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Discover Cardiff University’s Open Access research theses

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Gone are the days when PhD theses sat in dusty splendour on a library shelf for a few years. From 2011 onwards all Cardiff University’s research-level theses are openly available in our institutional repository ORCA. Just click on the ORCA link to access the innovative and exciting work of Cardiff’s early career researchers.

Theses are among our most read items, regularly topping the “most downloaded” records stats. We currently have over 4, 500 research theses in ORCA, including topics such as The News of the World hacking scandal , autism and equine therapy , the European Gas Network and (my favourite!) the social life of street food . It’s easy to access theses on ORCA – just go to the browse menu and select “type” and then “thesis”. If you want to look at theses for a particular school just click “Browse, School (Complete)”, then select the school and the item type.

Most UK universities now hold their research level theses in their institutional repositories, including Oxford , Cambridge and our GW4 partners Bristol , Exeter and Bath . The British Library’s EThOS   service holds records of over 480, 000 doctoral theses which can be either downloaded immediately or a copy ordered. And a quick Google will find the theses of many prominent cultural icons, including Einstein , Stephen Hawking and a certain Dr Brian May . It’s a kind of magic indeed.

If you are a Cardiff University student of staff member, the research theses are also accessible through the library catalogue on our intranet pages. University regulations allow students to apply for an embargo period where the online thesis is restricted for public use (usually in relation to confidentiality issues, or book publication). These are valid concerns (although click here for an interesting blog post debunking the fear that publishers won’t touch a thesis that has been made available online).

Guest blogger: Louise Harrington, Cardiff University ORCA Team

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• Your Research Thesis

Miscarriages of justice: the uncertainty principle

The thesis examines in detail the potential for error and distortion in the criminal justice process and the concept of case construction which may contribute to wrongful convictions. The effectiveness of post conviction procedures is then also considered. Three detailed case studies are utilised to illustrate case construction, post conviction issues and current social/cultural factors that may impact on miscarriages of justice. The thesis argues that the 'Uncertainty Principle' permeates the criminal justice process such that wrongful convictions are an inevitable risk and moreover that, while there are certain safeguards that protect from some of the problems of the past, there remains a high potential for such events to occur. This potential is exacerbated by the current political 'convictionist' rhetoric and policy framework and by trends and developments in the media world and the consequent social influence of this. Further concerns are expressed at the continuing reluctance of post conviction agencies, most notably the Court of Appeal, to fully recognise the risks inherent in the system. Consequently post-conviction procedures continue to function on the principle of finality within the system and prioritise the protection of the decisions of the lower courts. It is argued that the principle should not be finality but uncertainty and that the protection of the innocent rather than the protection of the image of the system should be the paramount concern. The thesis considers the often illusory nature of some of the principles of the criminal justice system and utilises notions of 'magical legalism' (Cohen 2001) and other psychological processes that may be involved in maintaining the illusions. Some recommendations for change are proposed, focusing primarily on the philosophical change that is required to change the principles originally designed to protect the innocent from illusion into reality.

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PhD studentships and projects

Postgraduate.

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Research Programmes

​​​​​​​​​​Cardiff Met offers numerous routes for postgraduate research study and, in most cases, both full time and part time study options are available.

Following a traditional route, you could study for the award of either an MPhil or PhD . The MPhil offers you the chance to critically evaluate a body of knowledge or make an original contribution to your chosen field. The PhD offers you the chance to undertake a systematic programme of work towards the development of new knowledge, and the synthesis of this knowledge within the existing literature base.

Alternatively, you may decide to follow a Professional Doctorate (part time only) which combines a taught component with the production of a final project that focuses on the enhancement of practice. The suite of Professional Doctorates awards offered at Cardiff Met is wide ranging and encompasses research interests from across the institution. A full list of Professional Doctorate programmes is included in the Postgraduate prospectus.

Research Proposal Guidelines

School of art & design.

