areas: early modern and modern British and European history; Irish history; gender history and historiography; as well as the local history of Bath and the South West region. We would welcome applications from prospective research students in any of these areas.

Study of Religions: Study of Religions at Bath Spa is known for its focus on religions in the contemporary world. Among our areas of research strength are South Asian religions (particularly Buddhism and Hinduism), new age, paganism, new religious movements, contemporary spiritualities, gender and religion, Christianity, African religions, Buddhist ethics, Buddhist hermeneutics, and religion and education. We would welcome applications from prospective research students in any of these areas. Previous and current PhD students have worked in areas such as Buddhism in Britain, theosophy, contemporary 'rites of passage', Madhyamika philosophy and postmodernism, contemporary forms of Christianity, cultural astronomy, and Christian Science.

Study of Religions was rated 4 in the 2001 RAE. (Under the 'Education' banner we are known for Religious Education - and would particularly welcome applications from prospective PhD students in this area).

School of Music and the Performing Arts

Research can be supported in the following areas: historical performance, early notations, preparing critical and performing editions, medieval and renaissance musicology, contemporary performance and performance practice, contemporary music, music analysis, composition, contemporary American music, sonic art, electro-acoustic composition, early music, and ethnomusicology.

School of Science, Society and Management

The School of Science, Society and Management comprises the Departments of Biology and Food and Geography. All academic staff in the School of Science, Society and Management are active in research, scholarship, and/or consultancy. Evidence of this activity is present in the form of numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, books, conference presentations, and contract reports. Within the School you will find the Culture, Place and Heritage Research Group; Quaternary Research Unit; and, the Tourism Research Unit.

Sociology: Particular strengths are in medical sociology, health policy and professional power, minority nationalisms, European anthropology, the 'life course', the 'underclass' debate, the sociology of mental illness, models and theories of mental illness, gender relations, feminist epistemology, and critical realism.

• Health Studies: Strengths are in qualitative studies of illness, chronic illness and rehabilitation;
• Psychology: Evolutionary psychology, Parkinsons disease, psychoneurology.

Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Research Skills

The PGCert in Applied Research Skills has been designed to provide part-time formal research training for postgraduate students within the subject areas covered by the School of Science, Society and Management. Principally this is to allow current and potential postgraduate research students, both MPhil and PhD, who have not previously undertaken appropriate research training at Masters (M) Level, to acquire specialist research skills relevant to their field of interest. Successful completion of the PGCert also allows the student to obtain 60 M Level credits, which is a research degree registration requirement in many institutions.

The programme provides for, firstly, an essential common experience of research skills and methods and secondly, your individual strengths, interests and career intentions. The requirement to study sequentially a common core of compulsory skills and research modules that are made relevant to your research interests addresses these requirements. Tutors aim to combine acquisition of specialist research methods with acquisition of skills. This is based on our view that scientific skills are inherently useful, no matter what your career choice. The modules are Applied Research Skills 1 and Applied Research Skills 2. Assessment is through a combination of written research reports and seminar presentations.

Registration Period

MPhil

• Full-time:
  • Maximum: 36 months;
  • Minimum: 18 months.
• Part-time:
  • Maximum: 48 months;
  • Minimum: 30 months.

PhD

• Full-time:
  • Maximum: 60 months;
  • Minimum: 24 months.
• Part-time:
  • Maximum: 84 months;
  • Minimum: 36 months.

Entry Requirements

Applicants would normally as a minimum hold a first or upper second class honours degree from a UK HEI, or its equivalent. Applicants should note that they will normally be required to undertake formal research training as part of their studies. Students register as an Advanced Postgraduate in the first instance. Application for formal registration for either the degree of PhD or MPhil takes place within six months, subject to a detailed and satisfactory proposal.

International students who do not have English as their first language may have to undertake an IELTS or TOEFL language test. The minimum accepted standard would be 6.5 on the IELTS scale. A higher standard for admission may be required in some fields.