phd by thesis only uk

PhD by publication

PhD awards for published researchers

Explore how you can turn your existing peer reviewed research publications into a PhD qualification

What is a PhD by publication?

A PhD by publication is a postgraduate research degree that's based on research you've already undertaken and had published (excluding self-publishing) before registering with us.

Depending on the subject area, peer reviewed academic papers, complete books, chapters in anthologies, or equivalent materials accepted for publication, exhibited or performed may be eligibl e. You'll have to submit these materials for examination between 6–12 months after registering with us.

These materials will be accompanied by a commentary of 5,000–10,000 words, which outlines your work's coherence, significance and contribution to knowledge, and you'll be examined through an oral defence of your research, known as a viva voce. Applicants must have held a first or higher degree from a UK higher education institute – or a recognised equivalent non-UK degree of the same standard – for at least 5 years.

Once you've been awarded a PhD by publication, you'll be in a great position to move onto further research or to use your new postgraduate qualification to progress your career.

The cost of getting a PhD by publication in most of our subject areas is £4,500 for external candidates – check your research subject area page for more details.

How to apply

To be considered for a PhD by publication, you'll need to have held an undergraduate or postgraduate degree – awarded either by a UK higher education institute or a recognised non-UK equivalent – for at least 5 years.

To apply you'll need:

A CV and the names of two referees
A title of the proposed PhD
A listing of the published work on which the application is based
A statement of not more than 1000 words setting out your view of the nature and significance of the work submitted

Apply from the relevant subject area page .

If your application is successful, you'll need to submit the already-published materials – those that you wish to be considered as part of your PhD by publication award – between 6–12 months after registering with us.

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Types of doctoral degree

There is more than one way to achieve a doctorate. Our programmes allow you to gain a PhD or professional doctorate in a way that suits you.

We offer a number of programmes leading to doctoral qualifications, all of which allow you to make an in-depth study of a topic that interests you. In order to be awarded a doctorate, you need to carry out independent and original research, which you write up in the form of a thesis.

You can choose to follow a full- or part-time programme. In general:

a full-time programme takes three to four years
a part-time programme takes five to six years.

PhD programmes

Most of our doctoral researchers are working towards a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). There are various ways of achieving a PhD, depending on the subject and your experience to date.

PhD by Thesis

This is the traditional route to a PhD and you can take this type of programme in any of our research areas. During your PhD, you carry out independent, original research, which you present as a thesis of up to 90,000 words.

Writing a thesis as a collection of papers

It is becoming increasingly common for doctoral students, particularly those in science disciplines, to write their thesis as a collection of papers. Our guidance gives some of the advantages for students of adopting this approach and also provides advice on how to structure the thesis. Please note this is distinct from the separate qualification 'PhD by Published Works' and the guidance sets out the distinction.

Writing a thesis as a collection of papers: guidance (PDF, 0.8 MB)

PhD by Published Works

If you have developed your research skills through a body of publications produced during the course of your career, either within or outside academia, you can opt for a PhD by Published Works. This programme is between 12 - 24 months in duration and can be studied on a full or part-time basis.

Find out more about PhD by Published Works (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Practice-based PhD

This route to a PhD is relevant for some arts subjects, where your independent, original PhD research is presented through both practice and a thesis. Further information about this can be found on the relevant department websites.

PhD by Distance

Our PhD by Distance programme is designed to support students who need to study for most of their registration period at another (usually overseas) site, on a full- or part-time basis.

Find out about our PhD by Distance programme

Professional doctorates

These programmes involve advanced study and research, combining professional and academic knowledge. During your doctorate, you take taught courses and complete an original piece of research, presented as a thesis.

We offer professional doctorates in:

business administration (DBA)
education (EdD)

Master's by research

To gain a master's by research (MbyRes), you are required to study a number of taught modules and carry out independent, original research, which you present as a thesis. A MbyRes programme takes one year full-time or two years part-time, and is only available in specific subjects.

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5 routes to getting a Doctorate

While most of those studying for a PhD take the PhD by thesis pathway, there are five viable routes to achieving a Doctorate degree

PhD by thesis

This is the most common means of getting a Doctorate degree. Over the three or four years of research at university, your PhD supervisor will support you as you aim to produce a thesis based on your research proposal .

A thesis is typically 60,000-90,000 words in length - although this can vary between institutions. For instance, the University of Glasgow's College of Social Sciences expects a thesis to be 70,000-100,000 words including references, bibliography and appendices, while the University of Cambridge has set an upper limit of 80,000 words.

Once completed, you'll need to defend your PhD thesis in front of a panel of examiners during your viva voce .

PhD by publication

This route involves submitting previously published work - such as books, book chapters and journal articles, which together form a coherent body of work and show evidence of an original contribution to a particular field of study.

It's often taken by mid-career academics that haven't had the opportunity to undertake a standard Doctorate degree.

Generally, a minimum of five to eight published pieces are required, but this varies between institutions and depends on their length. The published work will be assessed to the same rigorous standards as a traditional PhD by thesis.

You must also provide a written supporting statement, which can range from 5,000 to 20,000 words, and present your work to an academic committee. A supervisor will assist you with selecting which publications to submit and with the supporting statement.

Some universities accept only their own graduates for a PhD by publication, while others restrict this route to their academic staff. In general, you should have graduated from your first degree at least seven years ago to be eligible.

For example, The University of Manchester has published its own Guidance for the PhD By Published Work , with eligibility only extending to current members of staff.

Professional Doctorate

Geared primarily towards current professionals in vocational sectors such as healthcare , teaching and education , and engineering and manufacturing , this type of Doctorate degree includes a significant taught component and a smaller research project.

Professional Doctorates are often taken on a part-time basis and can last between two and eight years. Like their standard PhD counterparts, they usually begin in October or January.

While you won't typically be looking to get an academic job , your research is expected to contribute to theory as well as professional practice. Projects often revolve around a real-life issue that affects your employer.

Several professional Doctorates, such as the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), are accredited by a professional body - for instance, the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and The British Psychological Society (BPS) - and may also lead to a professional qualification .

Common titles for graduates of professional Doctorate degrees include:

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Doctor of Engineering (EngD)
Doctor of Medicine (MD).

Unlike many professional Doctorates, the EngD is typically offered as a full-time course and is aimed at young engineering graduates with little or no professional experience.

Explore what's currently available at Find a Professional Doctorate .

Integrated PhD

This four-year qualification, also known as the New Route PhD, involves studying a one-year research Masters degree (MRes) before progressing onto a three-year PhD.

