phd in sociology in europe

Doctoral Program at the Department of Sociology

The doctoral program includes courses and active participation in one or several of the seminar series, chaired by Professors and Associate Professors.

Research at the Department of Sociology, Uppsala University, covers a broad range of areas and approaches. This variety in theoretical and methodological perspectives has helped to produce a vivid and creative research environment.

Directors of Graduate Studies in Sociology: Reza Azarian e-mail:  [email protected] 

The curriculum for doctoral studies can be found at  the Faculty of Social Science.

Doctoral Research positions

Departmental doctoral researchers are appointed every other year. We have intermittent project-funded positions which are announced on the University website. Next admission will be for autumn 2024. 

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If you are interested in current information about vacant PhD positions and other positions at Uppsala University,   then signup for Job subscription. By registering with job subscription you will be sent an email when there is a vacant job in the area or areas of your choice. Please note that you do not automatically become a candidate for a new position, but must actively submit an application for each position. 

How to apply?

Click here for more information about applying to postgraduate studies .

Doctoral Studies

Read a brief introduction here

Follow the link for more information about the Ph.D.-courses

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• Schools & departments

Sociology PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Sociology

Discovery Day

Join us online on 18th April to learn more about postgraduate study at Edinburgh

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Research profile

Edinburgh is one of the leading international centres of excellence for postgraduate study in sociology.

Our PhD degree is eligible for Economic and Social Research Council funding and our postgraduate research students come from all over the world and join our vibrant and diverse postgraduate student community, which plays a full role in the life of the department.

Many of our students have non-sociology backgrounds and bring with them experience and expertise from other disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Whatever your background, you will thrive at Edinburgh.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Postgraduate Admissions Advisor (Research) to discuss their research proposals and the availability of appropriate research supervision, using the email address on the right-hand side of the page.

Programme structure

The PhD in Sociology is a three-year research programme (six years for part-time students).

The PhD degree is awarded for a thesis which must draw on your own research and which makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the chosen field of study and contains material worthy of publication. The thesis must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the field of study and relevant literature, and the ability to look critically at both your own work and that of other scholars in the field.

The normal progression for a PhD is that the first year is partly spent on preparing to undertake a PhD thesis by reading and reflecting on relevant literature and taking courses of importance to the researcher's work. A fully elaborated research proposal should be developed by the end of the first year.

Provided the proposal receives approval from a panel of members of staff with expertise relevant to the research project, the student will be registered as a PhD student at the beginning of year two.

The second year is typically spent on fieldwork and data collection, with the remaining time devoted to data analysis and write-up of the thesis.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Training and support

You will work with a supervisor on an original research dissertation and participate in advanced sociology research-training workshops, work-in-progress seminars and a writing workshop.

A wide range of training facilities will be available to you. The Graduate School provides a range of ESRC-recognised research training courses for social science students across the University.

You are encouraged to participate in taught Masters level courses to assist your intellectual development and support you research.

The University’s Institute for Academic Development provides a range of courses and events to assist with methodological training and career development.

• Institute for Academic Development

Research library and archive facilities in Edinburgh are outstanding.

You will be a member of the Graduate School of Social & Political Science, with full access to the Graduate School’s facilities in the Chrystal Macmillan Building.

Other library and archive facilities include the:

• University’s Main Library
• National Library of Scotland
• Scottish Records Office

Proximity to the Scottish Parliament and other institutions of national government provides further research opportunities.

PhD Sociology student story: “I never considered a PhD was within my realm of possibilities”

Entry requirements.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, and a UK masters degree with an overall mark of 65% or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Tuition fees, scholarships and funding, featured funding.

School of Social and Political Science Scholarships

UK Research Council Awards

For specialised guidance on submitting a competitive scholarship application, please follow the requirements and recommendations and how to contact relevant academic staff as advised here:

• Important information and recommendations

(Revised 10 November 2023 to update featured funding opportunities.)

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Postgraduate Admissions Team
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: [email protected]
• Programme Advisor, Dr Julie Brownlie
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 8260
• Contact: [email protected]
• Graduate School of Social & Political Science
• Chrystal Macmillan Building
• 15A George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Sociology
• School: Social & Political Science
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Sociology - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd sociology - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

You must submit a research proposal demonstrating your knowledge of your field of research, which will be closely scrutinised as part of the decision-making process. We request that PhD research proposals are no more than four A4 typed pages in Times New Roman, 12pt font. This includes charts and figures but does not include references or a bibliography.

We require PhD applicants in particular to contact potential supervisors before applying to discuss their research proposal so we can ensure there is adequate supervision.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Department of Sociology

Phd studies in sociology and demography.

Doctoral studies leads to a degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) which comprises 240 credit in all, estimated as four years of full-time studies.

This training is characterized as profound studies within specific fields and aims at bringing the doctoral student the academic traditions as well as making the doctoral student develop into an independent and scrutinizing researcher.

Application opportunities

If resources permit, application openings for PhD Studies can appear as a maximum twice a year - in February with March 1 as final date and/or in September with October 1 as final date to apply. When there are doctoral studentships available for application  they are advertised here.

• Entry requirements

Since 1 July 2007 the general entry requirements for education at doctoral student level are defined as:

• a degree at the second level (Master) or
• at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits at the second level (Master´s level).

For admission to doctoral studies in Sociological Demography the entry requirements also specify:

• In addition to the basic eligibility requirements, the applicant must have complete at least one independent research work in demography or a related subject documented in an essay or other written work.

Entry requirements and financing

Selection procedure.

The selection among the applicants is carried out by an admissions panel appointed by the department. The panel surveys the qualifications of the applicants and selects among them possible candidates for further discussion. The purpose of this discussion is to explore how well competence and interests match between the department and the applicant.

Financial support shall be organized and settled for the entire study period upon admission. The main source of financial support is by doctoral studentships.

The syllabi contain detailed information on the entry requirements, the objectives and structure of the programmes, supervision resources and course requirements.

Courses for doctoral students

Spring 2024, period a, 15 january- 14 february:.

Modern Sociological Theory 7.5 credits  – half time period A-B Systematic Reviews 7.5 credits - half time period A-B Family Dynamics in a Changing Europe 7.5 credits  – half-time in period A-B

Period B, 15 February – 20 March:

No courses start this period.

Period C, 21 March – 1 May:

Political Sociology, 7.5 credits - half time period C-D Social stratification, 7.5 credits - half time period C-D Quantitative methods II , 7.5 credits  – half time period C-D Event History: Regression for Longitudinal Event Data 7.5 credits  – half-time in period C-D

Period D, 2 May -2 June:

Models of Social Change and Social Stability, 7.5 credits  

Autumn 2024

Period a, 2 september - 2 october.

