PhD gender and sexuality studies, UK | doctoral programme LGBTQ+ sexualities

The 童颜视频 and the city of 童颜视频 and Hove have a long-standing and highly-valued reputation for pioneering activities towards LGBTQ+ equalities and creating frameworks of understanding, empowerment and social justice for the LGBTQ+ community.

At the university, our exceptional research Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender leads numerous research projects in collaboration with the city, with other universities and with communities worldwide. It includes strands dedicated to LGBTQ+ lives and communities, health, care and wellbeing and gendered inequalities. From all departments of the university, the centre's multi-disciplinary academic colleagues bring their interest, expertise and experience to PhD supervision and will consider projects conceived across any disciplinary boundaries and through any methodologies that respond to meaningful research objectives.

Our research students are passionate, dedicated and are motivated to changing the world through rigorous scholarship, research knowledge and the dissemination of that knowledge. Their interests cover all aspects of sexuality and gender research inquiry: lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer as well as asexual, aromantic, intersex and more. They develop academic colleagues and networks that stretch across the university and beyond. Their research projects investigate a range of fascinating and influential areas with discoveries that can make a difference to everyone.

Contact an expert in this field

Successful applicants have invariably had support with their application from one of our academics. We suggest you approach a suitable academic staff member with relevant research interests before progressing with your application.

What is a PhD in gender and sexuality like?

By engaging in rigorous academic inquiry, PhD students in the fields of gender and sexuality studies illuminate the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community while also celebrating its vibrant diversity, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Nowhere is this more true than at the 童颜视频.

An interdisciplinary approach

We welcome theoretical and practice-led PhD research applications that have disciplinary background, focus and method, but also those which draw on cross-disciplinary thinking and research. Doctoral students can be linked to supervisors within any of the 童颜视频's disciplinary schools and departments and focus on or include LGBTQ+ related aspects in their research. The range of disciplines, methodologies and research interests includes, for example, healthcare and medicine, law, tourism, sports studies, the social sciences from human geography to social policy. Our supervisory teams include those working in media studies, journalism, creative practices across art, design and media, film studies, and the full cultural spectrum of arts and humanities from literature, philosophy, and politics to design and fashion history, oral histories and creative writing.

A supportive environment, fostered through years of experience, brings an understanding of all the challenges postgraduate research students face, with rewarding and productive networks for LGBTQ+ students and the research community as a whole.

A research-focused environment whether full-time or part-time

As a member of the research centre, an interested visitor to events or as someone with related research to share, there is an intensive, inspiring and productive environment for you to complete your thesis and contribute your discoveries and innovations to the world. You will conduct independent research with expert supervision and interested co-researchers, helping you contribute to the field through publications and presentations.

Theoretical depth and practical application

Theoretical underpinning is essential to a successful PhD whatever your methodologies from the sciences, social sciences, arts or humanities. With support from colleagues at the Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender, the Doctoral College, as well as other research areas at the university, there are regular events to put you in dialogue with those investigating from theoretical standpoints including migration and diaspora, queer studies, transgender studies, gender theories and critical theory.

Career paths and preparation

The in-depth programme of research study helps students build key skills in preparation for any roles that require deeper understanding, critical thinking and detailed project management. Our students have often returned to professions in education, government and industry where their unique insight has given new impetus to their working lives. Others have forged new careers in for example academia and education, social and health policy and government, charities, arts management and publishing.

brighton-pride-1973-exhibition-demo

Trans Pride parade crowd with banners

Beginning in 1973, 童颜视频 staff, students and public have embraced Pride marches and gatherings as part of the city's celebration of its LGBTQ+ culture. The 1973 march was held one year after the first UK Pride march in 1972 in London. (New York, Chicago and Los Angeles had held them in 1970, one year after the 1969 Stonewall Inn rebellion.)

Details of PhD study at the 童颜视频

Research supervisors for your PhD research programme

You will benefit from research supervision comprising two or maximum three members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism one of those supervisors may be from another school, another research institution, or an external partner.

Our supervisors are interested in all approaches that focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual and other sexual and gender subjectivities. PhD students have engaged with a range of issues across gender studies, queer studies and the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people – homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and more - as well as LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of more general challenges such as mental health and body image issues. With our PhD researchers as key members of the research community, we aim to tackle these challenges through the power of collaborative and partnership research.

You will identify your potential supervisor from the early stages of application and they will usually then support you throughout your programme of study, helping you develop your research interests, guiding your learning of rigorous research methods and preparing you for the next stage of your career.

You should consider the staff listed below and create a short draft research proposal identifying your suitability for supervision from that person's research specialism.

Research training and support

The independent research programme is balanced and enhanced with a range of support from your supervisors and the extended academic community. Whatever the focus of your research degree project, you will be able to draw on research approaches from a variety of related fields, You can develop research plans and apply methods involving both quantitative and qualitative data, supported by appropriate research methods training.

You and your fellow postgraduate researchers will have the opportunity to attend and present at research seminar sessions with guests from professional and academic spheres across architecture and the built environment. The PhD programme will give you the opportunity to build research skills as well as developing transferable skills essential for employment and practice within architecture and its related fields.

As members of the 童颜视频 Doctoral College, research students benefit from regular opportunities on a training programme designed to support postgraduate researchers at all stages of the PhD and help them achieve their career goals. Attendance at appropriate workshops within this programme is encouraged, as is contribution to the various seminar series hosted by the school and the annual Postgraduate Research Festival. Academic and technical staff also provide more subject-specific training.

