Applying for a research degree

All potential PhD or MPhil students must first complete an online application form, which will include details of their proposal.

Professional doctorates

These programmes have one intake each year, in October, with a deadline of 30th August 2025.

We are currently accepting applications for October 2025:

• DMin Professional Doctorate in Ministry
• EdD Doctor of Education
• Professional Doctorate (DProf) in Strength and Conditioning.

PhDs, MPhils to PhD Pathways, and PhDs by Published Works

These programmes have two intakes each year in October and February.

We are now accepting applications for February 2026, with a deadline of 30th of November 2025.

You will need to upload a 3,000-4,000 word research proposal along with your application. Please see our research proposal guidance (PDF). 

To begin your application please select the link with your relevant subject area and degree type from these lists.

PhDs by Published Works

• PhD Theology by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Communications and Media by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Education by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD English Language/Literature by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Health Studies by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD History by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Law by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Management/Business by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Politics and Social Policy by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Psychology by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Sociology by Published Works (February part-time)
• PhD Sports by Published Works (February part-time)

PhDs (full-time)

• PhD Communications and Media (February full-time)
• PhD Computer Science (February full-time) 
• PhD Drama (February full-time)
• PhD Education (February full-time)
• PhD English Language/Literature (February full-time)
• PhD Film (February full-time)
• PhD Health Studies (February full-time)
• PhD History (February full-time)
• PhD Law (February full-time)
• PhD Management / Business (February full-time)
• PhD Politics and Social Policy (February full-time)
• PhD Psychology (February full-time)
• PhD Sociology (February full-time)
• PhD Sports (February full-time)
• PhD Theology (February full-time)

PhDs (part-time)

• PhD Communications and Media (February part-time) done
• PhD Computer Science (February part-time)
• PhD Drama (February part-time)
• PhD Education (February part-time)
• PhD English Language / Literature (February part-time)
• PhD Film (February part-time)
• PhD Health Studies (February part-time)
• PhD History (February part-time)
• PhD Law (February part-time)
• PhD Management / Business (February part-time)
• PhD Politics and Social Policy (February part-time)
• PhD Psychology (February part-time)
• PhD Sociology (February part-time)
• PhD Sports (February part-time)
• PhD Theology (February part-tme)
• PhD Theology - Maryvale (February part-time)

MPHIL to PhD

Full-time

• MPHIL to PhD Communications and Media (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Education (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD English Language / Literature (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Health Studies (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD History (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Law (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Management / Business (February full-time)
• MPhil to PhD Politics & Social Policy (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Psychology (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sociology (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD in Sport (February full-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Theology (February full-time)

MPHIL to PhD

Part-time

• MPHIL to PhD Communications and Media (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Education (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD English Language / Literature (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Health Studies (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD History (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Law (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Management / Business (February part-time)
• MPhil to PhD Politics & Social Policy (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Psychology (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Sociology (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD in Sport (February part-time)
• MPHIL to PhD Theology (February part-time)

What next?

Please note: you should expect to receive a response from Admissions within 10 working days. For general enquiries please research@stmarys.ac.uk.