We actively welcome applications to study for a PhD within CDAS and have been very successful in securing funding for PhD students. Our PhD students go on into academia, professional work, or are doing it as part of their day-to-day employment as a way to develop their credentials. Studying for a PhD is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to research, network, develop your skillsets and hone your intellectual thinking.

How can you do a PhD at Bath?

There are lots of different ways to do a PhD and to seek funding for doctoral study Every year the University of Bath has a funding round that opens in October. The priorities for this round change every year so the first thing to do if you are thinking about studying for a PhD is to come up with an idea for a project and approach a CDAS member to see if they can help you with developing a proposal and would be interested or have capacity to be your PhD supervisor. Your idea does not need to be fully formed at this stage.

Things to think about when approaching a potential supervisor are their specialist area and ‘fit’ for your study, and whether you could see yourself being able to work effectively with them. The relationship you have with your PhD supervisor is critical to your success, so spend time on establishing who you would want to work with. Details about how to apply to do a PhD can be found here

What ways can I do a PhD at Bath?

There are two routes. You can do a conventional 3 year full time PhD, which is where you are a PhD student studying at the University and completing a piece of work and 90,000 word thesis at the end of the three years. There is the possibility of doing this part time over 6 years.

The other route is via our Institute for Policy Research Professional Doctorate Programme This is where you stay in work, studying with us in a taught programme over two years then conducting a shorter PhD thesis in years 3-4. This is a really good option for people who want to continue to work while studying. Your PhD study does however need to have a policy element to it, and you need to be able and prepared to come to Bath twice a year for intensive study weeks/fortnights.

What do our current students say about us?

Chloe Moody, second year PhD student in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences: "I came to study a PhD with CDAS from, what I consider to be, the best job rejection I've ever had! I applied for a research assistant position at our local hospice, and unfortunately didn't get chosen as I didn't have a PhD. The research team saw my passion in my interview and connected me with academics with similar interests within CDAS who inspired and motivated me to take the plunge and apply.

CDAS has a strong sense of community despite each of us having such diverse interests, and part of the fun is being able to learning something new from one another. We each bring something different to the table, enabling CDAS to create connections and opportunities both nationally and internationally."

Mathew Crawley, third year student on the IPR Professional Doctorate Programme and Deputy CEO of the Institute for Cemetery and Crematorium Management: “I had always felt that a Doctorate would be out of reach for someone that hadn’t been involved through the ‘traditional’ route into higher education. As my career has been based in death, dying and bereavement operations, the Centre for Death and Society seemed a natural fit where further education was concerned. From the first point of contact, CDAS members and directors have been welcoming, friendly and above all else, encouraging which has continued well into my (current) third year of studies. Separately to the PhD, the networks and connections made, alongside the opportunities to present and partake in other disciplines of death studies has been as valuable as studying for the PhD itself “

Renske Visser, former CDAS PhD student, now a Post Doc researcher as the University of Oulu, Finland: "When I realised I wanted to specialise in Death Studies, I knew I had to come to CDAS. It is a warm and generous research community and I have built relationships during my doctoral studies that last until this day"

You can find out more about studying for a PhD with CDAS and at the University of Bath here.

Visiting PhD students

The University runs an international programme for doctoral students outside of the UK who want to spend a short period of time with us. More details are available here.