Population Development and Social Change, 7.5 credits Classical Sociological Theory, 7.5 credits  – half time period A and B Qualitative Methods in the Social Science, 7.5 credits  – half time period A and B

Period B, 3 October - 3 November

Basic Demographic Methods, 7.5 credits Family Sociology, 7.5 credits

Period C, 4 November - 4 December

Population Processes 7.5 credits - half time period C and D Social Network Analysis 7.5 credits - half time period C and D Quantitative methods I, 7.5 credits – half time period C and D  

Period D, 5 December - 19 Januari 2025

Last updated: January 23, 2024

Source: Department of Sociology

Search among our courses and programmes

Last updated: March 15, 2024

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Study Postgraduate

Phd in sociology (2024 entry).

Course code

30 September 2024

3-4 years full-time; Up to 7 years part-time

Qualification

University of Warwick

Find out more about our PhD in Sociology.

The PhD in Sociology offers a broad span of research areas and expertise. From gender and sexuality to markets and capitalism, Warwick's Sociology department, ranked 9th in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2022), has an active and exciting research culture where you will receive specialist training.

Course overview

The doctoral programme in Sociology provides access to a vibrant and welcoming community of international researchers and supports you in developing your independent sociological research project.

As well as being part of an active and exciting research culture, you will receive specialist training in undertaking doctoral study at the beginning of your course and dedicated and expert supervision throughout.

Teaching and learning

All first year PhD students undertake a two-term course called Research Process and Research Design. Provided by the Department, this course supports students with the fundamentals of PhD study and life and prepares them for their upgrade from MPhil to PhD. All doctoral students have access to dedicated PhD study rooms with computers and printers.

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Sociology or a related subject; a strong research proposal.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page Link opens in a new window .

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Our research

Research within our department covers a broad span of the discipline and is organised into three main themes:

• Economy, Technology, Expertise
• Inequalities and Social Change
• Justice, Authority and the Geopolitical

The Department hosts the Social Theory Centre and the Centre for the Study of Women and Gender.

We have considerable expertise in areas such as:

• Gender and sexuality studies
• Social and cultural theory
• Race and racism
• Criminology
• Work and employment
• Political sociology
• Markets and capitalism
• Methodologies

Full details of our research interests are listed on the Sociology web pages Link opens in a new window .

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Find a supervisor

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our Sociology Staff Directory.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website .

Additional course costs

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Sociology Funding Opportunities

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Sociology at Warwick

We have an international reputation for research excellence, a global and cosmopolitan perspective, and high-quality teaching. Our curriculum offers a comprehensive and up-to-date foundation with a diverse range of specialist options.

What does it mean to understand the world in which you live? What will your contribution be to this changing world? How do your own experiences and life chances compare to those of others?

Sociology – the study of humans in society – attempts to capture the rich variety and complexity of human social life. Indeed, it is difficult to think of any area of social existence that a sociologist wouldn’t be interested in examining, from the most intimate of personal relationships to the worldwide circulation of ideas, beliefs, products and people.

Find out more about us on our website. Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate courses

• Gender and International Development (MA)
• Gender and Sexuality (MA)
• Social and Political Thought (MA)
• Social Inequalities and Research Methods (MSc)
• Sociology (MA)
• Sociology (PhD)
• Women's and Gender Studies (PhD)

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

For research courses that start in September and October 2024 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2024. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

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Postgraduate fairs.

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

See our online departmental events

Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.

Connect with us

Learn more about Postgraduate study at the University of Warwick.

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history .

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

9th in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2024) Link opens in a new window

67th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024) Link opens in a new window

5th most targeted university by the UK's top 100 graduate employers Link opens in a new window

(The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers Research Ltd. Link opens in a new window )

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2024 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

Best Universities for Sociology in Europe

Updated: February 29, 2024

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• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Europe ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 99.2M citations received by 4.46M academic papers made by 1,410 universities in Europe was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Oxford

For Sociology

2. University College London

3. University of Cambridge

4. University of Manchester

5. University of Edinburgh

6. King's College London

7. University of Amsterdam

8. Karolinska Institute

9. University of Bristol

10. London School of Economics and Political Science

11. University of Helsinki

12. University of Copenhagen

13. University of Sheffield

14. Lund University

15. Catholic University of Leuven

16. Imperial College London

17. University of Birmingham

18. University of Glasgow

19. University of Nottingham

20. Utrecht University

21. University of Leeds

22. University of Warwick

23. University of Oslo

24. University of London

25. Uppsala University

26. University of Groningen

27. University of Southampton

28. Aarhus University

29. University of Gothenburg

30. Erasmus University Rotterdam

31. Radboud University

32. University of Liverpool

33. University of Sussex

34. Newcastle University

35. Stockholm University

36. University of Zurich

37. Lancaster University

38. University of York

39. Cardiff University

40. Leiden University

41. University of Exeter

42. University of Leicester

43. Durham University

44. Maastricht University

45. Umea University

46. Free University Amsterdam

47. Pierre and Marie Curie University

48. Heidelberg University - Germany

49. Ghent University

50. University of Aberdeen

51. University of East Anglia

52. Queen Mary University of London

53. University of Barcelona

54. University of Bergen

55. Sapienza University of Rome

56. University of Vienna

57. Loughborough University

58. University of Bologna

59. Wageningen University

60. Autonomous University of Barcelona

61. University of Munich

62. University of the West of England

63. University of Milan

64. University of Hamburg

65. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

66. University of Liege

67. University of Bern

68. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

69. University of Padua

70. Queen's University Belfast

71. University of Tampere

72. University of Surrey

73. University of Essex

74. University of Reading

75. University of St Andrews

76. University of Lausanne

77. Tilburg University

78. University College Dublin

79. University of Kent

80. University of Geneva

81. University of Turku

82. University of Southern Denmark

83. Aalborg University

84. University of Bath

85. University of Oulu

86. Linkoping University

87. University of Wales

88. Delft University of Technology

89. Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

90. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

91. Ulster University

92. Complutense University of Madrid

93. University of Strathclyde

94. Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin

95. University of Stirling

96. University of Lisbon

97. University of Turin

98. Free University of Berlin

99. University of Granada

100. University of Porto

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Europe

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Search form

Phd sociology.

