Social Work PhD 36 months PHD Programme By Brunel University of London |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

36 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

24,795 GBPTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

17 Jul, 2026Application Deadline

Main Subject Area

Social WorkMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Social Work

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

Social Work at Brunel University is aligned with grand challenges for social work research including focus on individual and family well-being, creating a stronger social fabric, and developing a just society. The Social Work team has expertise in many current issues with which social work engages, such as ageing, children and families, LGBT identities, mental health, migration, health, loss/grief and environmental concerns. The team holds strengths in social policy and interdisciplinary practice as well as planning for and adapting to current societal shifts. Brunel is one of the leading providers of social work and social policy research in London, funded by high-profile organisations like the ESRC, the AHRC, Nuffield Foundation, the Rowntree Trust, the European Union, the Department for Education and Skills and the NHS.

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.

Learn more about research in this area.

Brunel Experts by Experience has a long and proud history at Brunel whereby service-users help the delivery of Social Work training to students and staff.

In the Division of Social Work we have members of staff who are:

  • Editor of Ageing and Society, the leading social gerontology journal in the UK
  • Fellows of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
  • Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health
  • Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences
  • University of Auckland Ralph & Eve Seelye Charitable Trust Award Fellowship holder
  • Serve on many editorial boards and have won many teaching awards

Other activities include:

  • Health Research Authority Social Care Research Ethics Committee.
  • National Institute for Health Research-Health Services and Delivery Research panel
  • Welfare, Health and Wellbeing theme at the Institute of Environment, Health and Societies.

The Division of Social Work has:

  • specialism in gerontology and children and families
  • commitment to anti-oppressive practice
  • service user perspectives and experiences
  • specialist researchers in gender and sexualities

Programme overview

Main Subject

Social Work

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

Social Work at Brunel University is aligned with grand challenges for social work research including focus on individual and family well-being, creating a stronger social fabric, and developing a just society. The Social Work team has expertise in many current issues with which social work engages, such as ageing, children and families, LGBT identities, mental health, migration, health, loss/grief and environmental concerns. The team holds strengths in social policy and interdisciplinary practice as well as planning for and adapting to current societal shifts. Brunel is one of the leading providers of social work and social policy research in London, funded by high-profile organisations like the ESRC, the AHRC, Nuffield Foundation, the Rowntree Trust, the European Union, the Department for Education and Skills and the NHS.

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.

Learn more about research in this area.

Brunel Experts by Experience has a long and proud history at Brunel whereby service-users help the delivery of Social Work training to students and staff.

In the Division of Social Work we have members of staff who are:

  • Editor of Ageing and Society, the leading social gerontology journal in the UK
  • Fellows of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
  • Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health
  • Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences
  • University of Auckland Ralph & Eve Seelye Charitable Trust Award Fellowship holder
  • Serve on many editorial boards and have won many teaching awards

Other activities include:

  • Health Research Authority Social Care Research Ethics Committee.
  • National Institute for Health Research-Health Services and Delivery Research panel
  • Welfare, Health and Wellbeing theme at the Institute of Environment, Health and Societies.

The Division of Social Work has:

  • specialism in gerontology and children and families
  • commitment to anti-oppressive practice
  • service user perspectives and experiences
  • specialist researchers in gender and sexualities

Admission Requirements

98+
64+
7+
The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1). An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face. Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement and a research statement.

17 Jul 2026
3 Years
Jan
Apr

  • Candidates are required to submit references or letter(s) of recommendation for acceptance
  • Candidates are required to submit an essay(s) for acceptance

Domestic
5,006 GBP
International
24,795 GBP

Scholarships

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