Postgraduate Research
Urban Studies & Social Policy has a large number of postgraduate researchers conducting a wide range of innovative and imaginative research projects.
Postgraduate Research Convenor [Urban Studies & Social Policy]: Professor Alice Mah - alice.mah@glasgow.ac.uk
Our thriving PhD student community is well integrated within the wider research culture of the division, benefitting from:
- A popular seminar series through which a diverse set of internationally recognised speakers present their current research and / or policy thinking;
- A workshop series through which staff and students present early thinking about research proposals and papers in a supportive and critical environment;
- Membership to the Divison's research and scholarship clusters;
- An annual away day planned by students in conjunction with the Postgraduate Convenor to explore issues related to PhD completion and developing skills for future employment;
- Individual postgraduate review panels at which the Doctoral Convenor and individual supervisors can meet to discuss progress with each student;
- Personal career development, through which opportunities to undertake teaching at undergraduate level and to become involved in the ongoing research projects.
Each full-time student is entitled to:
- A computer and full IT support
- Telephone and photocopying facilities
- Access to our unrivalled library facilities
- Access to our exclusive Postgraduate Research Hub with hot-desk facilities and collaborative working space
Our staff provide supervision in all areas across urban research, real estate and planning, social policy and public policy. We are active supporters of interdisciplinary research and most staff are involved in providing supervision to students alongside colleagues from other disciplines.
Please explore our subject groups to identify a potential supervisior and you can learn more about our staff and their research interests.
Identify a potential supervisor
Initial approaches and guidance for the first stage of the application process
We welcome inquiries from prospective PhD students and offer multiple pathways to begin your application process:
Initial consultation
Contact our Postgraduate Research (PGR) Convenor, Professor Alice Mah - alice.mah@glasgow.ac.uk - for guidance on the application process.
Or if you have developed a proposal, find a potential supervisior through our Subject Group pages:
Research proposal development
Your research proposal is the key document in your application. We recommend 1200 words plus bibiography with content including:
- Clear research questions and objectives
- Literature review
- Theoretical framework
- Research design and methodology (for empirical research)
- Timeline and feasibility
We welcome both empirical and theoretical based proposals.
When contacting supervisors, you should include:
- Your research proposal (1200 words plus bibliography)
- A brief CV (one page is sufficient at this stage)
- Any questions or specific areas where you would like guidance
Whilst we strongly recommend this initial consultation process, all prospective students have the right to submit a formal application through the online application system at any time. Formal applications require additional documentation, including references, and will be processed by the College of Social Sciences Graduate School.
Funding opportunities
We support postgraduate research students studying both full-time and part-time. Our current students are funded through a diverse range of sources, including self-funded or funded by employers. Many of our international students have governmental scholarships.
Some examples of where our current students have obtained funding include: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); Adam Smith Research Foundation; Leverhulme Trust; Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (SHLC); and UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence.
How to apply
To apply to do a PhD with us in Urban Studies & Social Policy, please refer to the College of Social Sciences Graduate School for information on the application process and how to get started.