PhD Criminology at University of Stirling

Programme overview

A PhD making an advanced contribution to knowledge about criminal justice, crime and deviance. Stirling is ranked first in Scotland and top 5 in the UK for Criminology (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027).

Duration: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time | Intake: 1st day of any month | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Students propose their own project or join a supervisor-designed project in areas including policing, crimes of violence, cybercrime and substance use, with emphasis on practitioner and service-user engagement and large-scale secondary quantitative data; ESRC-funded Scottish Graduate School of Social Science PhDs are hosted.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

An upper second class honours Bachelors degree or higher qualification; for some studentships and programmes a suitable masters degree may be specified. The application requires a research proposal, funding plan, proof of qualifications, an academic reference and a CV. English language (applicants whose first language is not English): IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill; Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill; TOEFL (taken before 21 January 2026) 88 overall with 20 reading, 19 writing, 19 listening and 22 speaking; TOEFL (taken from 21 January 2026) 4.5 overall with no less than 4 in any band.

Domestic applicants: GBP 5,238 a year (2026/27). UK (home) full-time rate, all subjects; part-time £2,619 per year Source

International applicants: GBP 21,500 a year (2026/27). International full-time rate; part-time £10,750 per year; registration-only fee £500 after the fee-paying years Source

Intake: 1st day of any month

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

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