Offered by a select number of universities across the UK, integrated PhDs are supported by the government and the British Council through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . Visit Research Council funding for further information on research and funding for different types of PhD.

The integrated PhD involves a combination of taught materials, practical experience and advanced research. This allows you to learn subject-specific methodologies, while building the transferable skills that will enable you to become a leader in your chosen profession.

Institutions can also develop personalised integrated PhD programmes to meet each student's needs. For example, universities may offer you the opportunity to gain a postgraduate certificate (PGCert) in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education - perfect if you're considering a career as a higher education lecturer .

As PhDs are based primarily on independent research rather than time spent in lectures and seminars, distance learning has always been a viable route for many Doctoral students.

PhDs by distance learning offered by course providers such as The Open University are therefore a good option to consider if you've got family or work commitments or are an international student - as this gives you the chance to undertake Doctoral research without having to live close to your chosen institution. It's also a suitable mode of study if your subject requires you to be based in a specific location away from the university.

For the most part, you'll be in touch with your supervisor by phone, email or Skype/Zoom. You'll need to bear in mind that even if you opt for this form of research, you'll generally still need to attend university for one or two weeks of each academic year for meetings and to receive research skills training. Your final examination may be undertaken either face-to-face or virtually.

With online PhDs, you can usually register as a full or part-time student. The level of fees you pay varies between institutions - some charge the same as for a standard PhD while others offer a reduced rate.

Check that any funding you plan to apply for is available to distance learning students, as this isn't always the case.

Search for distance learning PhDs .

Find out more

Explore what is a PhD?
Sort out funding for postgraduate study .
Consider what to do after completing your PhD .

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Research (MPhil / PhD) Entry Route

The University of London academic community pursues and achieves excellence in a wide range of research activities and scholarship.

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Research opportunities

MPhil and PhD opportunities are available on-campus and by arrangement through our self-governing member institutions and research institutes, including the School of Advanced Study

Many of these institutions have performed highly in the Research Excellence Framework and are consistently ranked highly for research among UK universities.

Postgraduate research is offered via distance learning through the School of Advanced Study (Opens in new window) .

Research activity

The majority of academic staff are actively engaged in research, so you will be taught by experienced and motivated researchers who are eminent in their field.

To find out more about research opportunities, you can either search our courses to see which areas of research are available, or contact a university that offers related subjects to see if they can support your proposal.

Study with the world leaders in development studies and realise your potential to transform the world with our PhD by Research.

The PhD in Development Studies by Research is IDS’s advanced research degree. It is awarded to candidates after a minimum of three years study, based on completion of original and significant research in the field of Development Studies – which is assessed through a written thesis.

*Please note: It is not possible for international students to take a part-time PhD due to UK Home Office visa restrictions, and IDS does not have a distance learning mode of its PhD Programme.

World leaders in development studies

Ranked first in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023) for the eighth year in a row – the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) transforms the knowledge, action and leadership needed for more equitable and sustainable development globally, through our world-class research, learning and teaching.

As a PhD researcher, you will join a thriving research community comprising more than 70 research staff and 50 postgraduate researchers. You will have access to research and teaching opportunities, as well as a substantial series of seminars presented by leading development professionals and practitioners.

Areas of study

We welcome submissions from researchers who share our commitment to:

upholding climate and environmental justice
reducing extreme inequities
fostering healthy and fulfilling lives
nurturing inclusive, democratic and accountable societies.

We are particularly interested in work that shows originality in addressing topics related to the work of our research fellows based across our ten research clusters : business; cities; digital; governance; health and nutrition; impact and policy; participation; power; resource politics; and rural futures.

Find out more about our current PhD Researchers Find out more about our Research Fellows and their interests

Studying at IDS can potentially transform your view of the world – you grow a lot learning from this very rich and diverse community.

Each PhD researcher has a minimum of two supervisors. The number of hours of formal supervision will vary over the course of the PhD depending on the student, supervisor and type of research. IDS publishes a detailed PhD handbook which sets out expectations and responsibilities regarding supervision.

During the course of your PhD, you are required to give two seminars to the IDS community. The first, at the end of year one is called the Research Outline Seminar and this provides an overview of your PhD plans prior to beginning fieldwork. The second occurs halfway through year three. This is called the Work in Progress Seminar and it focuses on the research findings and overall arguments made in the dissertation.

Your PhD work is examined by dissertation and viva. Your thesis must be no longer than 80,000 words. These limits includes footnotes and bibliography but excludes any appendices.

You’re normally expected to have a Merit (an average of 60% overall) in a Master’s degree. Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences subject. In exceptional circumstances, you may be considered for the degree if you have a qualification in a different subject area. You must also show evidence of substantial professional work experience in development-related work.

English language requirements

Students must be proficient in English. The minimum requirement is, for example, an IELTS grade of 7.0 overall and no less than 6.5 in each section of the IELTS test. For detailed information on English language requirements for international students please see the University of Sussex website .

IDS requires that students register for a minimum of three years. Most students spend time on fieldwork that may take place in a development context – either overseas or in the UK. During fieldwork, students are charged a fee which is normally 65% of the full-time fee but may be subject to change.

Almost all IDS PhD researchers choose to do empirical research and fieldwork for their PhDs. The broad parameters of this research (topic and country) are usually decided by the student and included in the proposal submitted as part of the application to the PhD programme. More detailed assessments of the scope and scale of this research are usually developed in conjunction with supervisors during the first year of the PhD. Fieldwork usually lasts between 8 and 12 months and costs depend on the scope and scale of the activities. For example, participant observation and qualitative interviews undertaken in your home country and in a language with which you are familiar, may not be very expensive, but working in a country where you need visas, in-country ethical approval, and have to employ translators, transcribers, or a team of enumerators for a quantitative survey can mean that costs rapidly escalate. Where you stay, how you travel to your fieldsite, what technology you use to collect and analyse data and how long you stay will all influence the costs. IDS does not have the resources to fund any fieldwork or travel costs. There is a small conference fund and PhD students can apply for up to £450 during their PhDs if they are presenting a paper at a conference.

After having made substantial progress and completed three years of registration, students may be permitted to transfer to pre-submission status for a maximum of 12 months. IDS considers substantial progress to be the completion of three empirical chapters, supervisors’ approval and a successful work-in-progress seminar. If pre-submission status is not granted, then full-time fees are still applicable. The pre-submission fee is approximately £500 for each year or part thereof.

