Institute of Criminal Justice Studies

Applying for PhD / MPhil study

Application Procedures

Our procedure in this regard is to ask you to:

  • Write a 1000 word succinct summary of your chosen research topic indicating clearly what you hope to do. 
  • Contact us for an informal discussion about your intended PhD / MPhil research.
  • If positive, complete a University application form online. You will need to provide references from your referees at this stage.

We will then assess your application and identify a potential Supervisor. You should hear from us within 3 weeks of the receipt of your application. If we decide to take your application further, you will normally be invited to interview. Intakes for MPhil/PhD are October and February each year. A guideline of things you should include in your research proposal are:

  • Major research questions to be addressed and why
  • Reasons for your interest in this particular area of research
  • title for the field of your study
  • timescales
  • methods of research
  • identification of resources required
  • intended outcome
  • contribution to research
  • references/literature review

Faculty Postgraduate Centre

The Postgraduate Centre offers a support base for students to assist with all aspects of admission. We very much welcome your interest in postgraduate research and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Email: humssresearch@port.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 23 9284 6037

Professional Doctorate

ICJS also offers the DCrimJ, a professional doctorate in criminal justice studies, aimed at criminal justice professionals who want to bring research into their professional practice. Full details, including instructions on application, are available here: Professional Doctorate in Criminal Justice