Applying for Research Degrees

Please note, to apply for a taught postgraduate programme as a Home student, you will need to apply using the relevant postgraduate taught application form. International/EU students applying for a taught postgraduate programme should apply via the international postgraduate taught application form.

Before you apply, you are advised to contact the relevant Department in the first instance, to establish whether the appropriate supervisory expertise and capacity is available for your specific project. It is useful at this stage to provide an outline proposal of 100-250 words. A more detailed proposal may be required on application.

It is very important that you make informal contact with your chosen department before completing an application. Please visit our pages detailing research activity by department for further information and contact details.

If you cannot find the details for your chosen department on our website, Postgraduate Research (PGR) Admissions will be able to put you in touch with an appropriate person.

The supervisor will probably want to discuss your proposal with you, so you should consider what you might want to discuss, such as:

• Your familiarity with current research in your area
• Your previous research in this area and any possibility for Advance Standing
• Gaps in the current research literature
• How you see the role of your supervisor in your work – what your expectations are
• The supervisor’s active research interests and background
• How much time your supervisor considers appropriate to dedicate to your project
• The research environment in your supervisor’s department
• What facilities you may need, and whether these will be readily available to you

Please read our application guidance and course information carefully. If you would like to know more about a particular programme or research area, we suggest that you contact the programme leader, by telephone or by email. They will be able to answer your questions in more detail and send you further information.

How to Apply

Paper application forms are no longer issued, except in cases where an online application would be impossible for the candidate. Please complete the online application form on our website.

Before doing so, please ensure that you inform your referees. Once you have submitted your application, the system will automatically contact your referees on your behalf. Your application will not be considered without two appropriate references and all additional documents required with your application, which include:

• Copies of certificates/transcripts
• Copy of English language proficiency certificate (if required)
• Full curriculum vitae
• Broad outline of your proposed research project
• You may also be asked to complete a fees assessment in order to determine the level of tuition fee payable.

If you will be based overseas for your research, you will also be asked to answer additional questions relating to:

• Where your research will be conducted and how you will meet the attendance requirement of at least 30 days attendance per annum on one of the University’s campuses (or 15 days for part-time students)
• How you will access appropriate training opportunities
• How you will access resources required for your research
• How your supervision requirement will be met (i.e. meeting, email exchange, phone conversation, video conferencing)
• What opportunities you will have to interact with other researchers

Once your application is submitted, we will then forward it to the relevant department for consideration. You will receive a copy of your submitted application via email.

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The Interview

Once your application has been received, an interview with the proposed supervisory team and an independent academic will be arranged. Interviews are usually held at the University, although telephone or Skype interviews can be arranged for overseas students, and are quite informal.

When will I receive a decision?

We will usually contact you with our decision within 4 weeks, however, please ensure you respond to requests for further information as quickly as possible. Please be aware that International applications usually take longer, so please allow additional time for this.

If your application is successful, an offer of a place will be made in writing by PGR Admissions. 

If you are unsure about anything, please contact us.

International students

Visas and Immigration

Please visit our international section for advice and guidance on visas and immigration.

ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme)

If you are a non-EU/EEA (including Switzerland) national and are planning to take postgraduate study in the UK in certain Technology, Engineering or Science subjects, then you will also need to obtain an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate before applying for your Visa, Entry Clearance or Extension of Stay as a student. Further details on the ATAS certificate.