• Study at Maynooth /

Qualification : PHILOSOPHIAE DOCTOR DEGREE

Award Type and NFQ level : RESEARCH PH.D. (10)

CAO/PAC code : MHY02 (FT), MHY03 (PT)

CAO Points :

View FETAC details

• Entry Requirements
• Research Interest
• Course Structure
• Career Options
• How to Apply

- To provide high quality research training in a lively intellectual atmosphere - To promote students’ professional involvement in academic life - To ensure that students will make a contribution to the advancement of knowledge in sociology - And to ensure that students will make a contribution to the understanding and well being of contemporary societies

By the end of their time as a research postgraduate student in the Department it is our goal that students will:

- Have completed a thesis which is a high quality piece of orginal sociological analysis and is at least partly publishable in a peer-reviewed academic outlet - Have developed and demonstrated a significant level of skill in at least one methodology of sociological research and analysis - Have a broad knowledge of a number of sub-fields within sociology - And have had the opportunity to develop teaching and administrative skills and experience

Closing date Research applications are generally accepted at any time however the deadline for applications is the 30th of June if you wish to start in September of the same year.

Commences September

Minimum 2.1 degree in BA or MA in Sociology or Cognate subject. Applications with equivalent learning are also welcomed.

Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level.

Applicants are advised to contact the Department to discuss their research topic before submitting a required research proposal of 7-10 pages duration. Please see course website for further details.

Minimum English language requirements:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall score
• TOEFL (Paper based test): 585
• TOEFL (Internet based test): 95
• PTE (Pearson): 62

Maynooth University’s TOEFL code is 8850

Dr. Mary Benson Cityscapes; gentrification; place; community; and visual representations. Current research focuses on urban agriculture.

Dr. Delma Byrne Research interests include social stratification in education and the labour market spanning the primary, second-level and higher education sectors as well as post-secondary education and training; transitions between education and the labour market and the evaluation of educational interventions.

Dr. Barry Cannon Research interests are on Latin American politics, with particular expertise on Peru, Venezuela and Central America, especially on issues of democratization, power relations, Left and Right politics, civil society, and development. Current research focuses on opposition politics in Venezuela; right wing politics in Latin America; and, comparisons between collective reactions to crisis in Latin America and in Ireland and Europe.

Dr. Brian Conway Research interests include sociology of religion; collective memory; history of Irish sociology. Current research focuses on examining Catholic public discourses and institutional arrangements, trends and patterns in the Catholic workforce, and religious institutional responses to scandal, all in comparative perspective.

Professor Mary P. Corcoran The Irish migratory experience, public culture, and urban transformation and change. Professor Corcoran is currently engaged in research on urban agriculture initiatives and urban food policy. 

Dr. Colin Coulter Research interests include development studies, global politics, Marxism, ethnicity and nationalism, popular culture and in particular popular music and Northern Irish politics and society.

Dr. Laurence Cox Research interests include social movement research (movement waves, alterglobalization and anti-austerity movements, European social movements, movement theorising, protest policing, knowledge and learning production in social movements, activist sustainability); Buddhist Studies (Buddhism and Ireland, early western Buddhists in Asia); new religious movements; sociology of knowledge and culture (history of ideas, sociology of intellectuals, counter culture); working-class studies (community organising, oral history); social theory (western Marxism, socialist feminism); and methodology (participatory action research, community research).

Dr. Pauline Cullen Research interests include political sociology; gender inequality, social movements; civil society and state relations; nongovernmental organisations; social policy and European Integration; coalitions between diverse constituencies; activism on social rights beyond national settings. 

Professor G. Honor Fagan Research interests include Human Security, Gender and Development Governance, and Social Sustainability.

Dr. Eoin Flaherty I am interested in how patterns of inequality are formed and maintained, and how they change over time. I study these processes with a particular focus on income inequality during the late 20th/early 21st century, and instances of famine during the 19th century (mainly Ireland). I am also interested in how human societies have formed systems of cooperation and managed resources collectively, and whether such systems were resilient to environmental stress.  I am also interested in: Top incomes and the 'super-rich', labour's share of national income, time series and pooled time series cross-section analysis. Financialisation, rentiers, and power resources.  Famine, common-pool resource systems, primitive communism, and nineteenth-century Ireland. Complexity theory, human ecology, and environmental sociology.  

Prof. Jane Gray Research and teaching interests include families and households, comparative-historical sociology, life history analysis.  Her current research focuses on: life histories and social change in twentieth century Ireland; family and community, gender, household economies and social change.

Dr. Aphra Kerr Teaching and Research interests focus on technology and media in society and digital sociology.  Current research explores the implications of data driven digital media design, online community management work, production in the global digital games industry, and the rise of the ‘indie’.  Recent projects have explored broadcasting and diversity, innovation in animation companies, the design of future telecommunications network services and applications and gendered practices and representations in digital games culture.

Dr. Rebecca King Ó Riain Research and teaching interests include globalization, emotions and technology; racial/ethnic beauty pageants; critical race theory; qualitative methods; interracial marriage and multiracial people. Her current research explores the ‘Globalization of Love’ through qualitative research with transnational, mixed couples and their children looking at uses of digital technology to create and maintain global emotional networks.

Dr. Mary Murphy Research interests include the impact of globalisation on welfare states, the political mediation of social policy reform, local governance and institutional mechanisms to support social innovation, social inclusion and citizenship, gender and social welfare, commodification, conditionality and welfare to work policies.

Dr. Peter Murray Research and teaching interests include political mobilisation and the growth of the modern state, industry, work and technological change, health, illness and healing.

Prof. John O’Brennan Research interests include the process and politics of European Union enlargement; the EU's relationship with the western Balkans and prospective enlargement to South Eastern Europe; the dynamics of EU external relations; EU-Russian relations; constructivist theories of International Politics; and the identity dimension to European integration. I am also very interested in Ireland's experience of European integration, its relationship with the European Union and the Lisbon Treaty debate in Ireland.

Professor Seán Ó Riain Research interests are in the sociology of work, economic sociology, comparative and global political economy and social inequality.  Specific areas of interest include work organisation and workplace regimes; developmental states; the global knowledge economy; economic liberalism; changing European societies.

Dr. Paul Ryan Research interests include masculinities, gay and lesbian studies, social movements and qualitative research methods specifically the use of life history

Dr. Eamonn Slater Research interests include the structure of modernity, the heritage industry (including tourism), the social construction of landscape and the environment, visual sociology and historical sociology. All of these sociological areas are investigated with a special emphasis on Irish society.

For further details on the research specialisms within the Department please visit: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sociology/our-people

Students acquire 30 credits in the first three years (60 in the case of postgraduates who do not already have an MA) through taking a combination of compulsory and optional courses oriented towards broadening theoretical perspectives, offering methodological expertise, and providing guidance on teaching at third level.

Research Third Level Teaching Government Policy Analysis Private, Community and Voluntary Sectors Media and New Technology Urban, Rural and Community Planning

Online application only www.pac.ie/maynoothuniversity

PAC Code MHY02  Full-time MHY03  Part-time The following information should be forwarded to PAC, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway or uploaded to your online application form:

Certified copies of all official transcripts of results for all non-Maynooth University qualifications listed MUST accompany the application. Failure to do so will delay your application being processed. Non-Maynooth University students are asked to provide two academic references and a copy of birth certificate or valid passport.