Unfortunately, neither IDS nor the University of Sussex can offer financial support. Applicants requiring financial assistance should contact their local Ministry of Education or Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Council representative (c/o British Embassy). For the latest information on fees, funding and scholarships, visit the University of Sussex website .

Living costs

Find out typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Your time at IDS will equip you with the training needed to launch your career in academia, government, civil society or the private sector, and make a real difference in bringing about transformative change.

Our PhD graduates are defining and solving some of the world’s most pressing global challenges in their work as:

ministers in national governments and civil servants
high-level officials in development organisations such as UNDP and the World Bank
leaders and thinkers of civil-society and international development organisations such as ActionAid and Christian Aid
high-profile academics at universities across the world.

Apply via the University of Sussex online application . When completing the application form, please identify IDS on the application; the code for this is L1604R – Development Studies (IDS) (PHD).

Finding a supervisor

While you are not responsible for finding a supervisor, it is good practice to express your preferred supervisors on your application form. Applicants are assessed both on their academic credentials and on the relevance of their works to the research of one or more IDS Research Fellows .

Distance learning

IDS is unable to accept applications for distance learning. We believe it is in the best interests of both PhD students and the Institute that the majority of the study period is spent at IDS. This offers the opportunity for ongoing interaction with other IDS members and students.

Your research proposal

When you apply, you must submit a detailed research proposal of 2000-3500 words indicating the primary research questions of your research project, a short review of the literature that you are planning to engage with, and your methodology. Find out how to write a research proposal.

Before applying, please read carefully our guidelines on how to write your research proposal on the Sussex website . Here is a good example of a recent research proposal from a successful applicant: Susana Araujo’s PhD research proposal to IDS, 2020 .

Application deadline

We prefer our PhD by Research students to start in September to coincide with the start of the University of Sussex autumn term. This timing will maximise your opportunities to take part in induction sessions, training and module enrolment (optional), both at IDS and the University of Sussex.

For September entry, the application deadlines are:

21 June for international students
21 July for UK/EU students.

In exceptional circumstances IDS may permit students to start the PhD by Research in January (for example, if visa issues prevent a September entry). The application deadline is 31 October for all January starters. We may also be able to offer some flexibility in start dates for students transferring from another organisation.

How we assess your application

When assessing your application we take into account many factors including: the quality of your research proposal, your academic qualifications, fit with IDS research priorities, previous development experience, language skills and availability of suitable supervisors.

All applications are assessed by the IDS Director of Doctoral Studies, with input from two potential supervisors. You will also be interviewed on your PhD research plans by these potential supervisors. If your application is successful, you will be contacted by the University of Sussex Admissions Office with a formal offer letter.

Presence at IDS

Your presence at IDS is vital at the early stage of your PhD when the research proposal is prepared (the first year) and then, after fieldwork, at the stage of writing up the research findings (the third year). The maximum period of registration is four years, but a PhD can be completed in three years.

Key information

Full time duration, part time duration, home fees (uk, republic of ireland, channel islands & isle of man), overseas (including eu), open days and events.

Find our more about our PhD Open Evenings, information sessions, virtual PhD events and campus tours

Key contacts

Teaching Coordinator

s.s.watson@ids.ac.uk

+44 (0)1273 915662

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Research Degree Study Options

Research Degrees
Study Options

Applied Research

UWS offers a wide range of applied research opportunities across all of its active subject areas. Although many of the subject areas are listed individually, the reality is that much of our research takes place and will be delivered in multi-disciplinary teams and projects across the institution.

PhD opportunities

Each year, UWS offers funded or self-funded PhD project opportunities across a broad range of research areas.

You can find current project-specific PhD opportunities on our Findaphd.com listing. You can also propose your own PhD topic. Browse our research degree study options to see how these align with your interests and find out how to contact a member of academic staff to discuss your proposal.

Below you will find a list of all the main areas of active research in which doctoral research is possible at UWS.

Finally, details of all of the different types of research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) that we offer can also be found below.

Research Degree Areas of Expertise

UWS has set the vision to be recognised as a world-leading university based on supporting excellent, relevant and purposeful research aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022, UWS was the most impactful university in Scotland for ‘decent work and economic growth’ (United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8), and 23rd most impactful university in the world for ‘reducing inequalities’ (UN Sustainable Development Goal 10). Our research will continue to address major global challenges and will be delivered in multi-disciplinary teams across the institution.

Research opportunities leading to MRes, MPhil or PHD.

Find out more

Research opportunities in Dementia Studies leading to MRes.

Research opportunities leading to MRes, MPhil or PhD.

Research opportunities leading to a PhD qualification.

Research opportunities leading to MRes, MPhil or PhD

Research opportunities leading to MPhil or PhD

Research opportunities leading to , MRes, MPhil or PhD

Research opportunities leading to MRes, MPhil and PhD.

Research opportunities leading to PhD.

Find the research degree that’s right for you

UWS offers the following postgraduate research degrees:

Master of Research (MRes)

Master of philosophy (mphil).

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Publication
Doctor of Business Adminstration (DBA)

Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf)

Entry onto a postgraduate research degree normally requires you to have obtained a good Honours degree (First or Upper Second Class) or a postgraduate qualification in a relevant area of study. More information about academic entry requirements is listed on the individual course pages.

Postgraduate research degrees vary in terms of structure, duration, purpose and academic rigour.

For information on current postgraduate research tuition fees, visit our Research Degrees Tuition Fees section.

The Master of Research (MRes) degree is an advanced postgraduate research degree which is especially focused on preparing students for doctoral research.

The MRes usually takes 12 months of full-time study. The main difference between a taught MSc and an MRes is that the course structure is more flexible than a taught Masters degree and requires candidates to complete a research dissertation (typically 15-20,000 words) informed by independent research, or a practice-led research project.

The MRes provides structured research study and is a great place to begin your research career. If you’re thinking about studying at PhD level the MRes will give you a taste of what it’s like to complete a doctorate.

UWS normally requires MRes candidates to defend their dissertation thesis (viva voce examination) for successful completion of an MRes degree.

For more information please email:

[email protected]

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree is a more advanced postgraduate research degree. In most cases, it is a thesis-only research degree – meaning that your studies will be exclusively focused on researching and writing your thesis – and is regarded as a senior or second Masters degree.

In most cases the MPhil usually requires 18-24 months of full-time, or 24-36 months of part-time study and requires the submission and oral defence (viva voce examination) of a thesis comprising original research undertaken by the candidate. The MPhil degree is different from the MRes degree in the scale and scope of the research undertaken and an extended time period; the MPhil thesis is typically 20-40,000 words, or the equivalent for practice-led research projects.

