Research degrees
Advance your career and expertise through Kingston University’s research degrees. Our research programmes offer pathways to academic, consultancy or commercial careers.
Why Kingston University is ideal for research degrees
Kingston University's research degrees offer a flexible approach to carrying out research. They allow you to study on a full-time basis or to combine your research studies with employment.
We carry out a wide-range of research activities, from traditional academic disciplines to more contemporary problems or developments. Our staff are highly respected in their fields. You will be working with people at the forefront of the latest thinking and practice with access to cutting edge research facilities.
As a research student at Kingston University, you will join a strong and ambitious postgraduate community. You will receive full support through a comprehensive programme of research training, including workshops, seminars, guest lectures, symposia, and related activities organised by the research groups.
All research degrees are programs of independent study, culminating in the submission of a dissertation or thesis, which you will defend in a viva voce (oral) examination. The nature of the research will vary depending on the subject, with some involving extensive fieldwork or laboratory testing, while others may be more theory-based.
What research degrees are available?
The period of registration for these degrees is one year full-time or two years part-time. You will normally need a first or second class honours degree or equivalent in a subject appropriate to the proposed field of research.
The degree involves investigation and evaluation of an approved research topic and the presentation of a dissertation. This is between 15,000 and 20,000 words long, depending on the subject discipline. It will be the subject of an oral examination, in which you will show how you have critically investigated your area of research.
The award of MSc by Research and Dissertation or MA by Research is at Level 7 (postgraduate masters level). This is the same as MPhil, but only carries half the credits (180).
In exceptional circumstances, we may consider you for admission to a research degree without the conventional qualifications. If you have substantial relevant professional experience, including publications or written reports, we will consider these as a potential alternative basis for an application for admission to a research degree programme.
Please note that these programmes are not available for business-related research topics.
An MPhil typically takes:
- two to three years of full-time study; or
- four to six years of part-time study.
You will usually need a first or second class honours degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to your proposed research programme.
Word length for the MPhil thesis varies according to discipline, and is about 20,000 words for healthcare, science and engineering, or 40,000 for other subject areas. It will be the subject of an oral examination in which you will show how you have critically investigated your area of research.
In exceptional circumstances, we may consider you for admission to a research degree without the conventional qualifications. If you have substantial relevant professional experience, including publications or written reports, the University will consider these as a potential alternative basis for an application for admission to a research degree programme.
A PhD will typically take:
- three to four years of full-time study; or
- four to six years of part-time study.
You will normally need a postgraduate masters degree in a subject relevant to your proposed research programme. Some subject areas may consider applicants with a first/upper second class honours degree or equivalent.
Word length for the PhD thesis varies according to discipline, and is about 40,000 words for healthcare, science and engineering, or 80,000 for other subject areas. On completion it will be the subject of an oral examination, in which you will show how you have:
- critically investigated your area of research; and
- made an independent and original contribution to knowledge.
Initially, your admission will be provisional and subject to formal confirmation after your first year of study.
In exceptional circumstances, we may consider you for admission to a research degree without the conventional qualifications. If you have substantial relevant professional experience, including publications or written reports, the University will consider these as a potential alternative basis for an application for admission to a research degree programme.
A PhD by prior publication/portfolio will typically take one year. The award allows people who have not followed the traditional academic route towards a PhD to obtain academic recognition for having undertaken and produced research, and developed their research skills and subject knowledge to doctoral level.
This may include people entering higher education in mid-career, especially in practice-based disciplines.
Word length for the PhD thesis varies according to discipline; it will include substantial published work and an introductory section of about 10,000 words. On completion it will be the subject of an oral examination, in which you will show how you have:
- critically investigated your area of research; and
- made an independent and original contribution to knowledge.
Further guidance is available in our PhD by prior publication/portfolio guidelines (additional subject-specific guidance available for Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment) which you can access via our research policies and guidance page.
We welcome applications from practitioners wanting to do practice-based or practice-led research. The practice may be in any field, for instance, fine art, art history, curating, design, engineering and technology, architecture, creative writing, musical composition, film, dance, and performance.
For such a research project, the thesis should reflect a coherent research process, demonstrate a critical appreciation of the context of the research, its relationship to existing literature/practices and received opinion, and show that the research has produced an original contribution to knowledge. The relationship of this reflective commentary to the other forms of material submitted must be clearly articulated so that the work forms a single coherent body, considered collectively as the thesis. Within the thesis, the balance between the reflective commentary and the creative work, publications or equivalent plus the relative weighting given to each element, must meet subject-specific requirements and be agreed by the candidate's Faculty Research Degrees Committee.
