Research supervisors for your PhD research in political theory and political philosophy
You will benefit from research supervision comprising two or maximum three members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism, that supervisory team may reflect a cross-disciplinary approach or the wider political world. We have sometimes included third supervisors from another research institution or an external partner with direct experience in the area of research.
We are keen to receive proposals that indicate the value of specialist support within politics, political theory and, more broadly, applied philosophy. The direction of the project may then include supervision from related areas in cultural studies, literature and cultural history, criminology and the social sciences. The University of Brighton's politically interested academics also operate with specialisms that range through craftivism and urban design, architecture and planning, sociology, creative practice including creative writing, and environmental studies.
You will identify your potential primary supervisor from the early stages of application and they will usually then support you throughout your programme of study, helping you develop your research interests, guiding your learning of rigorous research methods and preparing you for the next stage of your career.
You should consider the staff listed below and create a short draft research proposal identifying your suitability for supervision from that person's research specialism.
Research training and support
The independent research programme is balanced and enhanced with a range of support from your supervisors and the extended academic community. Whatever the focus of your research degree project, you will be able to draw on research approaches from a variety of related fields. You can develop research plans and apply methods involving both quantitative and qualitative data, supported by appropriate research methods training.
You and your fellow postgraduate researchers will have the opportunity to attend and present at research seminar sessions with globally influential guests invited on a regular basis. The PhD programme will give you the opportunity to build research skills, network with key influential thinkers, as well as developing transferable skills essential for employment.
As a member of the Brighton Doctoral College, you will benefit from regular opportunities on a training programme designed to support postgraduate researchers at all stages of the PhD and help them achieve their career goals. Attendance at appropriate workshops within this programme is encouraged, as is contribution to the various seminar series hosted by the schools and the annual Postgraduate Research Festival. Academic and technical staff also provide more subject-specific training.
Postgraduate degree resources for graduate students
We pride ourselves on conducting research with impact that serves society, policy, and the wider community.
PhD candidates often work with local communities, regional authorities, and governmental partners on real-world challenges. This approach aligns with Brighton’s civic mission and ensures research goes beyond theory into meaningful application. Across all its disciplines, the University of Brighton offers a rich blend of academic rigour and real-world impact.
You will benefit from access to international research resources, including a contemporary range of electronic resources via the university’s Online Library, as well as the physical book and journal collections housed within campus libraries. The library services are connected to national and international collections and students also have the option of inter-library loans.
Research Excellence Framework REF2021
Across REF2014 to REF2021, the University of Brighton has been one of the outstanding performers in its disciplinary range.
Our Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) submissions included all the supervisors across our political disciplines and included outputs demonstrating the world-leading and internationally significant work of individual expert staff.
CAPPE’s lively academic community has included an end-of-year Celebration of Doctoral Research, giving Postgraduate research students across politics, political philosophy and related disciplines a chance to get to know each other's work and build lasting academic relationships.
(Directly above) Postgraduate researchers enjoying “speed date your research.”
(Above) Doctoral student Jon Norman-Mason presents on storytelling as a form of re-enchantment at CAPPE's end-of-year Celebration of Doctoral Research.