Key information
Duration
- Full-time: 36 months (3-4 years)
- Part-time: 72 months (6-8 years)
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting October 2026 — Application deadline not specified.
- Starting January 2027 — Apply before Nov 2026 (International); Apply before Dec 2026 (National).
We recommend that you apply as soon as you are able to as courses may occasionally close early.
Language
English — PTE Academic: 76; IELTS: 7.
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Colchester, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Childhood Studies
Overview
Within the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, you will be allocated a supervisor whose role it is to guide you through the different stages of your research degree. In some cases, you may have joint supervision by two members of the staff (which may include co-supervision from colleagues located in another department).
The support provided by your supervisor is a key feature of your research student experience and you will have regular one-to-one meetings to discuss progress on your research. Twice a year, you will have a supervisory panel meeting, which provides a more formal opportunity to discuss your progress and agree your plans for the next six months.
Your future
The graduates the Childhood Studies programme from University of Essex go on to a number of different destinations, including further study and training.
Many of the students are already professionals, clinical and non-clinical, so return to their existing fields, either in jobs or further training, and use study with them to deepen their understanding of their work.
Programme Structure
The university offers research supervision in the following:
- Children, psychoanalysis, and psychoanalytic theory
- Psychosocial Studies of children and childhood
- Sociologies of childhood
- Histories of children and childhood
- Children, parenting, and families
- Childhood, politics and ideology
- Ethical research with children
- Childhood and identity
- Children's friendships and peers
- Gender and sexuality
- Geographies of childhood and youth
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
English requirements
- PTE Academic: 76
- IELTS: 7
General requirements
- You will need a Merit at Masters degree level, or equivalent, in a related discipline. A well-developed research proposal is also essential.
- You will normally be required to attend an interview/Skype interview for acceptance, and acceptance is subject to research expertise in the department.
- If English is not your first language, they require IELTS 7.0, or equivalent with a minimum of 5.5 in all other components.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
- International: 38,940 AUD / year (≈ 20,625 GBP / year)
- Domestic: 9,451 AUD / year (≈ 5,006 GBP / year)
Part-time: Home/UK fee - £2,503 per year; International fee - £10,313 per year.
Living costs
Colchester, United Kingdom: 1,246-2,152 AUD / month. The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Scholarships
Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Childhood Studies. Available scholarships include: Turing Scheme Funding (Grant 1360 GBP, deadline Anytime, need-based); The Always Essex Staff Discount (Various benefits); Summer Abroad Turing Scheme Funding (Grant 1360 GBP, deadline Anytime, need-based); Alumni Loyalty Discount (Various benefits, deadline Anytime, merit-based); Fulbright U.S. Student Program (Various benefits, deadline 07 Oct 2026); ServiceScape Scholarship (1000 USD, deadline 30 Nov 2026); ACES Scholarships (3500 USD, deadline 15 Nov 2026); Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility (Various benefits, merit-based); Scholarships for PhD Students (19000 GBP, merit-based); Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship (Various benefits, deadline 28 Feb 2027, merit-based); Amberscholar Scholarship (6000 USD, deadline 31 Jan 2027, merit-based); $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship (1000 USD, deadline 31 Oct 2026, merit-based); Voice Talent Online Scholarship (1000 USD, deadline 01 Mar 2027); Dream Chaser Scholarship (1000 USD, deadline 13 Jan 2027, merit-based); Scholarship for students with disabilities (3000 USD, deadline 31 Dec 2026, need-based); Commonwealth Shared Scholarship - University Bids (22500 GBP); The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship (1500 USD); Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme (12000 USD, deadline 11 Jan 2027).