Shi’i Studies

Entry Requirements for entry in 2020-21

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following qualifications:

a master’s degree in a relevant subject;
an undergraduate degree in a relevant field.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including an official transcript. See ‘How to apply’ for instructions on the documents you will need and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process. However, all applicants will be given a short 20-minute interview via Skype to gain a better sense of their interests and to facilitate the appointment of an appropriate supervisor. Interviews will normally concern the scope of the applicant’s proposal.

The PhD in Shiite Studies is also available by distance learning. For further information, please see our page on PhD in Shiite Studies by distance learning

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the relevant department and it is not always impossible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the University. In such circumstances, a second internal supervisor may be appointed.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on academic merit and potential. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background.

course fees for entry in 2021-22

Total cost of the course:

PHD Research degree: $ 5000

Education-oriented PHD : $ 8000

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). Please be aware that fees will usually increase annually; the increase will not exceed 6% each year. Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs.

Additional information

Full-time study

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

How to apply

The set of documents you should send with your application to this course comprises the following:

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

CV/résumé

A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic achievements and any relevant professional experience.

Research proposal

The research proposal is a crucial element of a PhD application. It should communicate, not so much your personal autobiography, as your academic commitment and seriousness. Assessors are looking to be persuaded that you know the field in which you propose to conduct research, and are committed to spending several years working in it.

Content:

Each proposal will be read and carefully evaluated by specialists, and should contain an outline of the research you plan to undertake and what you intend to achieve. All proposals should be submitted in English. A selective bibliography may be included.

You should explain, within your proposal:

the specific field in which you propose to conduct research;
how you intend to structure and undertake your research;
the questions, problems, issues and debates with which you expect to engage;
how you see the proposed research building on your previous study;
your knowledge of any languages required for your research project – if you are unsure which languages might be required, see the entry requirements or contact the faculty directly.

You may also wish to include a provisional title for your dissertation. While it is normal for plans to change in the course of developing a project, you should make your best effort to define your intended research, identify the focal question or problem to which it will constitute an answer or solution, specify a finite body of core texts or sources, and explain the methods involved.

Assessment:

This will be assessed for your reasons for applying, the coherence of your proposal, the originality of your project; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study and your ability to present a reasoned case in English.

A research proposal is assessed in terms of the intellectual coherence and academic originality of the project; evidence of the applicant’s motivation and understanding of the proposed area of study; and the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course (up to four years full-time).

The faculty will also assess your commitment to the subject beyond the requirements of the degree course, preliminary knowledge of research techniques, capacity for sustained and intense work, evidence of reasoning ability, and ability to absorb new ideas, which are often presented abstractly at a rapid pace.

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The “Apply Now” button below will take you to the Applicant Portal, where you can create and submit your application and supporting documents.

An application is only complete when:
you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal.

How to apply

The set of documents you should send with your application to this course comprises the following:

Official transcript(s)

CV/résumé

A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic achievements and any relevant professional experience.

Research proposal

Content:

You should explain, within your proposal:

the specific field in which you propose to conduct research;
how you intend to structure and undertake your research;
the questions, problems, issues and debates with which you expect to engage;
how you see the proposed research building on your previous study;
your knowledge of any languages required for your research project – if you are unsure which languages might be required, see the entry requirements or contact the faculty directly.

Assessment:

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The “Apply Now” button below will take you to the Applicant Portal, where you can create and submit your application and supporting documents.

An application is only complete when:
you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal.

Apply Now

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Shi’i Studies

Degree-level qualifications

Supporting documents

Performance at interview

Supervision

How your application is assessed

Additional information

Full-time study

Living costs

Official transcript(s)

CV/résumé

Research proposal

Apply using the Applicant Portal

Official transcript(s)

CV/résumé

Research proposal

Apply using the Applicant Portal