In addition, MPhil research students may be required to undertake a few taught/supporting modules where this is considered necessary for the attainment of competence in research methods and/or background knowledge. In an MPhil, evidence is required of the ability to test ideas, understand appropriate techniques, make use of published work and source material and show familiarity with different theories and empirical studies.

As such, the MPhil may be awarded to graduate students who satisfactorily complete a programme of supervised research training and have investigated and evaluated or critically studied an appropriate topic over the equivalent of not less than eighteen months of full-time study and who have presented a satisfactory thesis.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Typically, the duration of MPhil/PhD is 36 months to maximum 48 months (full-time) and 72 months to 84 months (part-time).

Embarking on this from of registration, candidates will prepare for an MPhil/PhD transfer event which normally takes place about 12-18 months (24-36 months, part-time) into their programme of research.

If, at the end of this transfer event, assessors are satisfied with respect to the quality, originality and potential contribution to the body of knowledge of the candidates work to date, and plan of future research, then they will recommend that the candidate transfer to PhD registration and complete their studies.

If, on the other hand, the assessors are not content with the candidate's progress to-date, the quality, originality or potential contribution to knowledge of the candidates work, then they may recommend that the candidate transfer to MPhil registration and complete the work required for the award of this degree.

Alternatively, candidates can choose to be considered for registering for MPhil degree for personal reasons.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is the highest rated research degree awarded by UWS.

As the highest academic level of study, a PhD is rigourous and demanding. Most students are passionate about their area of interest and pursue a PhD as a result of their scientific and academic curiosity.

Candidates awarded a PhD are entitled to use the academic title Doctor before their name.

PhD candidates typically emerge from MRes or MPhil studies, although some candidates apply directly having gained appropriate research experience.

In most cases the PhD usually requires at least 33 months of full-time study, and requires the submission and oral defence (viva voce examination) of a thesis (typically 60-100,000 words, depending on your field of study) comprising original research undertaken by the candidate.

PhDs are normally awarded to students who have completed a programme of supervised research training and critically evaluated an appropriate topic over not less than the equivalent of 33 months of full-time study that results in a significant contribution to knowledge.

A PhD is generally a pre-requisite for a successful career in academia, and can help you to secure senior research and management roles in government agencies and companies.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by publication

Submissions for this award will consist of coherent body of work (normally four to six research publications) along with an extended narrative which is of the same quality, rigour and volume as required of a standard PhD and which constitutes an original contribution to knowledge.

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) will appeal to those wishing to gain the highest level of professional qualification available in business and management, by undertaking world-class doctoral study.

It will be of interest to leader and managers working in the private sector, health, local authorities and higher education, enhancing your professional and executive practice through the application of rigorous research to real and complex issues in business and management.

UWS DBA graduates are equipped to hold several high-level positions including executive and leadership positions in business and commerce and the public sector.

A doctorate provides great personal satisfaction by enabling you to take your learning to the highest recognised level.

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme is unavailable for 2023/24 entry.

UWS is delighted to present its innovative, blended learning, part-time Professional Doctorate (DProf). This course combines the art and science of professional practice and the concept of reflective practice with relevant academic theory helping you to apply this to the investigation/exploration of problems. Many professionals come to the programme as they are preparing to move into senior leadership roles in the profession and find the programme an extremely useful way to enliven change design with cutting edge theory, deepen their understanding of transformative change and support change with reflective practice.

Because the programme is offered on a blended part-time basis and has a focus on professional practice there is no interruption to your earning power. The DProf is interdisciplinary, and recognises that real world professional practice problems are dynamic and complex. The course will facilitate an investigation into the contemporary issues facing your profession and to make a contribution to professional knowledge that is applied and practical in nature.

The DProf allows you to develop transferable skills in advanced applied research as well as in-depth expertise specifically related to your profession through a two year taught phase before moving on to research phase with supervision in which you will complete a piece of applied research and defend the resulting thesis. Through the programme we aim to help you develop confidence, increase your awareness as a reflective practitioner, and improve your career prospects and job satisfaction which will also be of benefit to your workplace in terms of organisational and succession planning.

Entry & Professional Requirements

Candidates usually hold a Masters level degree or equivalent research experience, have professional experience and are in a position to facilitate applied research within their organisation.

Normally candidates are interviewed about their professional experience and aspirations, their interests in the programme and the contribution they feel they can make to the UWS research community as well as their expectations of the programme. We offer flexible arrangements for interviews and can use a variety of digital platforms as well as face-to-face interviews on UWS Paisley Campus.

Research Tuition Fees 2023/24

For detailed information on current postgraduate research tuition fees, click the links below:

2023-24 research degree tuition fees

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Theses & dissertations: home, access to theses and dissertations from other institutions and from the university of cambridge.

This guide provides information on searching for theses of Cambridge PhDs and for theses of UK universities and universities abroad.

For information and guidance on depositing your thesis as a cambridge phd, visit the cambridge office of scholarly communication pages on theses here ., this guide gives essential information on how to obtain theses using the british library's ethos service. .

On the last weekend of October, the British Library became the victim of a major cyber-attack. Essential digital services including the BL catalogue, website and online learning resources went dark, with research services like the EThOS collection of more than 600,000 doctoral theses suddenly unavailable. The BL state that they anticipate restoring more services in the next few weeks, but disruption to certain services is now expected to persist for several months. For the latest news on the attack and information on the restoration of services, please follow the BL blog here: Knowledge Matters blog and access the LibGuide page here: British Library Outage Update - Electronic Legal Deposit - LibGuides at University of Cambridge Subject Libraries

A full list of resources for searching theses online is provided by the Cambridge A-Z, available here .

University of Cambridge theses

Finding a cambridge phd thesis online via the institutional repository.

The University's institutional repository, Apollo , holds full-text digital versions of over 11,000 Cambridge PhD theses and is a rapidly growing collection deposited by Cambridge Ph.D. graduates. Theses in Apollo can be browsed via this link . More information on how to access theses by University of Cambridge students can be found on the access to Cambridge theses webpage. The requirement for impending PhD graduates to deposit a digital version in order to graduate means the repository will be increasing at a rate of approximately 1,000 per year from this source. About 200 theses are added annually through requests to make theses Open Access or via requests to digitize a thesis in printed format.

