Research Degrees
The Institute for Transport Studies is one of the world’s largest and most successful groupings of transport researchers, with a track record going back more than 40 years.
ITS has a world-wide reputation for excellence, largely due to the consistently high ranking in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). For the 2008 RAE, ITS made by far the largest submission of transport research, of which 95% was of 'internationally recognised' quality for originality, significance and rigour.
We have around 35 research students and each year we look to recruit highly motivated and able graduates who are committed to becoming independent researchers. Those joining ITS as a research student can expect to be an integral part of the research team, with opportunities to be involved across a range of projects, consultancy, conferences and publications. We are fiercely proud of our record of developing people for a range of future careers and a significant proportion of current ITS staff started their research careers as postgraduates in ITS.
ITS offers a vibrant and diverse research community and is part of a large research-led University. Our research encompasses the broad spectrum of transport, from walking and cycling to air transport, and most things in-between. This provides countless opportunities to develop and apply research skills, whatever the student's disciplinary background.
Types of programme
ITS offers three types of postgraduate research programme:
Programme | Standard study period | Maximum study period |
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PhD |
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MPhil |
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Short-stay | Flexible |
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Research degrees (PhD/MPhil) are awarded to students who successfully complete a thesis presenting original research on an approved topic. The key characteristic is that the thesis represents a substantive original contribution to knowledge within that field.
Supervision
Our research students are supervised by staff who are not only at the forefront of academic research, but also have widespread practical experience in consultancy and as advisers to prominent national and international organisations. Our students benefit directly from this applied expertise and receive research training of the highest standard.
All students are allocated a supervision team to provide academic support and to guide them towards the completion of their research thesis. This is normally one lead supervisor plus a second supervisor (where appropriate, the second supervisor may come from another academic department or from outside the University of Leeds), both of whom will have specialist subject knowledge.
Supervision meetings are scheduled at regular intervals and this is supported by meetings with the Postgraduate Research Tutor and/or the Director of ITS to review progress. Students also benefit from working alongside fellow researchers within a vibrant research environment. A typical timeline for completion is provided on the PhD structure page.