You can register to do either an MLitt or a Phd in the Department of Sociology. If you are interested in pursuing a postgraduate research degree with us the first step is to contact a member of staff to discuss your research idea. They will gladly assist you to prepare your research proposal. For a list of staff research interests please see below. For further information on our department research interests, how to apply and doing a PhD please consult our Research Postgraduate Handbook.

All applicants must submit a proposal  https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sociology/postgraduates

If you decide to do postgraduate studies with us the second step is to complete an application form and pay an application fee through the online PAC system. You will need to provide a brief personal statement in the application form and this should focus on your reasons for pursuing a postgraduate degree at MU. Please note, when filling out the application form, that the fullest possible information should be provided.

The Research Proposal

The research proposal should be typed, double spaced and approximately 7–10 pages long. It should indicate:

- The central research topic that you wish to investigate - The central debates in the sociological and/or social science literature that the research will address - The main data that will be collected and/or analysed and the methods that will be used to do so - The significance of the proposed research for sociological work in the relevant field - Any other critical issues regarding the research topic, approach and significance

It is not expected that the student will stick blindly to this proposal should they be admitted as a research postgraduate student but it will provide a useful guide for students and the department in assessing the application and in developing the research. Applicants may be called for interview by departmental staff before a decision is made regarding admission.

Deadlines You may apply at any time to the department to start a PhD but the deadline for applications is the 30th of June if you wish to start in September of the same year.

• All categories

Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology

Currently, the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (CADS) hosts almost 50 PhD candidates working on a wide variety of topics.

The PhD Regulations (‘promotiereglement’) of Leiden University   apply to all PhD candidates registered at the Graduate School of Social and Behavioural Sciences. All PhD  candidates should be registered at the Graduate School by the beginning of their doctoral training.

The Netherlands School of Anthropology (NESA)

The Netherlands School of Anthropology (NESA) is a graduate programme for PhD candidates who work in the field of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology. This programme is a co-creation of the Anthropology faculties of 5 Dutch Faculties. NESA offers a one-year teaching and training programme especially for upcoming and all first year PhD candidates, consisting of 5 masterclasses on current and trending theoretical debates in our discipline, an extensive methodology training and occasionally a cohort meeting off campus.

PhD categories

The Institute of CADS distinguishes between two PhD categories:

• Regular –  A PhD candidate who is hired by CADS and thus a formal employee. These candidates are paid through ‘eerste geldstroom’ (including those funded by ‘profileringsgebieden’), ‘tweede geldstroom’ (NWO), or ‘derde geldstroom’ (EU).  
• Contract and External (‘beurspromovendi’ and ‘buitenpromovendi’) –  A PhD candidate with a scholarship (for e.g. DIKTI [Indonesia] and CONACYT [Chile]) or self-funded.  

Applying for a PhD

PhD scholarships are not offered outside of faculty research projects. If you intend to pursue a doctorate at the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, you can:

• Reply to an advertised  PhD  vacancy in a staff project  
• Apply with funding from a self-obtained  research grant

This latter category of application is only permitted under certain conditions and subject to case-by-case evaluation by the Institute’s Research Committee. The decision is based, among other criteria, on the feasibility of the funding, quality of the proposed study, qualifications of the applicant, availability of adequate supervision, and relation of the proposed study to the Institute’s expertise.

If you have questions, please send an e-mail to Annemarie Samuels .

Important information

CADS offers regular and bench fee-paying PhD candidates a PhD track. The PhD track includes:   

• Registration at the FSW Graduate School;
• FSW (e-mail)account;
• A workspace at CADS;
• A LU-Card (for the Library, photocopying and printing);
• Access to library (also online);
• Regular (monthly/bimonthly) meetings with (co)supervisor(s);
• ‘6 months’-meetings with the Director of Graduate Studies;
• Annual review (Resultaat & Ontwikkelingsgesprek);
• research seminars;
•  staff lunches, institute meetings and annual outing;
• courses (relevant MA or BA courses);
• annual/bi-annual PhD seminar organized at CA-DS
• Administrative support and advice regarding project finances.

The bench fee for PhD candidates amounts to €8,500 a year for a maximum period of four years. Note that the bench fee pays for the PhD track, and therefore cannot be used to pay for research/travel/visa/conference/training costs for the PhD candidate.

The bench fee should be paid every year (for a maximum of four years). The first payment should be made before the start of the PhD programme. A refund of the bench fee—for example in the case of (early) termination of the PhD—is not possible. 

For research/travel/visa/conference/training costs candidates should allocate at least €2500 per year in order to guarantee successful execution of the project.

The Leiden Graduate School of Social and Behavioural Sciences' PhD regulations, an overview of the formal procedure from start to defence, and the relevant forms and templates are available on the Graduate School website .

• Employment status: Employee
• PhD Track: Yes
• Writing of an 8-month-paper, summarizing their results so far. Fieldwork may only start after this paper is approved. 
• Bench fee: No
• Teaching: the PhD candidate can spend a maximum of 10% of their 3-5 year appointment on teaching or committee work (e.g. as a member of the ‘Instituutsraad’ or ‘onderzoekscommissie’).  Teaching time will be officially considered teacher training. Additionally, the candidate may participate in a maximum of two ICLON teacher-training/ University Teaching Qualification (BKO) courses (paid for by the Institute). While teaching experience and training courses may contribute to a BKO portfolio, they will probably be insufficient for qualification.

Candidates following a PhD track

• Employment status: Guest employee
• Legal status: depends on the contract
• Bench Fee: Yes Note that some contract PhDs (e.g. DIKTI) have already set bench fees based on previously determined contract/agreements with the fund provider and Leiden University. In these cases, the bench fee/tuition fee that has been agreed upon will be binding
• Teaching: by mutual agreement the candidate may  give one or more guest lectures in a BSc or MSc course or a research seminar, but cannot receive any compensation for this. For non-EU PhD candidates, restrictions in permits may apply. Participating in the course University Teaching Qualification (BKO) is an option, but will have to be paid for by the candidate or the fund provider.

Candidates not following a PhD track

• Legal status: depends on individual arrangement, usually none
• PhD Track: No
• Bench Fee: No
• Teaching: No

Note that the supervision for a PhD candidate who does not follow a PhD track will be significantly less intensive.