The creative work must be undertaken as part of the registered research programme, not before. If you are interested in applying for a PhD that recognises previous work, please see PhD by prior publication/portfolio.
Practice-based PhDs follow the same processes and are under the same regulations as our traditional PhD programme.
Visit the Education PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) course page to find out more.
Flexible study options may be available for research degrees, allowing international students to study part-time from their home country with online supervision.
If you’re considering a distance learning degree, discuss it early with the Faculty Research Student Coordinator and your potential supervisor, as not all projects are suitable.
You may need a local supervisor on your team and confirmation of access to required resources. Depending on your subject, visits to Kingston for training, conferences, or research events may be required.
Why choose a research degree?
A research degree offers the opportunity to gain expertise in your chosen field through in-depth study and original research. In addition to paving the way for an academic career, it can enhance your employment prospects in commercial research and development, consultancy, and various roles across the public and private sectors.
How much does a research degree cost?
2025/26 academic year
| Research degrees | Attendance | Home (£) | International (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA and MSc by Research, MPhil and PhD | Full time Part time | 5,006 2,503 | 17,300 8,650 |
| PhD by Prior Publication | Part time | 5,006 | 17,300 |
| Distance Learners (excl. PhD by Prior Publication and Professional Doctorates) | Part time | 2,503 | 8,650 |
| Writing up fee (one year only) | 200* | 200* |
*Please note that for students commencing Research from September 2025 onwards, the writing-up fee will be £1,000. The £200 fee will apply for students commencing prior to this date.
Additional bench fees may be charged for certain research programmes. Please contact the relevant faculty office for further details.
Research degrees in Kingston School of Art
We offer MA by Research, MPhil and PhD degrees across the range of research areas within the Faculty.
As a research student at Kingston University you will become part of a strong and ambitious postgraduate community. You will be fully supported by a rich programme of research training, including research workshops, seminars, guest lectures, symposia, and related activities organised through the research centres.
Currently we have over 250 postgraduate researchers across the Faculty. Several have successfully secured prestigious AHRC postgraduate studentships through TECHNE or LDoc, overseas government studentships, industry or employer sponsorship, or University or Kingston School of Art scholarships.
Visit Kingston School of Art's research pages for more information.
For enquiries, please contact the research student coordinator: ksaresearch-applications@kingston.ac.uk
To apply, please ensure you select the exact qualification, start date and mode of attendance:
Start date: March 2025
- Apply for full-time attendance - MA by Research (March 2025)
- Apply for part-time attendance - MA by Research (March 2025)
- Apply for full-time distance learning - MA by Research (March 2025)
- Apply for part-time distance learning - MA by Research (March 2025)
Start date: October 2025
Start date: March 2025
- Apply for full-time attendance – MPhil/PhD (March 2025)
- Apply for part-time attendance – MPhil/PhD (March 2025)
- Apply for full-time distance learning (four years) – MPhil/PhD (March 2025)
- Apply for part-time distance learning (eight years) – MPhil/PhD (March 2025)
Start date: October 2025
Start date: March 2025
Start date: October 2025
Special arrangements are in place for this route. Please refer to the PhD by prior publication/portfolio guidelines in our research policies and guidelines and contact the faculty to discuss your proposal.
TECHNE, comprising nine universities, offers up to 60 annual doctoral awards in arts and humanities via the open competition and the Collaborative Doctoral Award route. It provides training and partnerships to prepare scholars for academic, public, or professional careers. TECHNE is one of the 10 Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Training Partnerships. Its students benefit from a diverse and rich range of training workshops and opportunities to engage with partners in the arts and cultural sector.
The open competition includes those who are applying initially as an MPhil student with the intention to upgrade to PhD study.
TECHNE welcomes both interdisciplinary research proposals and those focused within traditional discipline areas.
Students may apply to TECHNE for a doctoral award by submitting a TECHNE application through Kingston University. It is not possible to submit an application directly to TECHNE: you must apply through one of the member universities.
Research degrees in the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
The Faculty offers research degrees across a range of subject areas.
- For more specific information, visit the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences' research pages
- For enquiries, email the research student coordinator
- To apply, ensure you select the exact qualification, start date and mode of attendance using the links below:
Please note this is not available for business research subjects.
