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 skills, 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. The University of Bath has an annual funding round that opens in October. The priorities for this round change each year.
If you are thinking about studying for a PhD, you should come up with an idea for a project and approach a CDAS member. They may be able to help you with developing a proposal, and could be interested, or have capacity to be, your PhD supervisor. Your idea does not need to be fully formed at this stage.
When approaching a potential supervisor, you should think about their specialist area and if this is a 'good fit' for your study. You should also be able to 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.
What ways can I do a PhD at Bath?
There are two ways to do a PhD at the University of Bath.
One way is to do a conventional 3 year full time PhD. This is where you are a PhD student studying at the University and completing a piece of work, plus a 90,000 word thesis, at the end of the three years. It may be possible to do this part-time over 6 years.
The other way is through 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. You will then conduct a shorter PhD thesis in your third and forth year.
This is a really good option for people who want to continue to work while studying. However, your PhD study must have a policy element to it, and you must 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 said:
"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, said:
“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, said:
"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"
Find out more about studying for a PhD with CDAS and at the University of Bath
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. [Find out more about conducting a research visit at the University of Bath]/campaigns/visiting-postgraduate-scholars/).