Supervision and social safety of PhDs at our Institute

Revised: December 2022

(complementing the CADS PhD Training and Supervision Protocol of March 2020, the Leiden University PhD regulations of 2021 and the Golden Rules of PhD supervision )

This document was drafted together by the CADS Institute Board, its Institute Council and representatives of the CADS PhD community, in response to concerns that were first raised among the latter.  Concerned PhD students emphasized that our institute has a wide range of PhDs with different positions, in terms of funding and institutional position, but also based on their passports, the academic culture they have come to expect etc. An overall conclusion was that some of the existent measures work for some of these PhDs and not for others, and that we need a variety of measures to strengthen the position of PhDs in the Institute and increase mechanisms that ensure their social safety.

After an open and constructive conversation, regarding recurring problems experienced within the PhD trajectory, and suggestions for improvement we decided to collectively formulate the following guidelines, that again, complement the guidelines in the documents already mentioned above:

• Graduate Mentor
• Per September 2022 the Institute CADS has instated a Graduate Mentor (GM) who will pay special attention to the work life, progress and wellbeing of PhD students.
• The graduate mentor will regularly check in with them, at least once a year, with all PhD students who are in their contract period. The role of the Graduate Mentor applies specifically to contract PhDs (both those on NWO, ERC or other funded projects, or those here with a scholarship from abroad), but also external PhDs and PhDs whose contract ended) are welcome to approach the Graduate Mentor for a talk.
• The Director of Research (DirRes) keeps annually contact through email with PhD students who fall outside this regimen ( e.g., external PhD students or those beyond their contract years), asking them to provide an overview of where their project is standing but also about the challenges and hindrances they may be experiencing. This is necessary as especially the external PhD students may already be less ‘visible’ and ‘vocal’, so this contact, at least once a year, should help keep track of their safety and well-being
• The GM (not the Institute manager as in other cases) is present at the Performance and Development Interview of the PhD, including the startup meeting. As soon as PhD students get an invitation for a P&D interview, they contact GM to see if she can be present during and beforehand discuss that Interview. This, to ensure that these are evaluative conversations about the past year and future plans, as well as the working relation between supervisor and supervisee, rather than another supervision meeting (see also below).
• The annual GM/PhD meeting and Performance and Development Interview should be sequenced after one another. In that way the GM can be fully updated and coach the PhD for the Performance and Development Interview. In the Performance and Development Interview GM will be a neutral witness. In case the situation is difficult, the GM can advise the PhD on strategy of next steps, and e.g. help with writing a letter to IC. The GM has no position to sanction anyone, not the PhD nor the supervisor. Any attempts to intervene in the supervision and PhD trajectory should come from the IB.
• the Graduate Mentor follows the PhDs, but does not monitor the PhDs (e.g. not: “your 8 th month paper is due next week”), PhDs and their supervisors are expected to take a lead here.
• All PhD students can approach the GM for advice regarding their trajectory. The Graduate Mentor does not have mandate; Graduate Mentor can talk with supervisors, but the mandate lies with the Institute Board .
• The graduate mentor can also advise supervisors, both during supervisor peer discussion sessions (intervisie) and on a more individual basis, to improve supervision and prevent frictions and misunderstandings of escalating into conflict or dysfunctional working relations. The (co)promotoren overleg is the best setting to put structural aspects of supervision on the agenda. For specific topics GM can chair the meeting.
• The graduate mentor has an exit meeting with supervisor and PhD student . In case the official employment of a PhD Student ends before the actual thesis is finished, expectations about the continuation of supervision will be discussed during this exit meeting. A perspective of closure is key to think long-term career strategies and to keep calm and confident. If the PhD contract is ended, laptop, mobile and office keys need to be returned as they are formally property from Leiden University, not CADS. Candidate can now apply for a guest / affiliated researcher account, still make use of office space and borrow one of the CADS laptops during office hours.
• Supervision team
• The CADS PhD training protocol includes a requirement for each PhD to have a second supervisor . This is formally the case, but it is important to ensure that that second supervisor is factually involved, and has complementary expertise to that of the PhD. Ideally, the supervision team consists of a senior and relatively junior member of staff.
• Where possible, the second supervisor is chosen in dialogue with the PhD candidate. The first month can be used to explore possibilities, before the Training and Supervision Plan (TSP or OBP in Dutch) is uploaded.
• Before the start of a research project or PhD trajectory, DirRes discusses the proposed supervisory arrangements with prospective supervisor, including the composition of the supervision team, to ensure that the requirements are met, and more generally, that they can expect to have favorable working conditions and will be sufficiently integrated into the institute.
• DirRes and Institute Manager (IM) help ensure comparable working conditions over the various projects, and that these conditions meet the parameters of employees in our Institute.
• Startup meeting
• Supervisors should ensure they are informed about the CADS and other relevant PhD training regulations (see at the top of this document). At the start of a PhD trajectory, they are expected to have a conversation with each PhD to discuss these regulations, as well as, more generally, the parameters of their working relation . This includes rights to holidays, health arrangements, agreements regarding budget and expenses, meeting in person/working remotely, working rhythms (including the prevention of systematic over-work), number of tasks and time pressure.
• These agreements are part of and set down in the TSP (see chapter 2 of the PhD Regulations ), and should be revisited on a yearly basis in the annual Performance & Development Interview.
• The TSP is not just a paper tiger, it is about expectation management, aims to protect the PhD students and provides a road map for supervisors to use when they are at the start of a collaboration with a PhD. Hence the TSP needs to be approved by the scientific director of the Institute.
• It would be good to develop a topic list or protocol that supervisors can use for this meeting. We can draw on the existing Golden Rules for PhD Supervision document. In the Bring your thesis seminar PhDs students will regularly (also for newcomers to the community) discuss this list, and add suggestions. These suggestions will then be sent to the Director of Research who will discuss it with the Supervisors and adjust a local CADS version of the Golden Rules accordingly.
• Yearly Performance & Development Interview (ROG)

The Performance & Development Interview (RO Gesprek, in Dutch, or ROG) should be a moment where PhD and supervisor can discuss both the student’s progress and work experiences, look forward to the coming year(s) and discuss their work relation. The latter is difficult in light of the hierarchical and dependency relation of that relation, which means this has to be explicitly facilitated.

In order to do so, we propose the following:

• Include explicit questions about the working relation between PhD and supervisor in the yearly overview form for PhDs (such as: what do you like about the relation, what can be improved? How often do you meet, and is this a good rhythm for you? Does the type and form of feedback you receive from your supervisors work well for you? If not, what could be improved etc.). The IC has meanwhile come up with a proposal for a new format in Fall 2022.
• Have the Graduate Mentor sit in on the P&D Interview , and invite PhDs to consult with them beforehand to prepare for their Performance & Development Interview. This consult is part of the annual P&D Interview.
• Contract PhD’s and buitenpromovendi don’t have a yearly P&D Interview. The Graduate Mentor will, however, have a yearly meeting with the contract PhD’s.  The Director of Research will similarly keep in touch with the buitenpromovendi on an yearly basis.
• Supervisory skills and roles
• Supervisors are required to take a course on PhD supervision; this includes courses for first-time co-promotors, and possibly refresher courses for more experienced ones.
• Supervisors are invited to the regular (co)promotoren overleg is (intervisie) organized by the Director of Research, where they exchange experiences and discuss conundrums that are part of PhD supervision. This can be among PI’s of larger projects, but also can encompass all PhD supervisors, depending on the topic at hand. The graduate mentor can provide input for and be an important interlocutor in these meetings.

