
Postgraduate research
We offer postgraduate research programmes and studentships in almost 40 diverse subject areas across four Schools.
We're home to more than 800 doctoral students from more than 90 different countries, embracing disciplines as diverse as business, arts, languages and cultures, environment, education and development, and social sciences.
As a research community, we think critically to tackle issues big and small.
We’re always looking to make an impact with everything we do, with a shared ambition to always do better.
Video: Our PhD community
Your PhD naturally centres around exploring your chosen research with the support of your supervisors, however, you will also be part of a much wider community of researchers, each with their own individual interests, talents, and goals.
Humanities is home to a diverse and passionate group of researchers from nearly 100 different countries working in a range of disciplines.
This brings a real sense of community to your peer group, complementing your PhD experience with their support, inspiration, and friendship.
We encourage interdisciplinary working and collaboration, and you will be respected and valued for your individual contributions, working in partnership with our wider academic community.
There are plenty of opportunities to take an active role in developing the community, including organising workshops, seminars, and conferences, joining reading groups, or becoming a postgraduate research representative where you act as a voice for your cohort.
You can get involved with the wider teaching community as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, helping to guide our undergraduates' education by sharing your expertise.
Video: Making an impact
As a doctoral researcher, you'll be encouraged to use your skills, expertise, and findings to make a difference, whether it be locally - working with communities within Manchester - or globally.
The connections we have with communities, organisations, and individuals outside of our campus give you the chance to form relationships, exchange knowledge and shape your research to have the greatest impact.
Funding is available for you to complete PhD Knowledge Exchange projects and placements with external partners.
Course finder
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American Studies
Study topics including the colonial era, Hollywood film, hip-hop culture, the changing nature of work and leisure, and the idea of revolution in American culture.
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Architecture
Architecture studies at Manchester take place at the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA), one of the top architecture schools in the UK.
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Art History
Study modern and contemporary art, architectural history, museum studies, and the intersections of art and science.
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Arts Management and Museology
Explore a suite of programmes on museology, heritage, and arts management at the Institute for Cultural Practices (ICP).
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Business Studies
Our Business School teaches accounting and finance, innovation management and policy, management sciences and marketing, and people, management, and organisations.
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CAHAE
Explore the ancient world, from the Near East and Egypt to the Hellenistic and Roman Empires, with Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology, and Egyptology (CAHAE).
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Criminology
Criminology is the study of crime – its measurement and definition, causes and effects, and social implications.
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Drama
Theatre studies, performance, applied theatre, and screen studies delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, and group practical projects.
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Economics
Economics is the study of the way in which incentives affect behaviour, and economists analyse how choices are made and their influence on society as a whole.
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Education
Addressing social justice and enabling educational change through scholarly activities and collaborative partnerships with professionals.
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English Literature and Creative Writing
Course units range from Anglo-Saxon literature to 21st-century writing and film and cover medieval romance to the postcolonial and postmodern.
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Geography
Research and teaching by Manchester geographers set national and international research agendas in human and physical geography.
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Global Development
Development courses promote social justice, economic development, and greater equality within countries, particularly for marginalised groups.
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History
Modern British and European cultural history, economic and social history from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, and the study of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
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HCRI
Leading global institute for the study of humanitarianism and conflict response, global health, international disaster management, and peacebuilding.
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Law
Explore opportunities to learn about today’s legal issues in one of the most diverse cities in the UK, and gain the skills to pursue a law-related profession.
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Modern Languages and Cultures
Our Modern Languages provision is amongst the broadest and most diverse in the UK, featuring more than 100 different subject combinations.
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Music
Our research and teaching covers composition (instrumental and vocal), electroacoustic composition and computer music, ethnomusicology, musicology, and performance.
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Philosophy
Our research and teaching areas include analytic philosophy, with emphasis on metaphysics, aesthetics, ethics, epistemology, the history of philosophy, and the philosophy of mind.
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Planning and Environmental Management
Planning and Environmental Management covers spatial analysis, politics and planning, governance, sustainable urbanism, and urban research.
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Politics
Politics at Manchester is one of the strongest groupings in the UK with a distinguished history as a centre of research, training, and education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
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Religions and Theology
Study of the beliefs, texts, practices, histories, and cultures of the great religious traditions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
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Social Anthropology
The study of social and cultural diversity, including conflict and its aftermath, economic change, poverty, inequality, globalisation, sex, gender, identities, and the material world.
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Social Statistics
Developing statistical methods for longitudinal and multilevel data, longitudinal survey data, social networks, statistical disclosure and confidentiality, and small area estimation.
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Sociology
The study of social life and social change, adopting the perspective that behaviour can only be understood by studying people's social context and their webs of connection.
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Translation and Intercultural Studies
Translation and Intercultural Studies offers a comprehensive portfolio of taught master's courses in translation studies and intercultural communication.
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