Doctoral Programme in Humanities and Social Sciences (3-4 yrs)

Doctoral study in this programme places particular weight on the ability to carry out research independently, complete and report on an extensive research project, and then present and defend that work in a public examination, rather than on completing a large body of taught coursework. Beyond expertise in a chosen field, the training aims to build wider analytical and problem-solving skills, along with the communication and digital skills expected of researchers working within a modern information society. Students choose one of four broad specialisations to pursue: history, ethnology and cultural anthropology; language and communication studies; music, arts, and culture studies; or social sciences and philosophy, with the specific specialisation shaping which faculty and supervisors a doctoral researcher works with throughout their studies. Depending on the specialisation chosen, the completed doctorate is awarded either as a PhD or as a Doctor of Social Sciences degree, reflecting the differing disciplinary traditions the four tracks draw from.