Locating and obtaining a copy of a Cambridge PhD thesis (not yet available via the repository)

Theses can be searched in iDiscover . Guidance on searching for theses in iDiscover can be found here . Requests for consultation of printed theses, not available online, should be made at the Manuscripts Reading Room (Email: [email protected] Telephone: +44 (0)1223 333143). Further information on the University Library's theses, dissertations and prize essays collections can be consulted at this link .

Researchers can order a copy of an unpublished thesis which was deposited in print form either through the Library’s Digital Content Unit via the image request form , or, if the thesis has been digitised, it may be available in the Apollo repository. Copies of theses may be provided to researchers in accordance with the law and in a manner that is common across UK libraries. The law allows us to provide whole copies of unpublished theses to individuals as long as they sign a declaration saying that it is for non-commercial research or private study.

How to make your thesis available online through Cambridge's institutional repository

Are you a Cambridge alumni and wish to make your Ph.D. thesis available online? You can do this by depositing it in Apollo the University's institutional repository. Click here for further information on how to proceed. Current Ph.D students at the University of Cambridge can find further information about the requirements to deposit theses on the Office of Scholarly Communication theses webpages.

UK Theses and Dissertations

Electronic copies of Ph.D. theses submitted at over 100 UK universities are obtainable from EThOS , a service set up to provide access to all theses from participating institutions. It achieves this by harvesting e-theses from Institutional Repositories and by digitising print theses as they are ordered by researchers using the system. Over 250,000 theses are already available in this way. Please note that it does not supply theses submitted at the universities of Cambridge or Oxford although they are listed on EThOS.

Registration with EThOS is not required to search for a thesis but is necessary to download or order one unless it is stored in the university repository rather than the British Library (in which case a link to the repository will be displayed). Many theses are available without charge on an Open Access basis but in all other cases, if you are requesting a thesis that has not yet been digitised you will be asked to meet the cost. Once a thesis has been digitised it is available for free download thereafter.

When you order a thesis it will either be immediately available for download or writing to hard copy or it will need to be digitised. If you order a thesis for digitisation, the system will manage the process and you will be informed when the thesis is available for download/preparation to hard copy.

See the Search results section of the help page for full information on interpreting search results in EThOS.

EThOS is managed by the British Library and can be found at http://ethos.bl.uk . For more information see About EThOS .

World-wide (incl. UK) theses and dissertations

Electronic versions of non-UK theses may be available from the institution at which they were submitted, sometimes on an open access basis from the institutional repository. A good starting point for discovering freely available electronic theses and dissertations beyond the UK is the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) , which facilitates searching across institutions. Information can also usually be found on the library web pages of the relevant institution.

The DART Europe etheses portal lists several thousand full-text theses from a group of European universities.

The University Library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (PQDT) database which from August 31 2023 is accessed on the Web of Science platform. To search this index select it from the Web of Science "Search in" drop-down list of databases (available on the Documents tab on WoS home page)

PQDT includes 2.4 million dissertation and theses citations, representing 700 leading academic institutions worldwide from 1861 to the present day. The database offers full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full text coverage for older graduate works. Each dissertation published since July 1980 includes a 350-word abstract written by the author. Master's theses published since 1988 include 150-word abstracts.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The University Library only subscribes to the abstracting & indexing version of the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database and NOT the full text version. A fee is payable for ordering a dissertation from this source. To obtain the full text of a dissertation as a downloadable PDF you can submit your request via the University Library Inter-Library Loans department (see contact details below). NB this service is only available to full and current members of the University of Cambridge.

Alternatively you can pay yourself for the dissertation PDF on the PQDT platform. Link from Web of Science record display of any thesis to PQDT by clicking on "View Details on ProQuest". On the "Preview" page you will see an option "Order a copy" top right. This will allow you to order your own copy from ProQuest directly.

Dissertations and theses submitted at non-UK universities may also be requested on Inter-Library Loan through the Inter-Library Loans department (01223 333039 or 333080, [email protected] )

Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023 9:47 AM
URL: https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/theses

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OU theses and dissertations

Online theses.

Are available via Open Research Online .

Print theses

Search for OU theses in the Library Search . To see only print theses click 'In the Walton Hall library' and refine your results to resource type 'Thesis'.

OU staff and research students can borrow a consultation copy of a thesis (if available). Please contact the Library helpdesk giving the author and title of the thesis.

UK theses and dissertations from EThOS

The Electronic Theses Online System (EThOS) offers free access to the full text of UK theses.

EThOS offers a one stop online shop providing free access to UK theses
EThOS digitizes theses on request into PDF format, this may require payment
EThOS is managed by the British Library in partnership with a number of UK universities
EThOS is open to all categories of library user

What does this mean to you as a library user?

When you need to access a PhD thesis from another UK based HE institution you should check EThOS to either download a thesis which has already been digitised or to request that a UK thesis be supplied to you.

For all UK theses EThOS will be the first point of delivery. You can use the online ordering and tracking system direct from EThOS to manage your requests for UK PhD theses, including checking the status of your requests
As readers you will deal directly with EThOS so will not need to fill in a document delivery request
OU staff and research students will still be entitled to access non-UK based PhD theses by filling in a document delivery request
In some cases where EThOS is unable to supply a UK thesis OU staff and research students will be able to access it by filling in a conventional document delivery request. The thesis will be supplied through direct loan
The EThOS system is both faster and cheaper than the previous British Theses service which was based on microfilm
The British Library no longer arranges interlibrary loans for UK PhD theses
Interlibrary Loan procedures for other types of request from the British Library (articles and books for example) will remain the same

If you have any queries about using EThOS contact the Document Delivery Team ( [email protected] or the Library Helpdesk ).

Note 13/03/2024: The British Library is continuing to experience a major technology outage affecting its websites and other online systems, due to a Cyber attack. as a result access to ETHOS might not be possible until the issue is fixed.

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What to expect from a PhD/ MA by Research

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest level of qualification awarded by universities in the UK, typically aimed at students who have successfully completed a Masters programme.

A PhD is awarded for the outcomes of intensive, independent study that demonstrates an original and significant contribution to knowledge in your chosen subject. You will be assessed at the end of the programme by a thesis of 80,000 words which will need to be deemed suitable for publication, in whole or in part in a learned journal or equivalent by your examiners. You will need to defend your thesis and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of your subject at a viva voce (oral examination) before a panel of expert examiners.

By comparison, an MA by Research is a research-based Masters programme assessed by a thesis of 40,000 words. An oral examination may be held at the discretion of the examiners.

