Philosophy research degrees
The length of programme registration will be longer as it includes the maximum writing-up phase. See further details on how research degrees are structured at Hull and thesis submission expectations.
Study a PhD in Philosophy at Hull and enjoy access to the superb facilities of the newly refurbished Brynmor Jones Library, as well as our Graduate School and Postgraduate Lounge.
About our Philosophy research degrees
Our Philosophy research covers an unusually rich variety of areas, from ancient philosophy to the present, including art and aesthetics, gender theory, philosophy of mind and embodiment, political philosophy and legal theory. In applied philosophy, focal areas include ethics, education, image technologies, and health. Our interests span many traditions and diverse approaches to philosophical issues.
The PhD is aimed at outstanding students who wish to pursue advanced research in philosophy and ultimately to become professional researchers in, and teachers of, philosophy. Students produce a maximum 80, 000 word thesis that can provide the basis for professional publication.
Research topics
We've been teaching Philosophy at Hull since 1928 and continue to be at the forefront of the subject today. Our department's research outputs are wide ranging, with a list of our Philosophy staff and their research interests below:
The Postgraduate Training Scheme
It is now widely recognised by employers, professional bodies and research funding agencies that specialist expertise alone is not sufficient preparation either for research or a subsequent career. With this in mind, we require all our postgraduate research students to follow a research training programme relating both to their particular field of study and to generic skills; for example, information technology and communication skills.
Programme structure
PhD structure
| Full time | Part time |
|---|---|
| 3 years of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required | 6 years of research, with up to 24 months of writing up if required |
Writing up and thesis submission
A standard full-time PhD programme comprised three years of research plus up to 12 months of thesis finalisation (also referred to as “writing-up”). Part-time is six years plus up to 24 months thesis finalisation if needed.
For full-time students, the thesis finalisation phase should take three months but may be extended to one year without further paperwork. For part-time students, thesis finalisation should take six months, but may be extended to two years without further paperwork. The maximum thesis finalisation period is included in your overall programme length, which means that international PGRs will not need to apply for an additional visa to cover this phase.
If you need to move into the thesis finalisation period of your research degree, you must enrol for this phase and you will be liable to pay a continuation fee.
Thesis submission timelines
It is expected that you will submit your thesis within the timeframes outlined below:
Doctoral degrees
- Submission by 3 years and 3 months full-time.
- Submission by 6 years and 6 months for part-time.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
You should normally have, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 Honours degree, or international equivalent, in a related discipline appropriate to your intended research.
Contacting your prospective supervisor before you submit your application is not essential but may be helpful.
Typical offer
2:1 in a relevant subject area
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Ready to get started?
Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.
Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.
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International student? Please use the link below to get in touch with our international team for answers and advice.