Penal Theory, Policy, Punishment and Justice | Research Degrees

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Accessibility statement

Award Award	Duration Duration	Start dates Start dates	Application Application
PhD (MPhil also available) PhD (MPhil also available)	Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years	February and October February and October	January to April January to April

Social Policy and Criminology at the Open University has extensive interests and an international profile in this field. It is engaged in several areas of research that help to understand and challenge dominant discourses of punishment and imprisonment, and engages with penal theory and policy. Our substantive areas of interest include:

We warmly welcome postgraduate students in these areas. Research students are encouraged to participate in the supportive and collegial research culture in the department and the wider School of Social Sciences and Global Studies. Staff in this research area are members of the Centre for Global Challenges and Social Justice.

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

UK fee UK fee	International fee International fee
Full-time: £5,006 per year Full-time: £5,006 per year	Full-time: £12,705 per year Full-time: £12,705 per year
Part-time: £2,503 per year Part-time: £2,503 per year	Part-time: £6,353 per year Part-time: £6,353 per year

Some of our research students are funded via the The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

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