Brayford Pool
MPhil: 1.5-3 years. PhD: 2-4 years
MPhil: 2-4 years. PhD: 3-8 years
Start Dates in October and January
Social policy is concerned with how society provides for human needs and responds to social problems such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and crime. It focuses on the responses offered by a range of social actors including government, civil society, families, the market, the voluntary and third sectors.
Postgraduate research in the School of Social and Political Sciences is informed by the expertise of its team of academics, who have long-standing links to government, research organisations, and the voluntary sector.
Opportunities for research are available across a range of topics in social and political sciences. Current students' research projects in the field of sociology include:
- Family Welfare Policy
- Covid-19 Socio-economic Shocks on Vulnerable Groups in Nigeria
- Female Labour Migration and Domestic Work in Lincolnshire
- Reducing Conflict in the Family Courts System
Conduct independent, original, and academically significant research
Benefit from training courses to develop key research skills
Supervision and support from an advisory panel of academic staff
Present at talks and seminars to showcase your work
Enrol in October or January each year
3rd in the UK for the ratio of world-leading research outputs in REF 2021*
*Out of 76 institutions submitting in the Social Work and Social Policy Unit of Assessment.
Research students can enrol for MPhil or PhD awards. These degrees are normally undertaken wholly by thesis and can be carried out either on a full-time or a part-time basis.
The School aims to provide appropriate support to enable students to become independent researchers. Students are required to follow a structured pattern of activity during which their progress can be monitored and encouraged. Students are allocated two supervisors and the emphasis is on providing whatever training is required, as well as the development of knowledge.
Students are asked to contribute to the School's research seminar series, are able to apply for funding to attend conferences, and are encouraged to publish their work and to develop links with appropriate external networks.
Research students normally have two internal supervisors with specialist knowledge relevant to the student's subject area and research methods, and have regular meetings with them for advice, monitoring, and other support. Students can engage with external experts and advisors as necessary.
Students may also have the opportunity to contribute to teaching, subject to the necessary training. Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, a significant portion of time will be spent in independent study and research. Students will meet with their academic supervisors at least once a month for full-time students, and every two months for part-time students.
Research areas:
Research supervision is available across the range of disciplines within the School. Staff in social policy invite applications in the following areas:
- Poverty and social exclusion
- Social divisions (especially gender, race, disability, sexuality and age)
- The policy process
- Family policy
- Homelessness
- Climate change policy
- Education policy
- Comparative social policy
The key to success on a postgraduate research programme is to find a research topic that you are passionate about and identify a supervisory team that has expertise in this area. The first thing that all prospective students should do is directly contact a member of staff from one of these areas that you feel is best aligned with your chosen research area to discuss the application process further.
We are committed to supporting students at every level, and we understand that everyone has different experiences, pressures, and needs. This is why we have developed a flexible approach to PhD supervision to help you fit your higher education goals around your work and life commitments. This includes the choice of full-time or part-time registration, but it also means that if you have particular lifestyle or career needs, you have the possibility of undertaking your degree without being resident in Lincoln. This option is also available to international candidates who may need to remain in their home countries but would still like to study for a PhD in the UK. You will have regular meetings with your supervisors online and still have the opportunity to visit Lincoln and participate in the vibrant academic life on campus.
In addition to bringing their subject expertise to your research project, supervisors will:
These flexible routes are suitable for scholars with an excellent track record at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels, and those with existing academic research experience. It is also aimed at professionals and academics or those teaching in Higher Education who do not currently possess a PhD and may be able to get support to undertake the qualification from their own institution as part of their continuing professional development.
Juan Brito, PhD in International Relations
Hear from Juan Brito, a distance learning PhD student, who talks about his career background and research experiences at Lincoln. Juan's thesis is exploring the impact of ideas in foreign policy making, with a focus on the Liberal international order in the post-Cold War.
You will need to produce a research proposal as part of your application for this programme. This is a project outline identifying what you want to study, why you want to investigate this area, and how you intend to conduct the research. You will also need to identify a potential supervisor at Lincoln whose research interests align with your own, and share your proposal and ideas with them before submitting your application.
A research proposal is a project outline identifying what you want to study, why you want to investigate this area, and how you intend to conduct the research. You are not expected to be the expert, but you will need to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the subject and where your research will make a valuable contribution to the topic.