Important discussion topics: balance between project requirements and space for PhD’s own choices, development and insights; how best to deal with budget in transparent manner within project teams; what can supervisors/PI’s do to ensure the successful integration of new PhDs in the Institute?

• Supervision should be an important aspect of the promotor’s ROG. The graduate mentor is asked for input in this regard.
• Bureaucratic processes and their consequences on the PhD trajectory (e.g. with regard to visa, housing) can be a challenge. Supervisors, however, do not have a responsibility in these matters which are more efficiently handled by other bodies such as the International Office.
• Oftentimes PhDs would like to integrate career discussions, incl. those that address careers outside of the institute, more into the supervisory process of the PhD trajectory.  Although some supervisors may give good advice and it does not do harm to ask, these are typical issues that are best discussed during the Bring Your Thesis seminar.

In case of problems in the supervisory relation that PhD students feel they cannot discuss with their supervisors, they can:

• Consult with the Graduate Mentor. The GM can provide advise on how to open up a conversation on this, or can play a mediating role with the supervisor in question.
• In more complex and fraught cases, the graduate mentor can confer with the SD and/or advise the student to write an email to the SD explaining the situation. Depending on the nature of the complaints, there will be follow up advice on next steps. The SD may discuss the problem with the various people involved, in an attempt to mediate and find a solution. The advice may also entail the recommendation to consult with the confidential counselor of the Faculty/Leiden University or a referral to the official complaint procedure of Leiden University.

Research clusters play an important role in providing a safe space for learning and intellectual exchange, and ensure that PhD students have connections and a space to share their work with junior and senior staff beyond their specific project and/or supervisor. In order to ensure this works well, we propose that:

• Every PhD becomes a member of a research cluster.
• Cluster coordination is done by a team of one permanent faculty members and a senior PhD student.
• The PhD who co-coordinates a research cluster should have the status of employee within the contract time. Other PhDs can take on a role as cluster co-coordinator too, if they want to, however the institute should not expect it from e.g., external PhDs or PhDs who are beyond their contract period.
• PhD supervisors should make sure they do not reproduce that supervisory relation in the research cluster. Cluster coordinators and the graduate mentor can help ensure this. 
• The coordinators also ensure that new members “land” well in the cluster.
• PhD community

There are several initiatives for collective and self-care within the PhD community which have already proven important with respect to social safety and PhD wellbeing, especially the first hour of the BYT seminar. The PhDs will take up the idea of PhD mentorship in which a more senior PhD mentors an incoming PhD. The PhDs are investigating the status of the ‘buddy system’ that we initiated. For starters, the PhD representative sent a message to all PhDs to send her an email if they want to be coupled to a PhD mentor. Support that would help this initiative further. When a PhD starts, it would be great if the supervisor or GM could connect the new PhD to the PhD representative who has an overview of the current PhD mentors.

This document is formal living document that twice a year will be evaluated, once at the first Bring Your Thesis seminar of the academic year, and another time in the 1 st regular (co)promotoren overleg of the academic year.

• CEU PU - Deutsch
• Közép-európai Egyetem

PhD Program

Purposes, Goals and Objectives

The purpose of the program is to offer doctoral-level education matching the highest international standards in the fields of Sociology and Social Anthropology for prospective scholars and teachers.

The Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology offers a doctoral program accredited by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York (US) for and on behalf of the New York State Education Department and on behalf of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria).

It does not have separate Sociology and Anthropology tracks; both disciplines are integrated in a common program. At admission all accepted candidates will be offer a four-year funding package. The time to completion should be four years, with a potential one year extension for fieldwork based dissertations.

The department encourages empirical research using a wide variety of methodologies but expects theoretically informed approaches which embrace a broad intellectual agenda. We especially welcome projects that promote the integration of sociological and anthropological perspectives as well as methodologies. The program encourages dissertation projects with comparative approaches.

The curriculum , the Handbook and the course schedule are available on the department webpage.

First Year of Doctoral Study:

The first year of the program focuses on coursework and preparation for the Comprehensive Exam to be passed at the beginning of the 2nd year. The examination covers the major fields of the proposed research, it is an oral discussion of the proposed research based on a 5000 words Dissertation Proposal and an 80 items bibliography (more on this below)-.

In the first year each student will take 6mandatory courses (Comparative Thinking, Place Making, PhD Colloquium/Research Seminar in two terms, the Advanced Methods, Seminar Series in two terms and in the spring term Proposal writing). The remaining 16 course-credits throughout the academic year are to be acquired through a selection of elective courses offered within the MA and/or PhD programs at the department. Students are encouraged to choose courses which relate to their broadly defined fields of interest.

When choosing an MA course the instructor will be responsible for assigning specific additional work for the PhD student, which may take the form of a longer paper or other specific assignment.

During their first months of study, until confirming a supervisor, candidates will work with a mentor from the departmental faculty who will assist with academic questions and individual issues around the program, together with the PhD director. Mentors are assigned to the candidates at the beginning of the academic year.  Students may consult with their mentor, the PhD Director or the Doctoral Committee on the selection of elective courses. Once deciding on a supervisor and receiving their agreement, students must request approval in writing (email) from the PhD directo r. They will work under his/her supervision over the entire course of their PhD studies receiving guidance on their study progress including coursework, comprehensive exam, and dissertation writing and defense; advice and feedback on the nature and development of their research project; and mentoring on their engagement with academic activities and preparation for the academic career.

Major Deadlines and Preparation for the Comprehensive Exam

 During the winter term first-year PhD students submit a 1000 words Comprehensive Exam Statement explaining the main themes of their research proposal and the corresponding fields of literature their Bibliography will cover. In consultation with their PhD Supervisors and members of their Examination Committee (see below), doctoral candidates will also compile their 80 items Bibliography. This Bibliography should be divided by the major themes and sub-fields of the proposed  research which will be discussed in the examination.

By the end of February doctoral candidates will be expected to choose a PhD Supervisor, consult with him or her on the selection of elective courses, and begin to assemble the faculty committee for their Comprehensive Exam. The PhD Supervisor will be the chair of the Comprehensive Exam Committee and direct the PhD dissertation. The PhD Supervisor must be a regular member (not visiting faculty) of the department. The other members consist of a faculty member from the department or if the topic requires, from the wider CEU community. An external member (to CEU) is encouraged but not mandatory.

