Polish Studies PhD

	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time distance learning	Part-time distance learning
PhD	Y	Y	N	N

Staff in Russian and East European Studies conduct research of an interdisciplinary nature across a broad range of subjects, including nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature and intellectual history; Soviet and post-Soviet cinema and the media; gender studies; nationalism and ethnic politics in Russia historically and in the post-communist period; and post-communist transition in East Central Europe. The Discipline of Russian and East European Studies constitutes a core group of the Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies, which facilitates collaboration in research and postgraduate teaching and supervision among relevant members of staff across the Faculty of Humanities.

Russian and East European Studies has been officially assessed in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise as the best in the nation for research in its field. 35% of its research was deemed to be 'world-leading' and a total of 70% was rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.

Research projects of staff in the Discipline of Russian and East European Studies include `Television representations of Islam as a security threat in  Russia, France and the UK' (AHRC-funded); housing as a gendered issue in twentieth-century Russia (AHRC-funded); `Oriental Studies and Russian national identity' (AHRC-funded); 'Centering the Margins: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Marginality in Russia and Eurasia' (funded by the British Academy); and `The Memory of the Second World War in East Central Europe post-1989' (funded by the Leverhulme Trust). Conferences and workshops organised by staff in Russian include 'Imagining the West - Perceptions of the Western Other in Modern and Contemporary Eastern Europe' and `The Mass Media, Freedom of Speech and 'the War on Terror' in Russia and the UK'.  A focal point for the Discipline's research activity is a regular Research Seminar, which features a mix of internal and external speakers and promotes debate between staff and postgraduates across the full spectrum of their research interests.

Academic entry qualification overview:

Successful completion of a Masters course with an overall classification of Merit or higher, or its overseas equivalent, with an element of research training, is a prerequisite for entry to a PhD. A research proposal must be included with the formal application materials. 

English language:

Students whose first language is not English require:

an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with 7.0 in the writing component

or

a TOEFL score of 600 paper-based test, 250 computer-based test, or 100 internet-based test

or

a Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 70 overall with 70 in the writing component

Other international entry requirements: We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country.

If you have applied to us before, any subsequent application should provide updated information on your suitability for the course. We reserve the right to draw on any information from previous applications.

The PhD is the major postgraduate research degree. It involves three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study and the preparation of a thesis of not more than 80,000 words that makes a significant contribution to knowledge. A satisfactory PhD topic is one that a suitably qualified and properly supervised student can bring to completion within the permitted timeframe.  Please note, all PhD students are required to undertake Research Training as part of their PhD programme.

Your research will normally be supervised by two members of staff at the University. Your supervisors will most likely be members of the School, but if your research requires it, the School or Subject area may arrange for supervision by someone outside the School. Supervisory arrangements at Manchester are governed by a Code of Practice which is available on the University's website. Regular meetings will be held with the supervisors, and details of each of the meetings will be recorded. Research Panels (consisting of at least three academic staff, including the supervisors) are held once per semester to monitor progress.

Please note, the first year of the full-time programme and the first two years of the part-time programme are probationary; this means you will be required to show evidence of satisfactory progress in order to proceed with the programme.

All postgraduate students in the School can make use of the purpose-designed Centre for Graduate Studies, opened in 2003. The Centre is located in one of the University's most interesting architectural spaces, highlighted in Pevsner's guide to Manchester for its `Corbusian external stairs and a curving rooftop pavilion ... the interior of which is an exciting space with big circular rooflights and very narrow window slits on one side only.' Care was taken to enhance those features while providing state-of-the-art facilities for postgraduate study. These include 30 computers (several with dedicated translation studies software), LaserJet printers, `hot-desk' facilities for around 50 students (including workstation facilities for students with disabilities), and 132 secure lockers. The Centre also houses a collection of past theses and dissertations from all subjects studied in the School at PhD, MPhil and MA level, which students can access to inform their own research and writing.

In addition to the Centre for Graduate Studies, the University has five major computer clusters, together with many smaller clusters. In total there are more than 10,000 PCs and workstations across the campus. All provide access to standard office software as well as specialist programs, and all are connected to the campus network and internet. Every student is registered for email, file storage and internet access. If more demanding computer access is required, our specialist computing division Manchester Computing can provide high-end and specialist computing services.

The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) is one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and is widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries. We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Support Office. Email: disability@manchester.ac.uk