Unlike our postgraduate taught programmes, there are no formal lectures or seminars in a PhD or MA by Research, and your work is not formally examined until after your thesis has been submitted. Instead, our postgraduate research programmes provide you with the opportunity to undertake research under the expert guidance of a primary supervisor, co-supervisor and mentor, supported by complementary research training.

PhD and MA by Research programmes may start at any time of the year, though we strongly encourage students to begin their studies at the start of the UK academic year (September). We also offer flexibility in our programmes so that you can choose the mode of study that works for you - full-time, part-time, or distance learning . It usually takes three years (full-time) or six years (part-time) to complete a PhD, while the standard duration for an MA by Research is either one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

Distance learning students will receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students, the only difference being that supervisory sessions will take place via audio and visual communication services such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom, rather than in person. You will be funded to make one compulsory visit to the University per year of study (or every other year for part-time students), enabling you to meet your supervisory team, undertake intensive research skills training and make a start on your doctoral studies. You may also be invited to attend the University for annual meetings which give you the opportunity to interact with other research students both socially and academically, undertake important progress-review meetings and carry out any necessary training. For those studying a PhD, you will also generally be required to be present on campus for your viva voce (funded for travel and accommodation).

What is involved in a PhD/MA by Research?

Before you start.

One of your main sources of support, inspiration and encouragement throughout your PhD/MA by Research programme will be your supervisory team. Establishing an effective working relationship is important for staying on top of your work and making the most of your research.

If you are planning to apply for a PhD/MA by Research programme, you should first make sure that the relevant department within the College of Arts and Law offers the necessary expertise. We ask that you identify an appropriate supervisor before you submit your application and contact them in the first instance to discuss your research proposal. If you experience any difficulties with the application process and contacting potential supervisors, please email: [email protected]

Your research proposal should be a short written document (approximately 1,000-1,500 words) which sets out the central issues or questions that you intend to address. It should outline the general area of study within which your research falls, referring to the current state of knowledge and any recent debates on the topic, as well as demonstrate the originality of your proposed research. For further advice, please refer to our research proposal guidance pages .

During your studies

Your supervisory team will meet with you at regular intervals throughout your PhD/MA by Research programme in order to offer guidance on how best to approach, implement and report on your research. Supervisory sessions for distance learning students will take place via audio and visual communication services such as Skype or Facetime, rather than on campus.

Although your supervisory team are there to help you to complete your research, postgraduate research students are expected to take full responsibility for their work. Therefore, you will need to develop your own timetable for academic study, planning and managing your research so that you can successfully complete your thesis on time.

The first year (or part-time equivalent) of a PhD usually consists of a literature review specific to your thesis and topic, along with any other relevant work or training that will prepare you for undertaking the bulk of your research in the second year, which is normally then written up in the third year. For an MA by Research, these timescales are condensed into one year (or two years if studying part time).

During the course of your studies your supervisory team may also encourage you to present your research to the wider academic community and to the general public at seminars and conferences, or even submit work for publication in specialist journals. You will also have opportunities for teaching, networking, and playing an active role in the College's vibrant postgraduate research community .

If you wish to proceed and submit an application, please refer to our six-step process for applying for PhD and MA by Research opportunities in Arts subject areas.

Theses and Dissertations: UK PhD Theses

UK PhD Theses
Overseas PhD Theses
BU Theses & Dissertations This link opens in a new window

For Library Enquiries: tel. +44 (0) 1202 965959 Available 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri

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Using UK PhD Theses in EThOS

Obtaining Theses

Thesis and Dissertation databases can be accessed via this BU Library webpage .
If a thesis is not available full text online then it may be possible to obtain via the Inter-Library Loan service . The clarity of your request is enhanced if you attach a printout of the source details e.g. a record from one of the databases .
Electronic Theses Online Service (EThOS) is the British Library service which provides full text open access to digital copies of UK PhD theses. The EThOS database contains records of over 250,000 UK theses, with the added functionality of being able to request access to digital copies of selected theses that have not already been digitised.
Personal registration on EThOS is required to be able to download theses. Bournemouth University is an Open Access Sponsor of EThOS, so all BU theses are indexed.
Theses which are already available to download have a pdf attached to the record. For those theses that do not have a pdf attached, you should select the record to check Availability of Full Text – there are 3 possible scenarios:
The home institution will pay the digitisation cost and access will be free.
The home institution will digitise the thesis, but you will be charged. In these cases you should consult your supervisor as to how important the thesis is to your research and consider requesting payment via the Inter-Library Request Service.
The thesis is not available via EThOS service. Please contact the current institution's library directly if you wish to view the thesis.

Doing a thesis at BU

This guide is to help with searching for theses from other institutions.

If you are doing a thesis at BU and want guidance to help with writing and completing your research see our PGR Guide

Subject Guide

Next: Overseas PhD Theses >>
Last Updated: Oct 18, 2023 11:46 AM
URL: https://libguides.bournemouth.ac.uk/theses-dissertations

Department of Politics and International Relations

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PhD in Politics (Distance Learning)

PhD details 3 to 4 years full-time 6 years part-time Start date October 2023 January 2024 (semester dates)

Research Research in the department takes place within four clusters: Comparative Politics and Public Policy International Studies Political Economy Political Theory Members of staff participate actively in interdisciplinary research. Examples include: Centre for Applied Human Rights Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies Research Centre for Social Sciences School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Fees 2023/24 UK fees 2023/24 international fees

PhD students benefit from: Dedicated study space Quality research training Teaching opportunities Financial support for conferences and fieldwork Interdisciplinary events

Find out more about some of our current PhD researchers .

Contact us Contact our Graduate Office +44 (0)1904 323542 [email protected]. uk

Apply for this course

The Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York is at the heart of current thinking, research and debate, and home to a prestigious, lively and international community. Our students and academics are internationally recognized as being at the forefront of research. Our staff are committed to both research of the highest standards and to applying their knowledge to real-world problems. They advise governments and international organisations on a wide range of issues, and regularly contribute to the news media and current affairs programmes throughout the world. Current concentrations of research expertise include the history of political thought, contemporary political theory, comparative politics, public policy, peacebuilding, global development, international security, human rights, international political economy, environmental and gender politics. We welcome PhD applications in any of these areas.

The focus of your work will be an independent research project. We provide training which will equip you with skills in a wide range of research skills, including qualitative and quantitative research methods, to support your growing expertise. The PhD requires a dissertation of 70,000- 80,000 words or (for the 'thesis by papers' doctorate) a series of papers making an original contribution to your thesis topic.