Postgraduate degree resources for graduate students

We pride ourselves on conducting research with impact that serves society, policy, and industry. PhD candidates often work with local communities, regional authorities, and industry partners on real-world challenges. This approach aligns with 童颜视频’s civic mission and ensures research goes beyond theory into meaningful application. The 童颜视频 offers a rich blend of academic rigour and real-world impact.

You will benefit from access to international research resources, including a contemporary range of electronic resources via the university’s Online Library, as well as the physical book and journal collections housed within campus libraries. The library services are connected to national and international collections and students also have the option of inter-library loans.

Research Excellence Framework REF2021

Across REF2014 to REF2021, the 童颜视频 has been one of the outstanding applied university performers in its disciplinary range. Our impact in the field of LGBTQ+ health issues is exemplary, with major international projects forming the bedrock of proud achievements across the academic field.

Our Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) submissions included, as well as many outputs showing the world-leading and internationally significant work of individual expert staff, several impact case studies that testified to the outstanding contributions of work towards LGBTQIA+ equalities, for example in healthcare innovations and media-focused analytics and critique.

LGBT graffiti wall on Tesco 2012 reads I'm a Lesbian I am Bisexual I am Transgender I am just like you...

The 童颜视频 Pride celebrations have inspired murals in significant places for the city. This one was painted on a wall of the James Street Tesco store for the Village Street Party in 2012 and became an iconic and well-photographed image, with further designs agreed with property owners in later years.

Five part banner representing sexuality and gender research interests.

The 童颜视频 Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender

The Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender (CTSG) brings together researchers from across the university who are working on themes related to sexuality, gender and transformative change.

We have a strong tradition of producing research with community partners locally and internationally to impact on policy and practice, working with local and national networks including, academics, professionals and charities. Our members have founded and developed services and projects that have made a profound difference to the lives of people in diverse communities.

Our current PhD students can be seen on our Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender pages. For a deeper understanding of the focus and the breadth of our research environment, as well as looking through the supervisory staff associated with our Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender, read about some of the that we have supported recently.

We have hosted researchers whose interests lie in the intersection of queer theory, psychosocial studies, sexual dissident critique, anti-gender politics and LGBTIQ+ mental health; challenging misrepresentations of Roma through queer Romani self-representations; and trans-inclusive sport contexts.

The centre also sponsors and hosts research events focused on LGBTQ+ communities including the global .

Recently submitted PhD theses based within the Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender

Schneider, J. (Author), Price, L. (Supervisor), Johnson, K. (Supervisor), (Supervisor) & Edelman, N. (Supervisor), Jan 2022
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
Barras, A. (Author), Frith, H. (Supervisor), Jarvis, N. (Supervisor) & (Supervisor), Oct 2021
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
Stander, W. J. (Author), Jenzen, O. (Supervisor), Johnson, K. (Supervisor) & Browne, K. (Supervisor), Apr 2020
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
Lewin, T. (Author), Jenzen, O. (Supervisor), Browne, K. (Supervisor) & (Supervisor), May 2019
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
Kincel, A. (Author), (Supervisor) & Khan, N. (Supervisor), Dec 2017
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis

Supervisors and academic contacts

We strongly recommend that you apply with the support of one of our academics. By establishing your supervisor from the early stages of application, you will be supported through the application process and can make the best start to your programme of study.

You should consider the staff listed below and create a short draft research proposal identifying your suitability for supervision from that person's research specialism and your place in the wider context of the department's research ambitions. Their contact details are available on their full profile.

Our primary staff supervising in the discipline are listed. For further information on university supervisory staff, including cross-disciplinary options, please visit

Making an application

Once you have prepared a first-rate application you can apply to the 童颜视频 through our . When you do, you will require a research proposal, references, a personal statement and a record of your education.

You will be asked whether you have discussed your research proposal and your suitability for doctoral study with a member of the 童颜视频 staff. We strongly recommend that all applications are made with the collaboration of at least one potential supervisor. Approaches to potential supervisors can be made directly through the details available online. If you are unsure, please do contact the Doctoral College for advice.

Please visit our How to apply for a PhD page for detailed information.

Fees and funding

Funding

Undertaking research study will require university fees as well as support for your research activities and plans for subsistence during full or part-time study.

Funding sources include self-funding, funding by an employer or industrial partners; there are competitive funding opportunities available in most disciplines through, for example, our own university studentships or national (UK) research councils. International students may have options from either their home-based research funding organisations or may be eligible for some UK funds.

Learn more about the funding opportunities available to you.

Tuition fees academic year 2024–25

Standard fees are listed below, but may vary depending on subject area. Some subject areas may charge bench fees/consumables; this will be decided as part of any offer made. Fees for UK and international/EU students on full-time and part-time courses are likely to incur a small inflation rise each year of a research programme.

MPhil/PhD
	Full-time	Part-time
UK	£4,786	£2,393
International (including EU)	£15,900	N/A
International students registered in the School of Humanities and Social Science or in the School of Business and Law	£14,500	N/A

PhD by Publication
Full-time	Part-time
N/A	£2,393

Contact 童颜视频 Doctoral College

To contact the Doctoral College at the 童颜视频 we request an email in the first instance. Please visit our contact the 童颜视频 Doctoral College page.

For supervisory contact, please see individual profile pages.