School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies
Research in Sociology
Sociology research at Portsmouth is undertaken by a subject team that contains some of the world’s leading figures in their areas of expertise, within the university's research centre CEISR. We also offer higher degree supervision and postgraduate teaching in Sociology of the very highest quality, which has been consistently praised by external audits for the quality of its curriculum and the overall education experience, and we are proud of our commitment to bringing research into undergraduate and Master's-level teaching with research staff who are fully part of the teaching environment.
Areas of interest
- Classical and contemporary sociological and social theory.
- Contemporary continental philosophy
- Critical theory
- Ageing (especially gender and ageing)
- Animals and society
- Consumer culture
- Couples relationships
- Ethics, morality and social life
- Pensions and financial independence
- Processes of globalization
- Self and identity
- Sociological approaches to violence and war
- Sociology of culture/cultural studies
- Sociology of economic life
- Sociology of the body
- Sociology of the environment
- Sociology of the media
- Sociology of risk
- Social exclusion, class, inequalities
- Sports studies
- Technology and social life
- Violence and social theory
- War, militarisation and society
- Welfare to work
- Welfare state reform
PhD / MPhil Study
PhD / MPhil study is offered on a full-time and a part-time basis, into the range of topics above, and students have in the past been financed on a scholarship and self-funding basis. During the first phase of their studies, students usually study acquire and develop the empirical, analytical and theoretical tools that enable them to establish the foundations of their thesis.
During the second phase of their studies, students focus exclusively on their theses. Specialist guidance is provided by a main supervisor and an additional supervisory team, and students also participate in the thriving post-graduate culture provided by the Faculty's Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR). CEISR hosts a regular series of research lectures and post-graduate study sessions.
In the last few years, students have studied for PhDs in Sociology in a wide range of areas with projects ranging across theoretical and substantive issues and concerns. Our students have an excellent track record of publishing their research in article or monograph form, and of obtaining academic posts or progressing in their chosen careers at the end of their studies.