Start date: March 2025
- Apply for full-time attendance - MSc by Research (March 2025)
- Apply for full-time distance learning – MSc by Research (March 2025)
- Apply for part-time distance learning – MSc by Research (March 2025)
Start date: October 2025
- Apply for full-time attendance – MSc by Research (October 2025)
- Apply for full-time distance learning – MSc by Research (October 2025)
- Apply for part-time distance learning – MSc by Research (October 2025)
Please note this is not available for business research subjects.
Start date: March 2025
- Apply for full-time attendance – MPhil (March 2025)
- Apply for part-time attendance - MPhil (March 2025)
Start date: October 2025
Start date: March 2025
Start date: October 2025
Start date: March 2025
Start date: October 2025
Special arrangements are in place for this route. Please refer to the PhD by prior publication/portfolio guidelines in our research policies and guidelines and contact the faculty to discuss your proposal.
Research degrees in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
The Faculty offers three research degrees: MSc by Research, MPhil and PhD. The research areas covered by the Faculty include environmental change, geological and crustal processes, fire and explosion studies, computer vision and machine learning, molecular electronics and photonics, construction materials and sustainable technology, and mobile information and network technologies.
Currently there are around 100 research students across the Faculty, many of whom have successfully secured studentships, industry sponsorship or University and Faculty funding. Any opportunities for funding for research degrees are advertised on these pages when they become available.
Visit the Faculty's research pages for more information.
For enquiries, please contact the research student coordinator: ECEresearch@kingston.ac.uk
To apply, please ensure you select the exact qualification, start date and mode of attendance:
Start date: May 2025
- Apply for full-time attendance - MPhil (May 2025)
- Apply for part-time attendance - MPhil (May 2025)
- Apply for part-time distance learning - MPhil (May 2025)
Start date: October 2025
Special arrangements are in place for this route. Please refer to the PhD by prior publication/portfolio guidelines in our research policies and guidelines and contact the faculty to discuss your proposal.
Research degrees in the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
Currently there are around 100 research students across the Faculty. Many have successfully secured studentships, industry sponsorship or University and Faculty funding. Any opportunities for funding for research degrees are advertised on these pages when they become available.
Visit the Faculty's research pages for more information.
For enquiries, please contact the research student coordinator: HSSCE-Research@kingston.ac.uk
To apply, please ensure you select the exact qualification, start date and mode of attendance:
Visit the Education PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) course page to find out more.
Start date: March 2025
Start date: October 2025
Special arrangements are in place for this route. Please refer to the PhD by prior publication/portfolio guidelines in our research policies and guidelines and contact the faculty to discuss your proposal.
How to apply for a research degree
We encourage you to start your research degree in March or October to receive maximum benefit from our induction and development programmes. In some circumstances it may be possible to start your degree outside of these dates.
Here are some tips for applying for a research degree at Kingston University:
- Consider whether a research degree is right for you
- Investigate the research happening now across Kingston
- Find out about the research degrees we offer, the entry requirements, and see which one works best for you
- Check if we have expertise in your research area and consider who you would like to work with as your supervisor
- Work on your research proposal and application
You can browse research in the faculties and access application information by using the faculty-specific links above.
You will be asked to include the following documents with your application:
- A draft research proposal or project outline
- Your academic transcripts and or certificates
- English language qualifications, if required
- A photograph or scan of your passport
- You may also wish to attach a CV or other relevant documents, for example a portfolio of art work
Your application, qualifications and proposed project will be assessed by the Faculty. If suitable, you will be invited to an interview to discuss your application and project. Interviews may take place over the telephone or by Skype, if appropriate.
We will assign a first supervisor to help you develop your proposed research into a practical project and to agree a programme of research training.
For more information you can download Information for research degree applicants and offer holders from our research policies and guidance page.
Induction and enrolment takes place in late September each year. You will be invited to these sessions by your faculty:
- Graduate Research School induction and training
- Faculty-based inductions
The Postgraduate Researcher Handbook covers all the basics and explains progression points and key milestones for each research degree. You will be given a hard copy when you enrol but we recommend you read beforehand alongside the Researcher Development Framework which sets out why professional development is so important.
The framework was developed by Vitae, the UK organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of researchers, and is endorsed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Quality Assurance Agency (see UK Quality Code: Research degrees) as being central to the academic standards and skills development a postgraduate researcher can expect from the UK doctorate.
Once you have enrolled and attended the induction program, you will gain access to My Kingston (the student intranet) and the Graduate Research School Canvas module.
There you will find additional information and resources, including details of the Graduate Research Structured Programme. All handouts and materials from the induction sessions will also be available on Canvas.