(You may also like to read about how to apply for postgraduate study, and the Postgraduate Research Faculty.)

Research degrees are academically rigorous programmes that demand in-depth study of a topic for a sustained period of time. The award of a doctorate or other research degree recognises the patience and commitment of successful candidates, the high-level skills they have gained, and their ability to present original research that furthers understanding of the subject matter.

Research students will normally undertake some training in research methods before embarking on their programme of research. They will have an academic supervisor who will advise and support the direction of their research for the duration of the degree, and a co-supervisor will provide additional support as required.

After submitting a PhD thesis, students are normally expected to defend their thesis orally in a viva voce examination, and to demonstrate how their research is original and contributes to the field of study.

Choosing a research topic

Research degrees - especially at MPhil and PhD level - are very different from undergraduate and taught Master's programmes as there is no defined list of courses to choose from. MPhil and PhD degrees can be pursued on any academic topic, as long as the School or Department you are applying to has the expertise to guide and supervise your study.

You should normally develop an outline proposal of the topic you wish to explore and discuss this with the Admissions Tutor for the subject area before making a formal application.

Information about the research strengths of each academic area can be found in the following subject entries and on the University website (www.swansea.ac.uk). These strengths will provide an insight into the broad subject areas that research degrees can be supervised in and, ideally, you should be able to relate your proposed research area to these topics.

Which research degree?

The University offers a number of research degrees, including:

PhD: PhD students undertake supervised research either independently or as a member of a team, and present their research in a thesis of not more than 100,000 words. The thesis must demonstrate the student's capacity to pursue original research and should represent a distinct and significant contribution to the subject.

The first year of registration for a PhD is a period of official probation, requiring departmental assessment before the candidate is allowed to proceed.

MPhil: MPhil degrees may be completed in one or two years' full-time study. The degree is awarded to candidates who have successfully completed approved and supervised research, and presented the results in a thesis of not more than 60,000 words.

In some cases, there may be opportunities for students to upgrade from the degree to PhD during the course of their studies.

MRes: The aim of the MRes (Master of Research) is to provide relevant training to acquire the knowledge, techniques and understanding needed for a professional career, or for progression to higher academic studies, normally a PhD.

The MRes is achieved through a combination of taught modules (worth 60 credits) and a research thesis which presents the outcome of a significant research project (worth 120 credits).

NB: MRes degree schemes are described in the taught Master's section (pages xx to xx).

EngD: The Engineering Doctorate prepares Engineering students for research careers in industry and is fully supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The EngD is a four-year scheme consisting of one year of taught modules followed by an industry-linked research project. For further information, see page XX.

MD: In addition to the PhD, the School of Medicine offers the postgraduate degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) through supervised research within individual research groups.

Is a research degree right for me?

Yes, if you want to:

• Pursue a career in academia or research
• Explore an individual topic in depth
• Acquire extensive and specialised research skills
• Enhance your career prospects.