Please visit the  CSAD Research page for up-to-date information on proposal requirements, applicant advice and deadlines .

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION & SOCIAL POLICY

Please provide an outline research proposal of around 1000 -1500 words. Your proposal should include a working title, a clear explanation of the research area and context with reference to key literature, your proposed aims and objectives/research questions, and an outline of the methodological framework and methods to be adopted. Please include a rationale for your choice of topic, including an indication of how the research would make an original contribution to knowledge. Professional Doctorate (EdD) applicants should indicate how the research relates to their own professional context and how it might impact upon policy/practice. Please cite all references using an approved referencing style. The proposal will be judged on its relevance to the School's research profile and supervisory expertise as well as on its quality and potential as a research study.

HEALTH SCIENCES (SCHOOL OF SPORT & HEALTH SCIENCES)

Please provide an outline research proposal (maximum of 1500 words). Your proposal should include a working title, some background information on the subject, the main aims of your research question, the principal methods to be adopted (including any specialised equipment requirements where known) and any ethical issues associated with your research. Please cite references in the background and list all cited references. We will use this information to ensure that the proposal fits with the School's research profile and that the necessary equipment and supervisory expertise is available.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Your proposal should be described in a maximum of 2,000 words, using the following sub-headings: 'Research Question' and 'How your proposal relates to published work in this area'. You should also submit a 'Reference Section', which is not included in the word count.  Further information on requirements can be found here .

SPORT (SCHOOL OF SPORT & HEALTH SCIENCES)

Please submit an outline of your intended research area. You should indicate the rationale for the project, the main research question or hypotheses and the research design that you would follow. You should also include the related methodological approaches that you would take and refer to the key literature in this area. This should be around 1500 words and will form the basis for discussion with potential supervisors.

THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR PRODUCT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH (PDR)

Please provide a brief outline of your research topic/subject. The proposal should be up to 1000 words and should describe the research topic/question on which you are likely to focus and an outline of the debate/subject area in which your research will be located (making the significance of your research interest clear). You should also include a Reference Section (not included in the word count) and your professional and/or personal reasons for wanting to undertake this research.

Research Enquiries

If you would like to discuss your options before making an application, please complete this form and we will contact you shortly.

PhD by Publication

Eligibility requirements.

A candidate shall be eligible to enrol on the degree of PhD by Published Works if they satisfy one of the following criteria:

• The candidate is a member of staff at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
• The candidate is a graduate of Cardiff Metropolitan University or of the University of Wales Institute Cardiff.
• The candidate is not a member of staff or graduate of Cardiff Metropolitan University, but can evidence that at least 50% of the submitted works are co-authored with a current member of staff from Cardiff Metropolitan University.

In the case of co-authored manuscripts, the candidate must evidence that they have a majority contribution to the submitted works with the expressive approval of all co-authors. Submissions should include, in appendices, a statement signed by each collaborator indicating the nature and amount of the work done by the candidate, with reference to the contribution to the conceptualisation, design, conduct of the research, analysis, and writing up of the publication.

The submitted works must have undergone academic peer-review and satisfy the Level 8 criteria:

• the combined works are judged to make an original contribution to knowledge;
• there is evidence of systematic study;
• there is an ability to relate results of such study to the general body of knowledge in the subject;
• that the standard and scope of work is reasonable to expect of a capable and diligent Doctoral Researcher.

A person shall not be eligible to proceed to the degree of PhD by Published Works under these regulations if they have been previously approved for a PhD or other related doctoral degree of the University.

A candidate who has been examined for a doctoral degree but who has not been approved for such a degree, may not become a candidate for the degree of PhD by Published Works under these regulations.

Application, Admission And Enrolment

The minimum entrance requirement for research degrees offered by the University is an upper second class honours undergraduate degree relevant to the proposed programme of study and research (or International Equivalent). The award must have been made by a recognised university or higher education institution, or by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA). Applicants are required to provide evidence of their qualifications as part of the application process.

