An MPhil involves the exploration of a research topic and is typically studied over a shorter period of 1 year for a full-time student and 2 years for a part-time student. MPhil students are required to demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights informed by the forefront of their discipline, field of study or professional practice.

Research profile
Youth and Community Studies has a proud history at Brunel, with 30 years of teaching Youth and Community Work and an international reputation for excellence in both teaching and research. We have connections with practitioners who work with young people in a range of posts and settings nationally and internationally. Our research focuses on:

• Young people’s values, identities and perspectives
• Professionals working with children and young people
• Policy relating to equalities or the well-being or inclusion of young people
• Sexuality, drugs and alcohol - and related educational interventions
• Representations of youth and childhood

In the Division of Social Work, Youth and Community, we have members of staff who are:

• Editors of Gender and Education, Sex Education, Annual Review of Critical Psychology
• Core member of the Sex Education Forum
• Advisor on projects funded by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner
• Convenor of the British Educational Research Association’s Sexualities Special Interest Group
• Awarded the Ken Darby-Dowman Memorial Award for post-graduate teaching
• Member of the International Feminist Research Methods Seminar (SimREF)

The Division of Social Work, Youth and Community, have

• specialism in researching youth professionals with children and young people
• research with practitioners on tackling gender violence
• commitment to equalities interventions
• service user perspectives and experiences
• specialist researchers in gender and sexualities

Applicants are welcome to contact us about their own specialist topics and projects.  However we particularly welcome proposals on:

• Young People’s Experience of Genders and Sexualities
• Social Change in Youth Sexualities
• Anti-violence and pro-equalities interventions
• Interprofessional Working on Sexualities and Sexual Health
• International perspectives on the above

Following the completion of their PhD students may follow several career paths:

• Policy work
• Professional work with children, young people, families or communities
• NGO or governmental work
• Education or informal education
• Counselling, coaching, tuition
• Research
• Academic teaching

Recent collaborations have included with London Borough of Hillingdon; the University of Roviri I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; Stonewall, SportScotland, the Pride Trust, Gendered Intelligence, the Sex Education Forum, and local primary and secondary schools.

At Brunel we provide many opportunities and experiences within your degree programme and beyond – work-based learning, professional support services, volunteering, mentoring, sports, arts, clubs, societies, and much, much more – and we encourage you to make the most of them, so that you can make the most of yourself.

• A minimum score of 60%- 70% or GPA 2.8/4 - 3.4/4. Offers within the grade range are determined by the higher education institution attended.
• IELTS: 7 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 64 (51 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 70% (min 60% in all areas)