LSE MPhil/PhD Demography (Social/Formal) 2027/28: Fully Detailed Doctoral Research Opportunity in Population Studies in the UK
Overview
The LSE MPhil/PhD Demography (Social/Formal) is a postgraduate doctoral research programme offered by the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. Housed within LSE’s Department of Methodology, the programme gives students the opportunity to investigate population change, human development, and demographic dynamics through theoretical approaches, statistical methods, and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
The curriculum integrates social demography, which looks at the social and cultural aspects of population shifts, with formal demography, which emphasizes statistical measurement and analysis. Participants begin their studies under MPhil registration and can progress to PhD status after meeting specific academic requirements.
Who can apply
The programme is open to eligible home and overseas applicants from the United Kingdom and internationally. It is well suited for graduates interested in population studies, social policy, migration, public policy, sociology, economics, and quantitative social research.
Requirements
Applicants must normally hold an upper second-class honours bachelor's degree at the 2:1 level or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. International applicants should consult specific country guidelines to determine grade equivalencies.
Candidates are also required to hold a master's degree, or an equivalent qualification, in a relevant social science subject with a high merit result of 65 or above. Relevant academic fields include demography and population studies, sociology, economics, social policy, research methodology, geography, gender studies, and public policy. Additionally, applicants must have achieved a high merit result of 65 or higher in their master's dissertation to demonstrate the capacity for substantial independent academic research.
Key dates
The academic programme is scheduled to begin on 27 September 2027 in London. The primary application deadline is 27 May 2027. Candidates wishing to be considered for LSE PhD Studentships or Economic and Social Research Council funding must submit complete applications by an earlier funding deadline of 13 January 2027.