PhD by distance

For all students, our recommended route to a PhD in the School of Divinity is by full-time study based on residence within reach of Edinburgh. However, suitably qualified applicants from both overseas and the UK may apply to study part-time for a PhD at a distance, if their circumstances make regular attendance in Edinburgh impossible.

Students enrolled on this mode of study are required to come to Edinburgh for two weeks at least once in each of the six years of study in order to meet with supervisors and attend seminars. These visits include participation in the School’s research methods course ‘Approaches to Research in Divinity and Religious Studies’ at the start of the first academic year, then an annual summer visit, during which annual reviews will be held. Therefore in their first year students would need to make (and pay for) two visits to Edinburgh, and then one visit each year thereafter. Students will also be required to return to Edinburgh for their oral examination.

The part-time route is available across the full range of PhD programmes offered by the School, though not all supervisors may be available to supervise distance students in a given year. The academic and English language entrance requirements are the same as for all other PhD applicants.

Apply online for part-time PhD study in the usual way through the Postgraduate Degree Finder, but there is a supplementary application form to submit.