All applicants must declare that their submission is not substantially the same as any that they have previously made or are currently making, whether in published or unpublished form, for a degree, diploma, or similar qualification at any university or similar institution.

All applications must be submitted by the submission deadline (see Section 5.9) indicated on the University research degrees website.

Applications should include all of the published works that will comprise the thesis and a supporting proposal (maximum of 1,500 words) that clearly outlines how the body of published works:

• provides an original contribution to the literature;
• reflects a systematic approach;
• relates to the general body of knowledge in the chosen subject;
• demonstrates the standard and scope of the work is reasonable to expect from a capable and diligent Doctoral researcher.

Applicants are also required to submit a full academic curriculum vitae with their initial application. The curriculum vitae will help ensure that the PhD by Published Works Review Committee are aware of the research activity and publishing track record of the applicant, either individually or in collaborative research groups. The curriculum vitae will also be used when considering non-academic circumstances that may have restricted or delayed the development of an applicant’s professional career in terms of volume rather than the quality of the outputs and activities presented within the submission (see Section 2.8).

All applications will be reviewed for their suitability by a PhD by Published Works Review Committee, typically comprised of, but not limited to, Graduate Study Lead, Associate Deans of Research and Deputy Director of Research. All applicants should declare that, until the outcome of the current application to the University is known, the work or works submitted will not be submitted for any such qualification at another university or similar institution.

Successful applicants will be able to enrol on the PhD by Published Works degree for the closest September enrolment date, under the premise that all fees have been paid.

Once in receipt of an offer letter from the University, applicants are required to confirm acceptance of the offer and to subsequently enrol via the University’s online enrolment system.

Applicants will be advised of the fee applicable to their programme of study during the application process. The applicable fee must be paid upon enrolment or candidate’s will be subject to the University’s Debtor Policy.

Key deadlines for the PhD by Published Works application process are detailed below:

In addition to the above entrance requirements, applicants must be capable of satisfying the University with regard to their proficiency in the English or Welsh language (whichever they have chosen to pursue the award in) at a level necessary to complete the programme of work and to prepare and defend a thesis in that language. The published works selected for the submission must be presented in the English or Welsh language (whichever the applicant has chosen to pursue the award in).

In order to establish proficiency in the English language, overseas applicants whose first language is not English will normally be required to provide evidence of a minimum IELTS score (or equivalent) of 6.5 at application with a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and written components, or of a Masters Level qualification, gained through the medium of English from a recognised institution. Candidates will be required to provide such evidence as part of the admissions process.​

Making an Application

You can search and apply for your chosen course in our online Self Service System. If searching for an MPhil/PhD this will be preceded by  Research in the search bar. Please contact Admissions if you would like to complete an application form through the medium of Welsh.

Through Self Service you are able to submit an application directly to the university, and it allows you to attach compulsory and other supporting documents such as qualifications (we advise that you upload qualifications, if completed, with your application). You must upload a Research Proposal and  Supporting Document​  before submitting all research applications.

* Pl ease note, if applying for the Doctorate in Sport Coaching only a personal statement and CV is required at application stage.  

You are able to save your application and return to submit at a later date, however please note that accounts where an application has not been submitted within a 6 month period will be deactivated. Once submitted, you are able to log in and check the status of your application.

If  Recognising Prior Learning (RPL​ ) is applicable to your application, please visit our information page before submitting as this process will need to be initiated in plenty of time before the start of the programme.

We encourage online Self Service applications as it is a quicker and more efficient way of applying for a programme. If however you are experiencing difficulties please contact Admissions on 029 2041 6010 or email:  [email protected] .

Re-Application

Debtors to the University who make a new application will be considered and providing requirements for entry are met, will be offered a place. However, this offer will be dependant on either the debt being cleared before the start of the programme, or an agreement established with Finance concerning payment.

Applicants can contact Finance concerning outstanding debt by either: Email: [email protected]; or Tel: 029 2041 6083

Further information on the University's Debtor Policy and Procedure .