Postgraduate research provides opportunities to develop your academic, creative and practical skills. You'll work independently in a supportive academic environment where scholarship and creativity go hand-in-hand.

The PhD in Politics (Distance Learning) allows access to academic supervision and research training for those students unable to work on campus on a regular basis.

Distance learning may be challenging and applicants need to have a high capacity to work independently and in a disciplined fashion to pursue their research goals. Supervisory teams are there to support you in acquiring the knowledge and skills to complete the thesis and there will be opportunities to participate in our research environment through online and hybrid events.

Distance learning students are expected to attend a five day induction process at the University, at the start of their studies.

Department of Politics and International Relations University of York , York , YO10 5DD , UK Tel: work +44 (0) 1904 323542 | Fax: fax 01904 323563

Finding UK theses

The Bodleian Libraries hold copies of some UK theses. These are listed on SOLO and may be ordered for delivery to a reading room.

These theses are not all catalogued in a uniform way. Adding the word 'thesis' as a keyword in SOLO may help, but this is unlikely to find all theses, and may find published works based upon theses as well as unpublished theses.

Card catalogue

Some early theses accepted for higher degrees and published before 1973 are held in the Bodleian Libraries but are not yet catalogued on SOLO. These holdings can be found in the Foreign Dissertations Catalogue card index.

To request access to material in the catalogue, speak to library staff at the Main Enquiry Desk in the Lower Reading Room of the Old Bodleian Library, or contact us via [email protected] or phone (01865 277162).

Other finding aids

Proquest dissertations & theses.

You can use ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global to locate theses accepted for higher degrees at universities in the UK and Ireland since 1716. The service also provides abstracts of these theses.

Library Hub Discover

You can use Library Hub Discover to search the online catalogues of some of the UK’s largest university research libraries to see if a thesis is held by another UK library.

EThOS is the UK’s national thesis service, managed by the British Library. It aims to provide a national aggregated record of all doctoral theses awarded by UK higher education institutions, with free access to the full text of many theses. It has around 500,000 records for theses awarded by over 120 institutions.

UTREES - University Theses in Russian, Soviet, and East European Studies 1907–

UTREES is a bibliographical database of research in the British Isles. The database has been continuously extended from the printed volume, most recently with 202 recent theses added in 2021. The database lists details of over 6,000 doctoral and selected masters’ theses from British and Irish universities. It covers research relating to Eastern and Central Europe, Russia and the area of the former USSR, including Central Asia, the Caucasus and Siberia.

Individual universities

You can also go to individual UK universities' sites for their online theses repositories.

You can purchase copies of Cambridge University theses through the Cambridge University Library's online order form . There is a standard charge of £75 (plus VAT and postage). White Rose ETheses Online is an online repository of doctoral theses from the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. It is part of a national and international network of open access online databases which promote access to research outputs. Many theses have been digitised by the British Library as part of the EThOS. However, there have been instances where theses are available via WhiteRose eTheses Online before they reach EThOS.

Ordering UK theses

Many theses from other UK universities are available from the British Library's EThOS service. Unfortunately, this service is currently unavailable due to a cyber attack on the British Library.

You can also request theses from other UK universities as an inter-library request .

Please note that it may not be possible to obtain some theses due to restrictions on lending placed by the author of the thesis or the institution at which it is held.

Library Guides

Theses and dissertations

Introduction to ethos, about ethos, benefits of using phds, further information.

Benefits to researchers

Easy access to UK research theses.
Centralised access to new and retrospectively digitised theses.
Raised profile for individual authors from wider circulation of their work.
Support for the principle of Open Access and increased use of publicly-funded research outputs.

Ethos is the British Library digital repository for UK research theses offering a central access point to UK doctoral theses. The majority of universities in the UK are members. You can cross-search over 500,000 theses including those available for immediate download.

Requesting doctoral theses

You must first register on an individual basis with Ethos in order to make requests through the Ethos website. The Ethos site provides further information .

In some cases the first person (or their institution) to request a thesis is required to pay for the cost of digitisation. In the first instance researchers should refer to the Director of Research and Enterprise or their supervisor in the school about recovering costs from school research funds.

How long will it take?

Immediate download for theses already digitised. For theses not yet digitised you will need to contact the library of the university where the paper thesis is held to request access.

University of Greenwich theses are uploaded to GALA and harvested into Ethos allowing you to search and download from from either source.

Visit our theses and dissertations page to find out more about finding PhD theses within and beyond the university.

List of institutions taking part in Ethos .

Frequently asked questions about Ethos .

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Last Updated: Aug 8, 2023 9:35 AM
URL: https://libguides.gre.ac.uk/theses

Staff & students

PhD (doctoral) theses

Accessing our collection of Goldsmiths PhD (doctoral) theses.

Primary page content

On this page:

Print theses in the Library

Digital copies in gro and ethos, using library search to find theses, finding practice research theses on gro, finding creative writing theses on gro.

Until 2020, a single copy of all Goldsmiths PhD (doctoral) theses were deposited in the Library, in the same year that they were awarded. In the 2020-21 academic year, PhD candidates were asked to deposit their final thesis in digital format only as an interim adjustment due to Covid-19. Please see the Graduate School guidance on thesis deposit formats .

All print copies of PhD theses held in the library are discoverable on Library Search .

Printed theses are for reference only and cannot be borrowed, because they are unique. Theses are not available for browsing on the open shelves and are instead held in our store.

Print theses can be consulted in the Library upon request by using the ‘Place a hold’ function on Library Search . Guidance on using the ‘Place a hold’ function is also available. Requested theses can be collected from the Library Help Desk during opening hours .

Most printed theses may be photocopied, but do check the coversheet inside as that will tell you what permission the author has given for copying. If no restrictions are specified then you can copy no more than 5% of the thesis, or one chapter, provided it is for research or private study.

Please note that University of London theses were held at Senate House Library until 2010, but were then transferred back to the home institution so there are no print copies of Goldsmiths theses held at Senate House Library.

Digital copies of many Goldsmiths PhD (doctoral) theses are available from two sources:

Goldsmiths Research Online (GRO)
EThOS , the British Library's collection of UK theses

Theses completed on or after 1 June 2010 are collected in Goldsmiths Research Online (GRO) and also made available in the British Library's EThOS service.

Copyright restrictions mean that it is not possible to make all theses available in GRO or EThOS. In some cases, embargoes are requested by authors following the completion of their thesis. This means that the bibliographic details and abstract of the thesis is available on GRO but the full text cannot be downloaded. Embargoes are not permanent and it is rare that an embargo will extend beyond the standard length of 36 months.

