Research Students

What is a research degree?

A research degree gives you the opportunity to extend your first qualification and to enhance and develop your existing skills and knowledge. It may lead to a change of career, or promotion in your current career. A research degree also provides the opportunity to enjoy the challenge of researching a topic of your choice.

We offer a comprehensive range of postgraduate research programmes from Masters of Research to a PhD. There is also the opportunity to enhance your professional career through studying a professional doctorate. These include the awards Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) award and for those areas not covered by a named award, Professional Doctorate (DProf).

Our university offers full and part time study options.

How do research degrees differ from taught postgraduate courses?

Students who undertake a taught postgraduate course usually attend seminars and lecturers at the University. Postgraduate courses are divided into different modules and students gain learning credits once they successfully complete each module. The lecturer/s on the course usually set student assignments as part of the assessment process.

On a research degree programme, you’ll be working on a self-directed research project with a supervisory team. You’ll be responsible for setting your own research projects with a supervisory team to guide and assist you.

Assessment involves producing a thesis and defending it at an oral examination for most awards, although the method of assessment may differ