Research Centres

Research at the University of Bolton is driven by our ‘Teaching Intensive, Research Informed’ strategy. We offer research in the following academic subject areas based in academic Schools & Centres and supported by our Research & Graduate School.

Please visit the research sections of our academic Schools & Centres web pages further information about the research themes and the staff research expertise that we provide in each subject area.

Research & Graduate School

The Research & Graduate School manages all research degree students and researcher development across the University of Bolton. Our attention is focused on meeting research degree student requirements through comprehensive researcher development programmes, Lecturer in Theory and Context
PhD student with the Centre for Worktown Studies.

BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design graduate “After some time working in industry as a Heritage Consultant, I was asked to deliver some modules at the University, which I relished and I loved the idea of coming back. Once working here, I knew I wanted to be part of the Bolton community full-time, to commence my academic career here and work towards my PhD.”

University Of Bolton Institutional Repository (UBIR)

Depositing work in an institutional repository does not preclude making research available via more traditional routes. Rather, it provides an additional means of enabling access to research and, moreover, increases the discoverability of the research, as repositories are indexed by search engines such as Google and Google Scholar.

The Postgraduate Research Students Society

The aim of the Postgraduate Research Students Society is to bring together research students at the University of Bolton, and share knowledge, information and experience amongst researchers.

REF 2014

The University of Bolton is dedicated to delivering world-leading research and applying its discoveries to generating enterprise and outcomes which benefit local communities as well as the knowledge economy. Panel Chairs on the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 agreed that six of the seven subjects submitted by the University of Bolton demonstrated world-leading research, whilst the seventh was deemed to be of internationally excellent standard.

Postgraduate Research Degrees

Research degrees offer you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your ability to undertake research that makes an original contribution to knowledge in given field. As well as a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by thesis, the University of Bolton provides the opportunity for you to undertake your postgraduate research degree by different routes including, MPhil and PhD by Practice, MPhil and PhD by Publication and Professional Doctorates. We are committed to helping researchers reach their full potential, at both a personal and professional level. Find out more about our postgraduate research degrees (links to Study > PGR > Postgraduate research degrees), postgraduate scholarships (links to Study > PGR > Fees, loans and scholarships) and our support for postgraduate research students. (links to Study > PGR > Life as a postgraduate research student)

Researcher Development

We’re committed to helping researchers achieve their full potential. The Research & Graduate School offers a comprehensive research degree student development programme that includes:

• an induction programme to life at the university and as a research degree student

• weekly workshops to enhance your research skills delivered by research staff from across the university

• research methods seminars and workshops

• online resources available through our virtual learning environment for all workshops and training programmes

• progress monitoring and development review

• annual research degree student conference hosted by the Postgraduate Research Students Society

• annual Research Summer School

As well as engaging with University of Bolton workshops, seminars and research events, we encourage all researchers to make use of the VITAE Researcher Development Planner and the VITAE Researcher Development Framework. As a member of VITAE, University of Bolton research degree students benefit from the VITAE researcher development insight and expertise.