Bad Academic Standing

Applicants who have left the University in bad academic standing i.e. without successfully completing the year of study upon which they were last enrolled are expected to inform the Admissions Unit when considering reapplying, before an application is submitted. Applicants will be considered once the information on the bad academic standing has been received and verified. The final decision on acceptance will be made by the two Programme Directors concerned with your past and proposed study.

Enrolment Intakes

If you are considering applying for an MPhil/PhD, Professional Doctorate or PhD by Published Works, we have two research intakes each academic year. You should apply for your preferred start date and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

However please be aware that not all courses are available for all dates, if needed, you should consult the relevant Graduate Studies Co-Ordinator for details. Please apply for your preferred start date and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Please also note that there may be an option of a January intake, but please do not apply for this unless you are informed to do so.

Start dates for 2024/25

30th April 2024: Enrolment and  Meet & Greet , followed by  Induction on the week commencing 13th May 2024 .

30th September 2024: Enrolment and Meet & Greet , followed by  Induction on the week commencing 14th October 2024 .

31st January 2025 : Enrolment and  Meet & Greet , followed by  Induction on the week commencing 17th February 2025 .

30th April 2025: Enrolment and Meet & Greet​ , followed by  Induction on the week commencing 19th May 2025 .​​

School of Art & Design only offers one entry point, September.

School of Sport & Health Sciences offers two intakes per year, September and April.

Professional Doctorates offer two intakes per year, September and April.

Enrolment & Induction: Spring Term & Autumn Term

Visit  Academic Registry for up-to-date information with regards to term dates and enrolment. Please note that you must have applied to and received an offer from us before you can enrol.

Student loans are now being introduced for postgraduate study, however there are restrictions. Please see further information on the Postgraduate, Part Time and Research Fees & Finance page. Here you can also find the latest fee tables and finance advice.

Changes and Discontinuation of Programmes

The University makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided to applicants on programmes offered is as accurate and up-to-date as possible, however University programmes of study are continually revised and there may well be some changes between the time of publication and the time a student starts the programme. The running of University programmes are also subject to numbers in that a certain number of students need to undertake the programme for it to be viable.

Where changes and a decision to discontinue a programme is made, applicants are informed of this as soon as possible so that opportunity is given to consider an alternative programme at the institution or elsewhere. If a decision to discontinue a programme is made after applicants have been offered a place the Admissions unit will make every effort to offer alternatives and provide assistance with finding an alternative choice.

If offered a place on a programme of which the viability is uncertain, applicants with unconditional offers will not be able to enrol until such time as viability for the offered period of study is confirmed. Applicants affected will receive communication updates and confirmation of when they are able to self enrol.

Terms & Conditions

Please visit our  Terms and Conditions  page for full information.​

Dr Jac Larner

Lecturer in Politics

School of Law and Politics

• Publications

I am a Lecturer in Politics at Cardiff University where I teach Political Behaviour and Research Methods.

My research interests focus on elections, political psychology, voting behaviour, national identity, and survey methodology. I am a Co-Investigator on the Welsh Election Study and a Research Fellow at the University of Eidnburgh where I work on the Scottish Election Study (both funded by the Economic and Social Research Council). 

Outside of these two studies, my research focus is on the politics of dervingness (who gets what?) and political candidate traits.

Prior to joining Cardiff in my current role, I was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, a leading centre for survey research. During my PhD, I worked as a Research Assistant on the British, Scottish, and Welsh Election Studies, as well as the Future of England Surveys.

