The Graduate School provides a University-wide framework for training, support, career preparation and administration to help you throughout your postgraduate research degree and early research career, to achieve your potential.

The Graduate School works with the Research Support team and the Research and Strategic Bidding Office to provide you with a unique support system. This includes the Research Support Hub blog, a central place for the latest research news, forthcoming events and research support and information.

How to Apply

If you are thinking about research degree study, please see the How to Apply page for application details.

“In my role I visit universities all around the world and I have to say that the support and structures for research students and research supervisors at Northampton are some of the best I’ve seen.” – Hugh Kearns, international expert on researcher development, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.

PhD (full and part time) | Practice-based PhDs in the Arts (full and part-time) | MPhil (full and part time)

Our PhD and MPhil programmes are available to study full-time and part-time, both on and off-site. This can be negotiated between you and your supervisory team at interview. Formal supervisory meetings take place once every four weeks for full-time students and once every six weeks for part-time students. Students can use the dedicated Research Student Workspace and the library at Waterside.

PhDs by Means of Published Works (part-time only)

Our PhD by Means of Published Works programme is available to study part-time, both on and off-site. This can be negotiated between you and your supervisory team. Formal supervisory meetings take place once every six weeks.

Students can use the dedicated Research Student Workspace and the library at Waterside.

Doctor of Professional Practice (part-time only)

This inter-professional and multi-disciplinary programme combines facilitated modules and independent research. It provides the platform, opportunity and context for you to make change happen in health and social care. The course is only available on a part time basis and there is a requirement to attend in person for facilitated modules. Applications are open to international applications.

Students can use the dedicated Research Student Workspace and the library at Waterside.

Doctor of Business Administration (part-time only)

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional doctorate with the same status as a PhD. It is the highest qualification available in business and management, designed for senior professionals who wish to advance their careers by developing their academic research and critical thinking skills. The Northampton DBA is a part-time programme that typically runs over four years. The first two years are structured around facilitated modules that provide the foundations for the research project, the main element of the DBA. This research project needs to make a significant contribution to professional practice by developing existing theories and knowledge. Students can use the dedicated Research Student Workspace and the library at Waterside.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course. For more information, please visit the gov.uk/doctoral-loan.

Please see the how to apply page for application details.

Our doctoral study experience

Our postgraduate research experience is a little bit different to other universities. We know that you are competent students and independent learners, but we also know that it’s good to have people to help you when you need it. That’s why we provide you with support that’s tailored to your research area. We make sure that you have regular meetings with your supervisors and our Postgraduate Research Offices provide drop-in support from our dedicated research support team.

We also run a development programme for supervisors who are new to research degree supervision. It is a validated university postgraduate course and it is delivered as two modules, Workshops and Observation.

Skills development programme

“I just wanted to thank you both for a really good workshop. Lots of knowledge consolidated, clarified and also new!” Postgraduate Research Student on Using Social Media workshop.

Alongside project supervision and subject-related development, you will take part in an extensive Postgraduate Research Skills Development Programme throughout your period of study. The programme is multi-stranded, providing the skills needed to complete a successful degree, as well as those needed to be a proficient researcher after degree study. It includes skills workshops and development activities, such as an annual conference, poster competition and Images of Research event.

Induction

“A really well planned and organised week; I really enjoyed it and I look forward to studying at this university”. New research student feedback from Induction week.

You will be given an excellent springboard from which to start your studies through our four day induction programme. This delivers hands-on skills workshops, orientation, an introduction to support systems and sessions where you can meet staff, plus an opportunity to present your research to other students. A Faculty-based induction on the fifth day introduces you to the facilities, development events, staff and other PGRs in your faculty.

How to Apply

If you are thinking about research degree study, please see the How to Apply page for application details.