During the winter term all first-year students will present a draft of their research proposal in at the PhD Colloquium/PhD Research Seminarin preparation for the submission of the material for the comprehensive exam.

In the spring term students will submit together with the Bibliography, a Draft Dissertation Proposal of their thesis, of 3000 words length.  Revisions will be made based on formals comments candidates receive from their advisors and the Doctoral Committee.

By mid-June (exact date will be announced around the end of May) a written take-home exam will be proposed to the students as part of their evaluation for the Comprehensive Exam. This exam will evaluate the knowledge they accumulated during the first year as pertaining to their research. For this purpose the take-home exam will include two questions and the students will have 48 hours to complete it. The first question will be common to all students, draw on the themes covered in the mandatory courses to assess their disciplinary grounding and analytical skills, and be evaluated by a blind reviewer, who is a member of the department faculty; the second question will be related to their own research and will be proposed and evaluated by the first supervisor. Both questions require a 1000-word answer. Grading scheme: pass with distinction/pass/fail.

At the end of the summer students submit their final Research Proposal of 5000 words in length, their Review Essay (5000 words) and Bibliography (80 substantive titles). The review essay should be written in conversation with the proposal and the bibliography and conceptualized as a critical review of state-of-the-art research in the candidate’s main fields. preferably at their intersection. The purpose of this document is for the candidate to present these fields in depth and show in what ways their projects intervene in them. The review, therefore, s is not geared towards the candidate’s main research question, which is ideally done in the proposal, but rather toward existing literature.

Students will sit for their Comprehensive Exam at the beginning of the fall term of their second year (usually during the zero week or the first week of class).The student is examined on the basis of a set of themes or problem areas outlined in the Research Proposal, the Review Essay, and the Bibliography. In developing this set of themes, the student may consider the more immediate fields relevant to the dissertation topic (ideally 3) and scale up from closely related themes to one of the fundamental problem areas in sociology/socio-cultural anthropology. Taken together the Proposal, the Review Essay and the Bibliography should cover relevant theoretical debates and show awareness of both methodological approaches as well as research findings in the thematic fields which are indispensable for the pursuit of the PhD project. The student should be able to relate developments in the chosen fields to larger scholarly debates in the discipline and be able to demonstrate competence in dealing with thematic issues in a broad comparative perspective. The design of the Comprehensive Exam is to be developed in close consultation with the PhD Supervisor and the Director of Doctoral Studies. Students must be prepared to answer questions on the Proposal and the other exam materials during the Comprehensive Exam and the Committee must formally approve the Proposal at the end or ask for revisions in writing. Satisfactory completion of all requirements in the probationary year will formerly admit the student to PhD candidacy in Sociology and Social Anthropology. 

Second year of Doctoral Study (Research period)

The period following the acceptance of formal doctoral candidacy should be devoted to research. Students have several options in carrying out their research, depending upon the specificity of their study. They may choose to spend the entire year collecting data, undertaking intensive fieldwork, survey research and/or working in archives and libraries.  In conformity with the research profile of the department candidates are strongly encouraged to pursue empirical, archival or field based research and will therefore be granted exemption from the principal requirement of residency in Vienna. For this they can apply for a field research grant in the second year. The department coordinator informs students about the criteria, procedure and deadlines in the beginning of the academic year, and they have to submit their application well before the research period starts (usually in the October grant application period).

For the duration of their research period candidates are required to maintain regular contact with and report on their work in progress to their PhD supervisor and the department. They are expected to consult with their supervisors as agreed in advance and submit a formal report on work in progress at the end of each academic year spent away from CEU (before the end of the AY, see annex). While in the field students are encouraged to be affiliated with an academic institution of higher education in the respective country and visit it periodically during their absence from Vienna. During the second year, students take Research and for Consultation with the Supervisor non-classroom courses to earn their course credits.

Third year of Doctoral Study:

After completing their research, doctoral students are required to return to campus, primarily to write their PhD dissertation in close consultation with their supervisor. In the third year, students will participate in the mandatory courses (the PhD Colloquium/Research seminars, the PhD Writing- up seminar and the Teaching assistance). Students are required to serve as teaching assistants in a master's level course in order to acquire teaching experience (mandatory TA-ship). Teaching assistance consists of regular participation in the course, independent teaching of at least one unit of the course in agreement with the professor or leading discussion or discussion groups within the course . Teaching assistants may be asked to present aspects of their own work that is relevant to the course, to help students with first drafts of class papers or the class work in general, or other possible assignments depending upon the needs of the course, the PhD candidate and the teaching faculty.

Besides the two seminars students receive credits for Dissertation writing non-classroom courses.

When resident in Vienna, all doctoral students are requested to regularly participate in the Seminar Series. The Seminar focuses on the discussion of topics and literature of interest to faculty and doctoral students.

Fourth Year of Doctoral Studies (only for CEU PU students)

Students in the fourth year focus on dissertation writing in residence or abroad if they received CEU or external support for a study abroad period. Throughout this period, they are requested to maintain regular (monthly) contact with their supervisor and inform the department about their progress at least once a year in the annual progress report. They will receive coursecredits for Dissertation writing and for Submission and defense.

 Over the course of four years the program requires a total of 240 credits.

The student who successfully completes the program will be awarded a Doctorate in Sociology and Social Anthropology .  The degree is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents of the State of New York (US) as well as in Austria for the CEU PU students.

• Study Opportunities
• Guest Stays
• European Demographer Awards

Doctoral Researcher in Quantitative Sociology (PhD programme)

The Department of Sociology at Trinity College Dublin is offering prestigious stipends (from 21,000 to up to 27,000 EUR per annum) for two doctoral students to join the PhD in Sociology degree programme for a period of 4 years.

Selected candidates will be given the opportunity to design and carry out an innovative PhD project in quantitative sociology in the field of social inequality. Applicants can apply for one of two department projects or with their own research project. 

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s leading university which sits on a historic campus in the heart of Dublin. The Department will provide all logistic, academic and intellectual support and integrate the successful candidate into a vibrant doctoral programme at TCD, while offering additional economic support to cover fees and basic expenses related to the PhD programme. 

PhD students at the department are embedded in the interdisciplinary context of the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy which also includes economics, political science, and philosophy. PhD students in Sociology enjoy a wide range of training opportunities. For example, students participate in a research training programme in the department and have the opportunity to join masters level courses (including courses on research methods). Moreover, PhD students are supported to attend high-quality international workshops and summer schools. 

PhD students are expected to collaborate closely with their supervisors and will produce a PhD based on four papers of a publishable standard. PhD students also acquire teaching experience by providing teaching support in our undergraduate programme (4 hours per week during term times).

