A PhD in Applied Social Science, offered by the Social Work Discipline at Lancaster University, gives you the opportunity to pursue original research into the systems, structures and policies that shape social welfare and the lives of children, families and communities. As a doctoral researcher, you will join a values-led discipline committed to advancing equity, human rights and social transformation, while developing as an independent scholar whose work engages critically with practice, policy and theory.

You will receive expert supervision and join a dynamic research culture, with access to interdisciplinary networks across the School of Social Sciences. Many of our doctoral researchers also engage with the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, which provides opportunities to collaborate with academics, practitioners, policymakers and people with lived experience to co-design real-world solutions.

The PhD is designed to support a wide range of students, including practitioners, policy professionals, advocates and those with lived experience. We also welcome applications from students seeking sanctuary or displaced by conflict. You will be encouraged to publish, present at conferences and contribute to research seminars, gaining the skills needed for careers in academia, research, policy and professional practice.

Why Lancaster?

• A discipline with a strong international reputation for social work and social policy research.
• A research culture shaped by commitment to justice, equity and inclusion.
• Interdisciplinary links with law, sociology, criminology, health and policy studies.
• Expert supervision and tailored training through Lancaster’s Research Training Programme (RTP).
• A welcoming environment for practitioners and policy professionals, where practice experience is valued and connected to research.

Supervision & Research Community

PhD researchers in Applied Social Science are part of a vibrant academic community with expertise across:

• family justice and child protection
• inequality (including gender, race and disability)
• the rights, welfare and inclusion of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities
• housing, food, and energy security
• reproductive justice
• mental health and distress
• the lived experiences of children, young people and adults in times of crisis or uncertainty

You will benefit from interdisciplinary encounters with staff and students across the School of Social Sciences and from links to national and international research networks. The Centre for Child and Family Justice Research will offer you opportunities to engage in events and collaborative projects that connect academic research with practice and policy.

Research Culture & Opportunities

As a doctoral researcher, you will be encouraged to:

• Present your work at national and international conferences.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals
• Take part in student-led seminars and interdisciplinary workshops.
• Engage with practice and policy networks in the UK and globally.

You will also participate in the Faculty’s Research Training Programme (RTP), which provides advanced training in methods, academic writing and knowledge exchange.

In addition, you are encouraged to attend any relevant MA taught modules but are not required to take any for credit as part of your degree.