Programes of Study available

Ancient Religions

The Research Descriptions below will help you decide the best opportunities for your research area.

Please read the University’s Academic Quality Handbook for further details of the selection criteria.

Qualifications

The qualifications that are offered at research level are:

  • Master of Philosophy by Research (MPhil)
  • Master of Research (MRes)
  • Doctor of Philosophy by Research (PhD) 
  • Doctor of Philosophy by Professional Practice 
  • Professional Doctorate (Prof Doc, DBA)
  • Doctorate in Education (EdD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy by Published Works - Open to graduates of the University of Wales of a least 6 years and to members of staff of the University of Wales of at least 3 years. Work should not normally have been published more than 10 years previously. 

Master of Philosophy by Research – MPhil

The degree of Master of Philosophy is awarded in recognition of the successful completion of a programme of further research. In order to qualify for the MPhil a student must successfully complete and submit a thesis of between 55,000 and 65,000 words. There are no taught elements within this programme.

Full-time Candidature

1 year (minimum)

3 years (maximum)

Part-time Candidature

3 years (minimum)

5 years (maximum)

Master by Research - MRes

The degree of Master by Research is awarded in recognition of the successful completion of a programme of further study and research. The programme is divided in to two elements; 60 credits of taught modules and 120 credits of a research dissertation.

Full time Candidature

1 year (minimum)

2 years (maximum)

Part time Candidature

2 years (minimum)

4 years (maximum)

Doctor of Philosophy by Research (PhD)

To qualify for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, candidates must successfully complete a programme of research, the results of which are judged to constitute an original contribution to learning and to give evidence of systematic study and of ability to relate the results of such study to the general body of knowledge in the subject. Such degrees will be assessed by means of a thesis, the length of which should be around 100,000 words

Candidates will pursue a programme of supervised study, including research and generic skills development, subject to a successful probationary period. The minimum and maximum periods of supervised study from the date of initial registration are as follows:

Full-time Candidates

3 years minimum

4 years maximum

Part-time Candidates

6 years minimum

8 years maximum

All candidates are required to complete a probationary period during which the candidate will be expected to demonstrate his/her ability to proceed with further research. The Probationary Panel must be established no later than 12 months after initial enrolment for full-time students, and no later than 24 months after initial enrolment for part-time students.

Doctor of Philosophy by Professional Practice

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Professional Practice is awarded in recognition of the successful completion of a piece of creative work and/or a professional production (as in the case of a stage play) together with a programme of research study. The precise nature of the creative work will vary according to the nature of the discipline. Candidates will need to define the practice-based methodology which will consist of the processes and practices used in the conception, design, realisation and evaluation of the creative work. The minimum and maximum periods of supervised study from the date of initial registration are as follows:

Full-time Candidature

Part-time Candidature

Doctor of Philosophy by Published Works

Published works’ may be defined as works which are in the public domain (or which have at least been accepted for publication, provided that the candidate can provide adequate proof that this is the case) or written work produced through normal professional activities. Such pieces of work must have been published in such a way as to be generally available for consultation by scholars or other interested persons and must be traceable in ordinary catalogues. Examples of eligible published work include, but are not limited to:

  • Academic papers;
  • Journal articles;
  • Monographs;
  • Professional Reports;
  • Technical reports;
  • Book chapters;
  • Scholarly text books;
  • Single books.

Candidates may submit work(s) done in collaboration with others in support of the candidature, but such work shall be accompanied by a statement signed by each collaborator indicating the nature and amount of the work done by the candidate.

The published work submitted for the degree must constitute a corpus of publication or professional reports tending towards a coherent thesis, rather than a series of disconnected publications. Candidates must be either a graduate of the University of Wales within the last six years or a member of staff for a least three years (please contact the Academic Office (Postgraduate Research) for further details on this programme).

The minimum and maximum periods of supervised study from the date of initial registration are as follows:

Full-time Candidature

1 year

Part-time Candidature

2 years