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Welcome

The Graduate School supports the postgraduate research (PGR) student community across Solent University. We aim to ensure our postgraduate research students have a high quality experience in a vibrant and interdisciplinary community.

"The Solent University Graduate School provides an enriching learning environment for all research students, fostering intellectual and social interaction between graduates, supervisors, and collaborative partners from across the globe.

The Solent Graduate School promotes a research culture that recognises the diversity of researchers' experiences and aspirations and will help you make the most of the resources and opportunities available to support your research, training, and academic development. We pride ourselves on carrying out not only pioneering research, but also research that addresses real world problems. We offer opportunities to study for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in several areas. At the Solent Graduate School, we want to help you achieve your best and discover new insights. Whether you’re thinking about applying for a PhD, or already underway with your research studies, you will find useful guidance and information on these pages.”

Professor Emma Wadsworth, Vice-Provost for Research and Education

Real-world learning, real-world research, real world impact

At Solent University, we put making a difference at the heart of our teaching, learning and research. Our aim is to learn from and respond to our local and international communities about their priorities, challenges, experiences and successes.

Join our supportive and interdisciplinary research community

Our Graduate School is a virtual hub providing support and a high-quality experience in a vibrant and interdisciplinary community for Solent University’s postgraduate research students.

In your first year as a doctoral researcher, you will complete our Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods. This will provide you with a springboard to success in your doctoral studies as well as a set of vital transferable skills applicable to a wide range of study and employment.

Find out more

Two PhD graduates wearing robes

All our Graduate School students join one of our four communities working in and across these research areas:

  • Environment and Engineering
  • Human Function and Health
  • Media, Culture, and the Arts
  • Social Research and Policy

You will also have the opportunity to join one (or more) of our research groups and benefit from collaboration, networking and research sharing opportunities across and beyond the university.

For more details, please contact research.admissions@solent.ac.uk.

Funded Opportunities: Vice Chancellor’s Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Join our vibrant community and seize the opportunity to embark on a transformative PhD journey with us!

We champion real-world learning, research, and impact, where our students and communities flourish through applied research and knowledge exchange. We have previously offered our Vice Chancellor’s Postgraduate Research Scholarship and hope to do so again for 2025/2026. This fully funded PhD scholarship covers full fees and includes a UKRI-linked annual stipend. We hope to have further information on this shortly and will keep you updated. For more details, please contact research.admissions@solent.ac.uk.

Why Solent University?

Based in the heart of Southampton on the UK's south coast, Solent is an open and friendly university. With an extraordinarily diverse international community of over 100 nationalities, we’re committed to widening participation at all levels.

In 2021, we were awarded five stars by the QS World University Rankings for inclusiveness, internationalisation, employability, facilities and teaching.

We have made a £100 million investment in our campus, introducing cutting-edge facilities to enhance your study and research environment.

Take a virtual tour of our award-winning facilities

How to apply

For an informal discussion contact research.admissions@solent.ac.uk

If you have a research project in mind and wish to make an informal enquiry around developing it into a PhD proposal, you can contact any academic member of staff in the relevant subject area. This person might be the potential supervisor. Discussing with them the potential project idea before you apply is vital to maximising the strength of your application.

You can apply to study for the research degree routes MPhil or MPhil/PhD on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Full details of what to include in your application can be found on our applications page.

Applications
Fees and funding
Milestones
Community
Support and guidance