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Why Postgraduate Research

A postgraduate research degree is built around blending professional practice with academic theory. You will focus on developing pragmatic solutions for your workplace, bringing the theory you learn back to your employers to help improve your business through a solid foundation in academic research.

Postgraduate research

Accolades

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  • 30
    Top30We're a top 30 UK universityGuardian University Guide 2026
  • 10
    Top10We're in the UK top 10 for teaching excellenceDaily Mail University Guide 2026
  • 10
    Top10We're in the UK top 10 for student support servicesDaily Mail University Guide 2026
FdA Business and Management

Reasons to study your research degree with us

  • Over 70% of published research carried out at the University of Sunderland has been rated as either world-leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework
  • We're in the top 10 universities in Europe for International Student Diversity (QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025)
  • We're 2nd in the UK for International Student Diversity (QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025)
Our research culture

Our research culture

The research culture at Sunderland aligns with our University values. Our interdisciplinary approach encourages collaboration between specialisms and strengthens our relationships with industry. We celebrate diverse viewpoints and provide our researchers with the confidence to push the boundaries of knowledge through their innovative research areas. Our governance and integrity ensures excellence throughout all research activities. This leads to high-quality academic research that makes a true contribution to knowledge and society – and inspires the next generation of researchers.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy

PhD Doctor of Philosophy

A PhD is generally considered the highest academic degree you can achieve and is an internationally recognised qualification. Your original research will culminate in a written thesis of 40,000-80,000 words.

Study a PhD