If you are looking for universities that offer dissertation only PhD to students, you are at the right place. As per Oxford University Careers Service, 160+ universities in the UK offer graduate and postgraduate research opportunities to students. Choosing a single institute out of all these options can be tough for the applicants.
To help you pursue higher education, we have curated a list of universities that offer dissertation-only PhD programs. For a PhD to be successful, a research institute must be equipped with cutting-edge technology tools. Also, the supervisors must come from rich academic backgrounds so that they can assist the learners.
All these institutes provide excellent teaching opportunities and excellent research facilities, which leads to fulfilling employment options. Also, they host both national and international students and make a diverse community of them.
This article sheds light on the specifications of different PhD colleges and universities in the UK. Let’s first define what is meant by the PhD by thesis only.
What Is PhD by Thesis Only?
As per the University of Reading, the PhD by thesis is a traditional route to a PhD degree, and you can apply for this kind of programme in any of your research areas. Furthermore, during the PhD degree, you can carry out original and independent research. Normally, such research is presented in the form of a thesis, which contains up to 90,000 words.
You can either do your research all alone or collaborate with professional PhD dissertation writers to assist you. Many students prefer the latter option as it ensures excellence in academic and research work.
A List of 10 Best Universities Offering Dissertation Only PhD Programs
Applying to a reputable university in the UK needs both valuable work experience and an excellent academic history. So, from your undergraduate days, you should start preparing yourself for the PhD degree. Furthermore, another challenge is to find the best university that offers dissertation only PhD programs to students.
Here is a list of universities that offer thesis only PhD courses to students:
1. University of Oxford
Regarded as one of the premier universities in the world, Oxford University has improved the educational society in many ways. In the English language universe, it’s one of the earliest known institutions. This university welcomes candidates who wish to make an impact in their respective academic disciplines.
To earn a doctorate here, your thesis must have the following features:
- It should be a substantial and significant piece of research.
- It should make a meaningful contribution to the field.
- The students should present it in a scholarly and lucid manner.
Also, in the presentation of viva, a candidate is expected and required to defend their dissertation. Not only that, they must have the capacity to demonstrate a grip on the general knowledge in their respective discipline.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Engineering Science
- Medical Science
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Average Annual Fees
The normal annual course fee for a UK student here is £4925 for 2024-25. However, for overseas students, it starts from £12,935.
2. University of Cambridge
The completion rate of postgraduate studies, as per The Guardian, at the University of Cambridge is 80%. Here, all the research students are given admission on a probationary basis. They are registered for the CPGS (Certificate of Postgraduate Study). During that year, students can do additional coursework and craft a research report. Furthermore, that report eventually serves as the basis of a PhD thesis.
All research students are also expected to contribute to the teaching department after being trained. Also, the university expects them to complete the substantial research by the end of 3rd year. So, to get a professional doctoral degree, they should then submit a thesis within a few months.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Chemical Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Engineering
- Clinical Neuroscience
Average Annual Fees
The fee for entry here is £80,000 for the 1st year and for subsequent years, it’s £50,000 per annum.
3. Imperial College London
If you have been a high performer in the undergraduate or Master’s degree, ICL is a great opportunity for you to pursue a PhD. Here, you can also get a generous stipend for the doctoral degree that you are enrolled in. Also, this institute offers one of the cheapest online PhD dissertations only to students.
To search for a PhD opportunity here, you will need to identify a research group which aligns best with your ideas. That is why, you should know about the current studentships and explore the options about ongoing scholarship opportunities.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Life Sciences
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Sciences
- Mathematics
Average Annual Fees
For postgraduate research and innovation here, the fees for the year 2024-25 will be £4,786.00.
4. University College London
UCL is one of the leading universities in the world in terms of doctoral studies. It holds an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and research. Furthermore, the university provides an exceptional learning environment for the doctoral candidates. 30 people who studied at UCL bagged Nobel Prizes in their careers.
The university is a great destination to pursue a dissertation-only PhD as it is surrounded by the following:
- Museums
- Archives
- Libraries
- Professional bodies in Europe
Also, the University College London follows a three-year PhD programme and encourages the candidates to investigate several research opportunities. After you and your prospective supervisor agree on a research topic, you can submit a formal application.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Material Science
- Physics and Astronomy
Average Annual Fees
For full-time students, the annual fee here is £6,035 while it is £3,015 for part-time research students.
5. University of Edinburgh
Depending on the academic degree you want to pursue, you can go for a pre-defined PhD research project, or you can develop your own idea. Here, in the fields of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, you can get access to fully funded programmes. However, in the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities research areas, you will have to source your own funding.
Humanities students sometimes choose to work double shifts to manage their educational expenses. They also seek aid from reliable PhD dissertation writing services when they feel unable to focus on their research.
As per Wikipedia, the University of Edinburgh is home to 40,000+ students. Out of these, around 15,000 are postgraduates. This university is popular for higher education in doctoral programs and has earned stellar rankings in global academia.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Geosciences
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Informatics
- Mathematics
Average Annual Fees
For a duration of 3 years, the average PhD fee here is £26,300. It means that students have to pay around £8766 per year.
6. University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is another public research university with more than 40,000 students currently enrolled there. So, you can use their program finder to look for the PhD by dissertation only courses you want to pursue. Also, students can advance their careers by graduating from this university in their respective disciplines.
