Postgraduate Research

Social Sciences and Humanities at Loughborough is a dynamic and vibrant place to be a postgraduate researcher and we are proud of our reputation for creating a friendly, supportive working environment.

Our Research Degrees

Doctoral researchers are integral partners in our research, working on exciting projects across the social, political and environmental sciences and humanities. The School supports a rich diversity of research and encourages both individual and collaborative scholarship.

We aim to develop well-rounded researchers confident in a wide range of scientific, research, leadership and professional skills. We look to enable our doctoral researchers to go on to become future sector leaders, equipped with the specialist and technical expertise in their research fields, the ability to translate research into impact, and to address the complex and shared challenges facing people and places.

Communication and Media Studies PhD

The Communication and Media study area provides training in digital culture, media and communications and Loughborough is home to world-leading, original and internationally-excellent research in this field.

Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy PhD

The Division is home to world-leading, original and internationally excellent research in Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy.

English PhD

Our unique range of research opportunities encompass history, theory, theatre, performance, post-medieval literature, publishing, linguistics studies, and creative writing, including theatre, fiction and poetry.

Geography and Environment PhD

Geography and Environment is a dynamic and vibrant place to be a postgraduate research student, and we are proud of our reputation for creating a friendly and supportive working environment.

International Relations, Politics and History PhD

We conduct research in contemporary politics and political theory, early modern and modern history, international organisation, and critical security studies.

Doctoral Training Opportunities

ESRC Midlands Graduate School (MGS)

MGS is an ESRC funded consortium providing excellent research training across a range of pathways at Loughborough, including Communication & Media, Criminology, Human Geography, Social Policy, Sociology, and Sustainable Development.

Central England NERC Train Academy (CENTA)

CENTA is a NERC funded consortium of Universities and research institutes working together to provide excellence in doctoral research training in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

NERC Flood CDT

FLOOD-CDT is a £6.5 million NERC CDT providing at least 56 fully funded PhD studentships from 2024-2027.

Other opportunities

Loughborough University offers a wide range of funding opportunities including Alumni Bursaries, Commonwealth Scholarships, China Scholarship Council studentships, and School Studentships annually.

Doctoral Research Clusters

Citizenship, Higher Education and Identities

CITHEI is examining opportunities and barriers for culturally diverse students, academics and professional staff across different disciplines and services to develop their full potential within and outside of the university

Digital Communities and Inclusion

This Cluster is examining a series of new, timely and exciting issues related to Digital Communities and Inclusion – generating new knowledge on important frontier topics including gamification and inclusive digital design.

EcoSENSE

EcoSENSE is building on patented ion sensing technology to establish a self-sustaining network with a leading reputation for developing industrially relevant technology solutions to address the climate crisis.

Sports for Climate Action and Nature

SCAN brings together expertise in sport sociology, physiology, nutrition, management, ecology and engineering to examines how sport can be an important driver and influencer of action on climate change.

Doctoral Research Spotlights

Pint of Science

Meet David Whitfield, Geographer and local co-ordinator for Loughborough’s Pint of Science festival.