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School of Advanced Study, University of London: MPhil/PhD at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Institution School of Advanced Study, University of London
Department Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Web https://www.sas.ac.uk/
Email Postgradenquiries.icws@sas.ac.uk
Study type Research

Summary

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICwS) is the only postgraduate academic institution in the UK devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. The Institute has been supervising interdisciplinary doctoral degrees for over half a century. With guidance from our expert supervisors, you'll carry out extensive independent research culminating in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. Broadly speaking the focus of research degrees has increasingly been on the humanities and cognate social sciences, particularly on the subjects of human rights, globalization and development, politics, and Commonwealth history.

Full-time study for the PhD degree entails three or a maximum of four years' independent research, part-time students complete the same programme in six, or a maximum of eight years. You'll initially be registered for our MPhil and then, providing your progress has been satisfactory, be upgraded to our PhD programme.

Throughout your study, you will work closely with a supervision team of two or more specialists, who will support your work and provide advice and feedback. You will meet them every fortnight in the early stages of your project and at least monthly thereafter. Alongside your supervisor you will also have access to the support of the Doctoral Centre, the Careers Service and our nationally-leading programme of research training and researcher development. You will be a member of a rich research environment, nurtured by regular seminars in which you will be encouraged to participate.

Shortly after submission of the thesis, you will attend an oral examination (‘viva’) conducted by two examiners drawn from a British or world university, who may suggest ways to improve and develop the final text.

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies offers doctoral research supervision in the following broad areas: - Climate change

  • Human rights

  • Ecocide, environmental destruction and human rights

  • Genocide studies

  • African politics, governance and development

  • International human rights law

  • Ethnicity: conflict and accommodation in plural societies

  • Protection of refugees

  • Minority and Indigenous rights protection

  • Dynamics of armed conflict and forced displacement

  • Globalisation, security and conflict

  • Promoting freedom of expression and digital rights

  • Strengthening the rule of law

  • The Commonwealth as an international organisation

  • Non-governmental public actors, civil society and development

Find out more about studying this degree: https://www.sas.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/our-courses/research-degree/phd-institute-commonwealth-studies

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

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