Publication

• Thorp, J. and Larner, J. 2024. Responsibility for impairment shapes the perceived deservingness of welfare claimants with disabilities . Political Psychology ( 10.1111/pops.12978 )
• Larner, J., Wyn Jones, R., Poole, E., Surridge, P. and Wincott, D. 2023. Incumbency and identity: the 2021 Senedd election . Parliamentary Affairs 76(4), pp. 857-878., article number: gsac012. ( 10.1093/pa/gsac012 )
• Griffiths, J., Wyn Jones, R. W., Poole, E. G., Larner, J. M., Henderson, A. and McMillan, F. 2023. Diverging electoral fortunes in Scotland and Wales: National identities, national interests, and voting behaviour . Regional & Federal Studies 33(4), pp. 487-510. ( 10.1080/13597566.2023.2227952 )
• Griffiths, J. D., Wyn Jones, R., Poole, E. G. and Larner, J. M. 2023. Making the case for more politicians: a survey experiment to investigate public attitudes to an expanded welsh parliament . Parliamentary Affairs ( 10.1093/pa/gsad004 )
• Henderson, A., Johns, R., Larner, J. and Carman, C. 2022. The referendum that changed a nation: Scottish voting behaviour 2014–2019 . Palgrave Macmillan. ( 10.1007/978-3-031-16095-0 )
• Kenny, J., Larner, J. and Lewis-Beck, M. 2021. Candidate authenticity and the Iowa Caucus . Electoral Studies ( 10.1016/j.electstud.2021.102390 )
• Stiers, D., Larner, J., Kenny, J., Breitenstein, S., Vallée-Dubois, F. and Lewis-Beck, M. 2021. Candidate authenticity: 'to thine own self be true' . Political Behavior 43, pp. 1181-1204. ( 10.1007/s11109-019-09589-y )
• Henderson, A., Poole, E. G., Wyn Jones, R., Wincott, D., Larner, J. and Jeffery, C. 2021. Analysing vote choice in a multi-national state: national identity and territorial differentiation in the 2016 Brexit vote . Regional Studies 55(9), pp. 1502-1516. ( 10.1080/00343404.2020.1813883 )
• Wyn Jones, R. W. and Larner, J. 2021. What about Wales? Brexit and the future of the UK . Discover Society 1(2), article number: 4. ( 10.51428/dsoc.2021.02.0004 )
• Wyn Jones, R. and Larner, J. 2021. Progressive home rule? . IPPR Progressive Review 27(3), pp. 235-245. ( 10.1111/newe.12221 )
• Johns, R., Henderson, A., Carman, C. and Larner, J. 2020. Brexit or independence? Scotland's general election . Political Insight 11(1), pp. 28-31. ( 10.1177/2041905820911745 )
• Larner, J. M. 2019. The multilevel voter: Identity, territory and electoral behaviour . PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
• Awan-Scully, R., Stirbu, D., Pritchard, H., Larner, J. and Davies, N. 2018. Unpacking diversity: Barriers and incentives to standing for election to the National Assembly for Wales . Cardiff: Wales Governance Centre. Available at: http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/wgc/files/2018/07/REPORT-Unpacking-Diversity-July-2018.pdf
• Stirbu, D., Larner, J. and McAllister, L. 2018. Gender representation in Wales: new approaches to candidate selection in UK's devolved legislatures and beyond . In: Cordero, G. and Coller, X. eds. Democratizing Candidate Selection: New Methods, Old Receipts? . Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 201-230., ( 10.1007/978-3-319-76550-1_9 )
• Scully, R. and Larner, J. 2017. A successful defence: the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election . Parliamentary Affairs 70(3), pp. 507-529. ( 10.1093/pa/gsw033 )

Book sections

Below are a list of course I am currently teaching on. For previous teaching please see CV. 

• Elections in the UK (3rd Year)
• Political Psychology (2nd Year)
• Doing Political Research (2nd Year)
• Introduction to Political Science (1st Year)

Research themes

• Politics and international studies

Specialisms

• Political science
• Political Psychology
• Public Attitudes
• Survey Experiments
• National Identity

Related news

Welsh national identity central to outcome of 2021 Senedd elections, research concludes

08 June 2022

University’s Welsh-language ambitions shared at Eisteddfod AmGen 2021

02 August 2021

External profiles

• Google Scholar

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