PhD Social Work and Social Care at Swansea University

Programme overview

Research degrees in social work and social care at the School of Health and Social Care, with research that informs the social care workforce and service provision and addresses outcomes such as quality of life, social inclusion and social capital.

Department: School of Health and Social Care | Duration: 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time | Intake: Oct, Jan, Apr and Jul | Location: Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

What you will study

Supervised research on topics such as services for young carers, multi-agency working in substance misuse and the social exclusion of older people in care homes, building transferable skills such as problem-solving, project management and critical thinking.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants should check how their qualification compares on the country-specific entry requirements. PhD: a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or non-UK equivalent defined by Swansea University) and a master's degree; applicants with a UK first-class honours degree and no master's degree are considered individually. English language: IELTS 6.5 overall with no individual component below 6.5, or a Swansea University recognised equivalent. Admissions decisions may also depend on the standard of the research synopsis or proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places and relevant professional experience.

Domestic applicants: GBP 5,006 a year (2025/26). UK student full-time annual rate (2025/26 entry point); part-time is half. Charged over the minimum candidature period. Bench fees may apply. Source

International applicants: GBP 21,950 a year (2026/27). Year 1 tuition, full-time; later years increase by 3% Source

Intake: Oct, Jan, Apr and Jul

Duration: 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time

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