Theses from before 2010, originally deposited in Senate House Library, which are not yet available digitally can usually be requested for digitisation from EThOS. You will need to register with EThOS to make a digitisation request, but there is no charge for requesting a digital copy of a Goldsmiths thesis, because Goldsmiths is an open access sponsor of EThOS.

Some theses completed before 2010 have been digitised and are available in GRO and ETHoS. If you completed your thesis at Goldsmiths before 2010, we would encourage you to make a digital copy of your thesis available. Please contact the Goldsmiths Research Online team on gro (@gold.ac.uk) , if you would like to know more about making a digital copy of your thesis available.

How to find theses on Library Search

All print copies of PhD theses held in the Library are on Library Search . Theses with access to the full text on GRO can also be found on Library Search. Some theses from other UK universities that are available on the British Library EThOS service can also be found on Library Search (you will need to register for a free EThOS account in order to download theses through the service).

To find a specific PhD thesis, you can search for the author or title on Library Search .

The results may include both print and digital copies of the thesis.

Digital copies will have an ‘Online access’ or ‘Full text available’ link. For Goldsmiths theses, the ‘Online access’ link will take you to the copy of the full text thesis on Goldsmiths Research Online . For theses from other institutions, the link will take you to the record held on the British Library EThOS service.

Print copies will list the Dewey classmark.

To find theses on a particular subject area or discipline, you can perform a keyword search on Library Search and then use the ‘Refine my results’ options on the right of the results page to filter your results to ‘Theses’.

You can also use the ‘Advanced Search’ function to search for theses only by selecting ‘Theses’ in the ‘Material Type’ field.

How to find theses on GRO

GRO offers some search options that are not available on Library Search and it is recommended if you wish to find theses produced by a specific department or find theses which make use of practice research or creative writing methods.

Please note that some theses listed on GRO are under embargo and full text is not currently accessible.

Finding theses on GRO for a specific department

Navigate to GRO . From the landing page, use the drop-down menu on the right hand side to select "Advanced Search". In "Advanced Search" select "Thesis" as the item type.

In the "Departments, Centres and Research Units" field, select the appropriate department. To select more than one department, hold down the "Ctrl" (PC) or "Cmd" (Mac) key while clicking on the relevant departments.

In the “Full Text Status” field select “Public” to search for theses with full text availability. If you want to see all theses held on GRO for the department regardless of full text status leave all the boxes unticked.

Hit the “Search” button at the bottom of the page.

Navigate to GRO . From the landing page, use the drop-down menu on the right-hand side to select "Advanced Search". In "Advanced Search" select "Thesis" as the item type.

In the keywords field enter the word "Practice". Although alternative terms are used to describe this type of research, entering the term “Practice” will retrieve the fullest range of results in GRO.

In the keywords field enter word "Creative Writing".

If you need further help accessing our doctoral thesis collection please contact gro (@gold.ac.uk) .

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Decision on UK graduate visa expected ‘in weeks’, says MAC chair

Brian bell tells reporters that scrapping visa would only have a modest effect on immigration numbers anyway, given large impact of changes already introduced.

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A decision on whether the UK will retain its graduate visa could come in “the next week” but ministers should be aware that changes they have already made are “overachieving” and may even succeed in bringing immigration down below target levels, according to the chair of Migration Advisory Committee.

Speaking to the media after delivering his report into the post-study work route, Brian Bell, professor of economics at King’s College London , said he did not know whether the Home Office would follow the recommendation that the visa be retained but he hoped that the work would ensure the debate took place with a better evidence base.

The MAC was given just two months to conduct the investigation after being commissioned by home secretary James Cleverly and ultimately decided the visa was meeting its goals , with no evidence of widespread abuse. The government has said that it is still considering the findings, with some suggesting it could still attempt to reform the visa either by reducing its length or placing conditions on its use, with the Conservative Party also considering whether to make a commitment to scrapping it in its next manifesto .

“We know why it was a rapid review; it was a rapid review because the government wants to make a decision in the next week, two weeks, probably somewhat driven by the net migration statistics that are coming out [on 23 May] and there is some sort of general election or something planned soon,” said Professor Bell.

“I have no idea what the government will decide,” he added, but said it was not just a decision for the Home Office but one that will be made across Whitehall.

“My view is pretty straightforward,” he continued. “We have made the best recommendation based on the evidence we have reviewed…it is entirely up to government to decide whether to accept our recommendation or not. That is how it should be.”

Speaking to Times Higher Education , Professor Bell said that he had had no indication the government had made up its mind before the report had been delivered.

“I certainly got the sense that they were indeed waiting for our report and would take the evidence seriously and make a decision based on that,” he added.

Professor Bell said that scrapping the graduate visa would only have a modest effect on overall immigration numbers anyway, particularly after the changes made in January that banned master’s students from bringing their dependants and raised the salary threshold for skilled worker visas.

He said these reforms were resulting in a “much bigger fall that the government expected”, judging by evidence submitted to the review that international students paying deposits for master’s programmes were down by more than 50 per cent.

“If that bears out when we get to September and see the enrolment numbers, I think it probably supports a view that the government will overachieve on the objective of reducing net migration on the student side,” he said, adding that it now had a “fighting chance” of meeting its objective to bring immigration numbers down to the level they were in 2019, and possibly even below this threshold.

The MAC has estimated that the changes could reduce the number of students who end up entering longer term work routes to around 26,000, meaning “most of the hard work has been done” without the need to reform the visa, said Professor Bell.

The economist said it was a “good thing” that the MAC had been asked to conduct the review, despite the uncertainty it caused in the sector, because it had helped improve an “appalling” evidence base around what international graduates do post-study.

Professor Bell, who had previously been critical about the short time frame given for the report, said its conclusions would not have changed if the committee had been given longer but there was much more to discover about the visa and how it is operating.

He said he expected future governments to ask the MAC to revisit the issue, particularly because it was only able to look at one cohort who had gone through the whole cycle and future cohorts are far larger.

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V-cs: now give ‘categorical reassurance’ graduate visa will stay

Universities call for end to ‘toxic’ uncertainty over future of post-study work route following publication of MAC report

Last-ditch bid to save UK graduate visa as critics circle

Even a favourable MAC report may not relieve political pressure on government to act further on international student numbers, risking ‘enormous damage right across the sector’

Mixed reaction to Australian research and development review

We should improve the system while we’re examining it, critics argue

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Decision on UK graduate visa 'in weeks', says MAC chair
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