Remember that your proposal is the starting point of your research. It is normal for your ideas to evolve and develop, and for plans to change as you engage more deeply with the literature and begin working with your supervision team.
Length of Proposal
For a PhD your proposal should be 3,000 (excluding references). A Master’s by Research requires a proposal of around 1,500 words.
Structuring Your Research Proposal
There isn’t a prescribed format for the structure of a research proposal but the following section headings are generally considered to be important:
Working Title
A clear and succinct description of your research should be encapsulated in the title. Although this may not be the title of your final thesis, your proposal title should give a clear indication of the area you are interested in exploring.
Introduction
The introduction should set the context, explaining what you will research, why it is of value, and how you propose to conduct your research. The introduction is your opportunity to demonstrate that your proposed research can make a significant contribution to existing bodies of literature, detailing how your research will fill a gap or develop/complete findings from previous research. Overall, you will be expected to show that you have a good knowledge of the wider context in which your research belongs and that you have awareness of methodologies, theories, and conflicting evidence in your chosen field.
Overview of Your Research
You should provide a short overview of your research and where it fits in existing academic discourses, debates, or literature. This should also cover your research objectives, why the research is needed, and what original contribution it can make. Make sure your overview is intelligible to someone who is not a specialist in this field
Literature Review
You won’t have had chance to review all the relevant literature at this stage, but you should be able to incorporate the major debates and issues, demonstrating that you understand your chosen field. Show how your research is original and how it will address the gaps in current knowledge. The conclusion of the review should include a statement of your research problem or question.
Methodology
Your methodology section should detail how you will conduct your research and consider the following:
Timescales
You should provide a clear plan of how you will carry out the research from start to finish, breaking it down into the main components of the research project and identifying what you expect to do in each year of your studies. For a PhD, the maximum time you have from enrolment to submission is 48 months for a full-time student and 72 months for a part-time student. For a Master’s by Research, the maximum time allowed is 16 months full-time and 24 months part-time
Top Tips for a Good Research Proposal
Research degrees are usually awarded based on the quality of the students thesis and ability to present and successfully defend their chosen research topic in an oral examination (viva voce). They are also expected to demonstrate how their research findings have contributed to knowledge or developed existing theory or understanding.
Students enrolled on the MPhil programme will be given the opportunity to upgrade to a PhD. This will usually involve the submission of a report and an internal viva.
Postgraduate Research Application Support
Find out more about the application process for research degrees and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page, which also features contact details for dedicated support with your application.
MPhil/PhD: Master's degree with a research component (and/or significant professional experience).
For applicants without a Master's degree, please note that you will have to demonstrate a significant amount of research methods knowledge that goes beyond what you may have learned at undergraduate level. We strongly advise you to consider completing a Master's degree or a Master's by Research in your discipline, which we offer at Lincoln. Both are viable routes to a PhD.
International students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in each element. For more information, please visit: http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/englishrequirements
Applicants for a research degree programme may be invited for an interview as part of the selection process. Prospective applicants are also invited to contact the School to discuss their proposed research project in advance of submitting an application.
You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below. Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project. These will be informed by your research proposal and will be calculated on an individual basis.
Loans and Studentships
Find out more about the options available to support your postgraduate research, from Master's and Doctoral Loans, to research studentship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.
A doctoral qualification can be the capstone of academic achievement and often marks the beginning of a career in academia or research. A research programme provides the opportunity to become a true expert in your chosen field, while developing a range of valuable transferable skills that can support your career progression. A research-based degree is also the most direct pathway to an academic career. PhDs and research degrees are a great chance to expand your network and meet diverse people with similar interests, knowledge, and passion.
The University’s Doctoral School provides a focal point for Lincoln’s community of researchers, where ideas and experiences can be developed and shared across disciplines. It also offers support and training to help equip you for both academic and non-academic careers.
For more information about this course, please contact:
Dr Joshua Skoczylis
JSkoczylis@lincoln.ac.uk
Through our research, we are striving to change society for the better. Working with regional, national, and international partners, our academics are engaged in groundbreaking studies that are challenging the status quo. We also understand the importance of providing the best possible environment for pursuing research that can support our communities and make a tangible difference to the world around us.
