Graduate School of Social and Political Science
University of Edinburgh
Application for Admission as a Postgraduate Research Student
Notes on Completion of Your On-Line Application and Research Proposal
We warmly invite candidates to apply for MSc by Research, MPhil and PhD degrees in the School of Social and Political Science. We will process applications for places up to the end of August each year for a September start (but please note that studentships and other awards are allocated during the period January to April preceding entry in September; for information see
Please note that intending applicants are advised to discuss their research interests and a draft research proposal with the appropriate Subject Postgraduate Advisor, in advance of making a full application:
For African Studies contact Dr. Andrew Lawrence ()
For Politicsand International Relations contact Prof. Cecile Fabre ()
For Law and Society contact Dr. Toby Kelly ()
For Science and Technology Studies contact Dr. Ivan Crozier ()
For Social Anthropology contact Dr. Richard Baxstrom ()
For Social Policycontact Dr. Kay Tisdall ()
For Social Workcontact Dr Susan Hunter ()
For SociologyDr. Hugo Gorringe ()
For Sociology & Anthropology of Health & Illness contact Dr. Stefan Ecks ()
For Socio-Cultural Studies contact Prof. Liz Stanley ()
For South Asian Studiescontact Dr. Crispin Bates ()
You may also wish to look at the academic staff profiles on our web pages for information on potential Postgraduate Supervisors (
A. HOW TO APPLY
All applications are now Online. The links from take you to the relevant University Prospectus page for the degree you wish to apply for.
In case of difficulties, contact the Graduate School of Social and Political Science
tel: +44 (0)131 651 3865 or 651 3244
email:
B. INCLUDED WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Please note that applications for MSc(R) + PhD or for PhD (but not for the stand-alone MSc by Research) must include aresearch proposal. In Social and Political Science, we ask for this to be structured in the standard format set out below, because this helps us to assess your potential as a researcher.
- The Research Proposal
This should be no longer than 3 typed A4 pages in Times New Roman font size 12. Please organise your proposal under the following headings, all of which should be used.
1. Introduction Give an introductory statement explaining what your proposed research topic is and why it is important.
2. Outline of key theory and research on the topic Outline existing theoretical and/or empirical debate and state how your proposed research relates to this body of knowledge.
3. Main Research Question What specific issue or question will your proposed research examine?
4. Methodology What method, or methods, will you use to answer your research question? If your research is on a theoretical topic, discuss the documentary/archival methods you will use to analyse your source materials.
5. Ethical Issues Note any ethical issues arising from your research (ethics can be interpreted in a broad sense as well as, for example, matters of consent and confidentiality). See for advice.
6. Timetable Provide a timetable for your research, including research training (unless you already hold an ESRC-, or AHRC-, recognised MSc by Research, or equivalent training) and the period of writing up your thesis. If you intend to do fieldwork overseas, say what this will entail and how it fits into the timetable.
7. User Community Indicate how you expect your research to be useful, and to whom.
Please don’t worry that your draft proposal isn’t perfect – this is just a starting point so we can see what research interests and methodological ideas you have.
- Two References
These should be in the format detailed below. Please ask your referees to address each of the following points:
1. Comment on the applicant’s suitability for research training in general and also for their specific PhD topic.
2. Outline how, and to what extent, the applicant has already shown academic ability in terms of:
a. ability to grasp concepts and reason analytically;
b. motivation and perseverance in achieving objectives; and
c. capacity for original thought.
3. Comment on their research potential.
4. Assess the applicant’s particular strengths and weaknesses, and indicate further research training needed for the applicant to complete their research successfully.
5. Please indicate where the applicant ranks in their undergraduate - or graduate – cohort (top 5%, top 10% etc).
This list includes some of the items detailed on the University Academic Reference form, but additionally asks for the kinds of information required by many funding bodies, including the UK Research Councils. If you are eligible to apply for competitive postgraduate funding, you should then be able to use your existing references.
Please advise your referees that the reference needs to address all these matters or your application may be affected. Thank you!
- Degree Transcript
Graduates should include official final transcripts which state the degree which has been awarded and the date of graduation. Graduates from universities or institutions outside the UK should also enclose a certified translation into English if appropriate. Although a copy of a transcript may be sufficient to support a conditional offer, we may require to see the original transcript before an unconditional offer can be made.
If you are still studying, or are awaiting results, you may apply now, but your admission cannot be unconditionally confirmed until evidence of the completion of your degree has been supplied.
- English Language Test Results
Applicants whose first degree was not taught and examined in English must show that they have passed an approved test of English before they can be admitted. Applicants who provide evidence that their first degree was taught and assessed in English do not have to provide further evidence of language competence. Applicants should normally have completed their first degree within two years of the entry date of the postgraduate programme, to ensure adequate currency in English.
Full details are available at:
If you have sat an English test within the last two years, please supply a copy of the certificate. If you have not yet sat a test, or your results do not meet the minimum requirements set by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, you will be advised further by the Graduate School Office.
C. OFFERS OF ADMISSION TO THE DEGREE
Successful applicants will receive an offer of admission, subject to standard University of Edinburgh requirements for admission to the PhD or MSc by Research degrees. (For information, see
The application and admission process usually takes around a month, but may be slower if candidates’ qualifications or other details need to be validated, or if references are not submitted with the application.
D. THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Graduate School is one of the premier research locations in the United Kingdom ( a centre of research and teaching excellence which brings together the disciplines of Social Anthropology, Sociology, Politics & International Relations, Social Policy, and Social Work, and the cross-disciplinary strengths of the Science Studies Unit, the Research Centre in Social Sciences, the Institute of Governance, the ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics (INNOGEN), and the Centres for African Studies, Canadian Studies, and South Asian Studies.
We have a thriving and cosmopolitan community of around 450 graduate students, studying for the degreesof PhD, MPhil and MSc. Our graduates teach in universities around the world, as well as working in social research and a wide range of more applied contexts.
Funding for graduate researchers is extremely competitive, but there are a range of opportunities for prospective students (
In particular, we have been highly successful in recent ESRC Award competitions, and hold a significant proportion of fully-funded quota awards. Alongside our ESRC recognised routes for research training and doctoral research, we have graduate students in receipt of AHRC awards. UK and EU applicants are therefore advised to visit the websites of both the ESRC (
and the AHRC ( to explore funding opportunities.
The Graduate School has a longstanding commitment to original empirical and theoretical work on society, politics, culture and public policy, and on the production of cultural, scientific and technical knowledge. Colleagues in the School of Social and Political Science supervise many cross-disciplinary projects, as well as working closely with other Schools in the University. The School provides a suite of ESRC-and AHRC-recognized research training courses. With support from the Principal's E-learning Fund we are also developing innovative and flexible web-based courses in research methods, in line with the emphasis on advanced training throughout the career of postgraduate researchers.
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