Informal enquiries are welcome and go to the Head of Department of Sociology, Associate Professor Dr Jan Skopek ( [email protected] ).

Additional Information

Institution

• Institute for Sociology
• Graduate Program (Master)
•   University of bamberg
• Social Sciences, Economics and Business Administration
• Subjects and Institutes

Graduate Program in Sociology - Exploring society

Study Program Director and Faculty Academic Advisor

Dipl.-Soz. Susann Sachse-Thürer Room F21/01.15 Feldkirchenstr. 21 Tel: 0951/863-3910

Office hours: Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Prior appointment via email is requested.

Description of the program

The graduate program in Sociology leads to the conferment of a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree, a second higher education degree qualifying to practice a profession or to conduct research. The primary goal of the program is to prepare students for the various job possibilities in executive and scientific positions as sociologists.

The program follows a scientific as well as practice-oriented approach. Thus, a consolidation of students’ knowledge in sociological fundamentals in the areas Sociological Theory, Analysis of Social Structures, and Methodologies is indispensable. With this broad knowledge base, graduate students will have a seamless transition from their graduate studies to a PhD program or PhD project. Like the undergraduate program, the graduate program is also oriented towards specific fields of activity and students may create individualized profiles through specialization within their course of study. The employability of graduates is, therefore, strengthened despite the comprehensive flexibility of students with the design of their study plan.

The major fields of study are closely related to the research focus of Sociology at Bamberg. This ensures the content of study to be relevant, up to date, and future-oriented.

Here  you can find more information about the academic profile of Sociology at Bamberg.

244 Degrees in Sociology in Europe for 2024

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Social Sciences (244)

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• Area studies (259)
• Cultural Studies (282)
• Development Studies (150)
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• International Relations (354)
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Associate in Liberal Studies

United school for liberal studies.

• Barcelona, Spain
• Brussels, Belgium

Associate Degree

Full time, Part time

Blended, On-Campus

Upon successful completion of the study program students receive an international private Associate in Liberal Studies (ALS) degree awarded by the school's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, based on the recommendation of the faculty of the local campuses where credits were earned.

B.A. in Humanities, Society and Culture: Art and Society

Anglo-american university.

• Prague, Czech Republic

The Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Society and Culture: Arts and Culture is a 3-year, internationally accredited program offering a modern and interdisciplinary education in the arts and the role of cultural production in society. You will earn a globally recognized American and European B.A. degree.

B.A. in Humanities, Society and Culture: Politics and Society

The Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Society and Culture: Politics and Society is a 3-year, internationally accredited program offering a modern and interdisciplinary education in politics and how it interacts with society and culture. You will earn a globally recognized American and European B.A. degree.

B.A. in Humanities, Society and Culture: Sociology, Psychology and Leadership

The Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Society and Culture: Sociology, Psychology, and Leadership is a 3-year, internationally accredited program offering a modern and interdisciplinary education in humanitarian issues and how they interact with societies and cultures. You will earn a globally recognized American and European B.A. degree.

BA (Honours) in Criminology and Sociology

Open university.

• Online United Kingdom

Distance Learning

Building on the OU’s reputation for cutting-edge criminological and sociological teaching and research, this joint degree offers you the chance to study lively, topical and sometimes controversial subject matter. You’ll investigate questions of crime, criminalisation and social harm to determine whether society’s responses to these questions are adequate and appropriate. You’ll also explore how social worlds are made and how we, as individuals, are shaped by the societies in which we live.

BA (Honours) in Social Sciences (Sociology)

This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. Alongside the study of interdisciplinary social sciences, you’ll have the opportunity to explore how sociologists make sense of social worlds, investigating topical issues such as immigration, social networking, and adolescent mental health. On completion of your degree, you’ll be able to apply social theories and analytical techniques to a variety of topics that affect individuals and society. You’ll also acquire transferable skills highly valued by employers – opening up employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

BA (Hons) Anthropology and Sociology

Goldsmiths, university of london.

• London, United Kingdom

We will be making some changes to the way our programmes will be delivered in 2021-22 to ensure we continue to respond to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. All programmes will be delivered in-person on campus with some specific sessions within each programme being delivered online in a pre-recorded format. Where necessary, changes will also be made to assessment formats.

BA (Hons) Criminology and Sociology

University of lincoln.

• Lincoln, United Kingdom

Criminology and Sociology at Lincoln aims to give students the skills needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of social, cultural, and political responses to crime and deviance. Students are asked to apply their knowledge to real-life issues and have an opportunity to analyse the different social constructions of everyday life in order to better understand the diverse groups and structures that make up modern society.

BA (Hons) Education, Culture and Society - Full time

This degree will develop your knowledge of the education system in the UK and beyond. You'll enter into key debates about policy issues with a focus on social justice and equality, and get to understand education from a multidisciplinary perspective.

BA (Hons) Education, Culture and Society - Part time

Ba (hons) media and sociology.

This interdisciplinary degree gives you the opportunity to explore sociological and communications theories alongside media practice, and to develop a critical analysis of media, communications and culture from historical and contemporary viewpoints.

BA (Hons) Politics and Sociology

Domestic and global politics are at the heart of society, and this course provides insight into how political institutions can tackle some of society's most pressing problems. The BA (Hons) Politics and Sociology degree brings together two complementary disciplines through the study of different aspects of social and political life, offering an insight into the diverse groups and structures that make up society.

BA (Hons) Social Policy and Sociology

Creating effective social policies is key to tackling the big issues we face in society today such as poverty, health inequality, and unemployment. Social Policy and Sociology at Lincoln draws on these two key disciplines to offer an insight into the diverse social groups, structures, and practices that make up society. The degree aims to analyse and critique the different social constructions of everyday life. It offers students the opportunity to engage in key debates about social problems and the welfare of citizens, alongside the study of sociological theory and research methods.

BA (Hons) Sociology

Explore what unites and divides us, how we make sense of our relationships, and understand our place in the world around us. On Goldsmiths innovative BA Sociology programme, youll look at contemporary global events as you explore issues of social inequality, culture, power, and identity.

On Lincoln's BA (Hons) Sociology degree, students are encouraged to examine the fabric of different societies, the group dynamics of belonging and exclusion, and the workings of political structures. Amongst the wide range of topics covered, students will look at the changing nature and role of the family unit, how technological advances have transformed the way we interact, what subcultures can teach us about mainstream society, how 'the global' and 'the local' jointly shape everyday lives in the twenty-first century; how inequalities are experienced and differences created.

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Degrees in Sociology

Sociology aims to analyze and understand the various components that make up a society or civilization. Students learn how these societies are organized, as well as how they are sustained. Issues related to other humanities may also be studied.

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.