At this university, you can take advantage of their investment in world-class research facilities. Also, they have a dynamic research culture that encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration to improve the quality of innovation.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Electrical Engineering
- Material Science
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Average Annual Fees
At the University of Manchester, the standard fee for PhD level research is £26,500 per year.
7. King’s College London
King’s College London is home to 400+ research students who come from diverse academic backgrounds. Students can carry out their postgraduate research here in 14 departments. For a dissertation only PhD, you are expected to submit your thesis within three years.
Additionally, you can enrol yourself in different postgrad certifications and diplomas at this university. Furthermore, KCL is currently accepting PhD applications in a lot of academic disciplines. They have a global network of 250,000+ alumni. Also, a large number of working professionals can fulfil their career goals here.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Medical Science
- Life Science
- Pharmaceutical Science
Average Annual Fees
At King’s College London, the average annual fee for MPhil or PhD programmes is £7,050.
8. London School of Economics and Political Science
Around 55% of the students at LSE come from 200 different countries to pursue their postgraduate research here. Hence, it is one of the top universities in the UK that offers dissertation only PhD online to national and international students. Student life at LSE is challenging, but they provide world-class research facilities in the following areas:
- Climate Change
- Environmental Social Science
- Urban and Development Geography
- Economics
- Political Science
As a PhD student, you will work at the highest academic level here and can benefit from their excellent research labs. Also, you can get scholarships from different student bodies here.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Communication
- Law
- Journalism
- Social Science
Average Annual Fees
At LSE, the majority of studentships cover 100% fee. So, the PhD here is usually fully funded.
9. University of Bristol
The University of Bristol welcomes postgraduate students from more than 150 countries in the world. Also, it has an international reputation for high-quality research and education. Moreover, it is linked to 13 Nobel Prize-winning people including Winston Churchill.
Nearly 30,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students are currently enrolled here, of which 25% are international. Furthermore, the university is at the forefront of global research. Also, employers worldwide seek the Bristol graduates.
Furthermore, you can find 12 major PhD fields here with a lot of sub-categories. The University of Bristol is an ideal place to earn a doctor of philosophy degree with a dissertation. So, it’s up to you whether you want to go for a full or part-time study research-based degree.
Top Dissertation Only PhD Programs It Offers:
- Biochemistry
- Biological Science
- Physiology
- Medical Science
Average Annual Fees
For the year 2024-25, the annual fee for PhD at the University of Bristol is £4,786. Also, you can search the university’s website to look for any changes in the fee structure.
10. Newcastle University
When it comes to employment opportunities, Newcastle University is one of the leading universities in the UK. Also, they have an industry-standard teaching and research centre for the PhD students. A research degree from this institute can open doors to many new opportunities for students.
At Newcastle University, a dissertation only takes PhD theology three to four years to complete. So, when you enrol yourself in such a program here, you get access to the following:
- A custom research development programme
- Access to career coaching, workshops and consultations
- Several opportunities to take part in events and competitions
- The provision of a personalised training needs analysis along with the research development training programs for students.
Top PhD Programs It Offers:
So, the top 2 dissertation only PhD programs offered by this university are the following:
- Medical Science
- Bio-Engineering
Average Annual Fees
The range for the PhD fee ranges here between £4,500 and £35,000 per annum. UK students can pay an annual average of £4,500, while international students pay much more.
What Is the Difference Between a Doctorate and a PhD?
According to Walden University, a PhD is an academic degree that focuses on the data analysis and the original research of the papers. Normally, students narrate the evaluation of theory in their research papers.
On the other hand, a doctorate focuses on the application of research to practical research problems. Also, they formulate solutions to complex problems and design workable professional practices within your field of study.
A PhD is not higher in rank as compared to a professional doctorate degree. In fact, a doctorate and a PhD are both the highest levels of college education that students can earn. So, the concluding factor is that both are doctoral degrees in nature and are similar in many aspects.
Can You Get a Doctorate with Just a Dissertation?
Most students go for the PhD by thesis method to earn a doctorate. However, that’s not the only way to earn your degree. Just like the dissertation only PhD method, the other top five ways to get a doctorate are listed here:
- PhD by thesis online
- Professional doctorate program
- Online/distance learning PhD
- Doctorate/PhD by publication
- Integrated PhD
In the doctorate by publication method, you can use the previously submitted published papers to form together a coherent body of work. Then, you can earn your degree by showing it as evidence of original contribution to your field of study. If you are in a hurry, you can even purchase a PhD dissertation from credible sources. It’s both effortless and can save you time.
End Note
All in all, we have explored the details of the top 10 universities that offer dissertation-only PhD courses. Studying in the UK is a fantastic method of improving your educational opportunities and potential career paths.
A PhD program is most likely to broaden your viewpoints and provide you with an opportunity to do remarkable research. Also, UK universities are regarded well internationally. The students who earn their degrees here have an edge over the students who earn their doctorate from elsewhere.
The bottom line is that, when applying to the desired university, you should know the necessary details about the institute. After the application process is over, prepare well for the admission tests and interviews. Once you fulfil all the admission requirements and do well in the interview, you will land at your desired university.
