The University of Kent is one of a consortium of around 30 universities in the UK who offer New Route PhDs. The NRPhD is a national initiative, which aims to provide professional and transferable skills for PhD students who want to operate effectively at a senior level in business or industry or go on to a successful career in academia, in addition to having the high standard of specialist research skills provided by a conventional PhD.

New Route PhDs are equivalent qualifications to traditional PhDs, but integrate some taught subjectspecific and skills modules with the research element. As with a PhD, NRPhD students normally register initially for a Master’s, and upgrade after a period of study.

The programme takes four years full-time. The first two years consist of taught subject-specific modules, modules in research and professional skills training, and a research element. Years three and four focus more on the research project and thesis, although you also take careers-related modules and any modules suggested by your supervisor which complement your specific research topic.

NRPhD students are assessed annually on progress, in addition to any module assessment. You must satisfactorily pass all modules in order to proceed to the next stage of the programme.