Guidelines for doctoral degrees | Quality Handbook

The general aims of doctoral programmes are to:

provide students with an opportunity to acquire expert knowledge in a specialist field of an academic discipline;
furnish training in research methods, such as the use of technical literature and published materials, and the techniques of empirical research (e.g. experimental and/or fieldwork methods and the use of records and documents);
enable students to design, implement and report upon an independent research project;
foster development of a capacity for analysis, constructive criticism, originality and independence of thought;
provide experience of participation in the research culture of an academic department, including (where appropriate and available) opportunities where appropriate to teach undergraduate students;
enable students to develop the professional, practical, and personal skills and attributes for career progression in their chosen field;
facilitate students to undertake autonomous research and make a contribution at the forefront of knowledge in their field.

the Doctor of Philosophy which requires students to complete a programme of supervised research and preparation of a thesis. Assessment is solely by final thesis or by published work, or by an artefact or performance that is accompanied by a written commentary placing it in its academic context;
the Professional Doctorate which requires students to undertake a combination of taught compulsory and/or elective modules and to complete an individual and/or group project. Such doctorates may also involve professional-based practice placements.
The Integrated Doctor of Philosophy (iPhD) which requires students to follow a prescribed programme of modules in the early stages of the degree with the remainder of candidature devoted to supervised research and preparation of a thesis.
The Higher Doctorate degrees of Doctor of Letters, Music, Science, Science in the Social Sciences and Laws may be awarded by the University of Southampton to an individual who has distinguished themselves by their contribution to research, learning or (in the case of the Doctor of Music) to musical composition.

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