Course summary
The multidisciplinary Department of Law and Criminology is home to applied, theoretical and doctrinal research across Criminology, Forensic Psychology, Law, Social Work, and Sociology. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 100% of our submission was assessed as world leading or internationally excellent for research impact. The Department is home to about 50 research active staff and 50 PhD students. We offer a stimulating research environment in which PhD students are expected to be a part of the multidisciplinary research groups and contribute to PhD-led seminars and development activities. Our students benefit from opportunities for research methods training and we have a network of external organisations who are willing to support optional short-term placements and knowledge exchange opportunities. You can find detailed research profiles of our staff here (https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-teaching/departments-and-schools/law-and-criminology/research/), by selecting the Departmental Research Group of most relevance to your proposed research and following the links to staff profile pages. Alternatively, you can find a list of staff here (https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-teaching/departments-and-schools/law-and-criminology/contact-us/?department=law+and+criminology - use the Criminology and Sociology drop down menu to locate Forensic Psychology staff). Please note that by studying this degree your award title will not include the subject of study but will simply state you've completed a PhD.
Assessment method
Students register for an MPhil and then participate in an upgrade process before the 20th month of studies, if in full time study (40th month part time). The upgrade requires submission of thesis chapters for consideration by a panel of Departmental staff and a formal presentation to this panel. Following upgrade, students follow a PhD registration and are expected to submit the thesis by the end of their third year of full time study, or at the latest by the end of their fourth year (part time by the end of the 8th year). Part of the training throughout the programme is attending internal and external seminars. In addition, we run a PhD seminar series where students present their on-going research and receive feedback from their peers and the faculty.
Entry requirements
Candidates for a place on the MPhil/PhD programme will have undergraduate and taught Masters degrees in a relevant subject. The Masters degree would typically have included training in advanced research methods, and be awarded with a Distinction or high Merit. The Department welcomes applications from suitably qualified and highly motivated candidates. The application process for our postgraduate research programmes is interactive. For details, please visit: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/postgraduate/law-and-criminology/forensic-psychology-phd/ For further information concerning applications for postgraduate research in the department, please contact Dr Caterina Nirta, Departmental Lead for Postgraduate Research.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £18200 | Year 1 |
| International | £18200 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry. For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the UKRI website.
Provider information
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
TW20 0EX