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Why study a doctoral degree?
Find information about studying for a doctorate and help to decide if a research degree is right for you.
About doctoral degrees
Doing a doctoral degree allows you to explore a topic in-depth, advancing understanding and helping to improve the world around you.
There are many reasons people do a PhD, including to:
- explore a subject they are passionate about, with likeminded colleagues
- advance their career
- become a recognised expert in a field of research
Doctoral research options
You can:
- propose and develop your own research, which you lead with the support of a supervisory team
- apply to join a research project designed by the university’s academics
Most PhD students study for either three years full-time or six years part-time. They will write a thesis of around 80,000 words and present their research for examination.
Professional doctorates
If you work in education or healthcare, you may be able to do a professional doctorate, which combines taught courses with original research that helps benefit your industry.
Your studies could lead to other qualifications, such as:
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Clinical Science (DClinSci)
How to decide if a doctoral research degree is right for you
Applying for a doctoral research degree takes time, commitment and ambition.
To help you decide if it’s for you, we recommend doing the short online course So You’re Thinking of a PhD?
This is a free resource developed by Manchester Met students that takes you through the process of doing a PhD from start to finish.
Contact us
Get in touch
If you have any questions about applying for a doctoral degree, please email pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk.