phd application deadlines uk

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We advise all applicants to apply as early as possible after thoroughly researching our courses, the funding available, and the University as a whole.

Apply by whichever deadline comes first

Applications open in early September and there are two deadlines you need to consider :

• Course deadline
• Funding deadline

You must apply by whichever deadline comes first . This will depend on the course you have chosen and your funding status. If your application (including supporting documents) is not submitted by the relevant deadline, it will be withdrawn. All application deadlines are 23:59pm (midnight) UK time on the stated date.

Course deadlines

All courses have a deadline and applications cannot normally be considered after this date.

To find the deadline for your course, and details of which supporting documents need to be submitted at the same time, check your course entry in the course directory . 

You should not wait until the day of the deadline to submit your application or supporting documents, as there is no guarantee that places will still be available. If a course closes early, the course directory will be updated accordingly.

Occasionally, deadlines for some subjects may be extended, so you might still be able to apply even if the original deadline has passed. You should check the course page for updates. 

Funding deadlines

Funding deadlines vary according to your chosen course and funding source. There are three main funding deadlines that relate to the three academic terms.

Check the  course directory  to find out which funding deadline applies to you (they appear in the sidebar of every course entry).

See  How do I apply for funding? for funding deadline dates and further information.

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How to apply for a PhD

We are looking for ambitious, talented and motivated students. You'll have the passion to make new discoveries, the drive to test new theories, and the willingness to go above and beyond.

How do I apply?

To find out more about our degrees see our PhD degrees . You apply using our postgraduate application system.

Choose your PhD

Sussex is the perfect place to find a postgraduate research course that allows you to follow your passion and develop your research interests.

• a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil). There are more than 50 degrees to choose from
• Integrated PhDs in the University of Sussex Business School
• full-time or part-time PhDs
• all courses start in September and some courses offer additional entry points in January or May
• the opportunity for research students registered elsewhere to visit Sussex . For more information see our handbook .-->

Distance learning may be available for some PhD courses. Before applying, you should check whether this mode of attendance is supported for the PhD you wish to undertake with the relevant School.

Find out more about our PhD degrees

Check our entry requirements

Our specific entry requirements are listed with each PhD degree .

You also need to meet our general entry requirements, usually an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or equivalent international qualification.

You may also be required to have a Masters qualification. If you are applying to the University of Sussex Business School, you may wish to choose the Integrated PhD, which contains an initial year of rigorous training in the research skills needed to become a skilled practitioner. If you are unsure which route to apply for, please apply for the Integrated PhD.

If you are an international student, you need to meet our English language requirements , or successfully complete our Pre-sessional English course .

You may also be asked to attend an interview.

Find out more about our entry requirements for UK applicants

Find out more about our entry requirements for international applicants

Choose a research topic or project

If you apply for one of our funded projects or to a research centre or group you will normally be asked to provide a statement explaining your suitablility for working in that area.

If you wish to propose your own area of research, you need to decide on a research topic and you will normally be expected to write a research proposal. Some areas may only require a summary of academic interests and they will use this to match you to potential supervisors. Before applying check the requirements for your subject area .

Find a supervisor

If you are joining a funded project at Sussex, you will already have a supervisor allocated to you.

If you are proposing your own research topic , you can find a supervisor to support and advise you.

If you think you have found a potential supervisor who matches your research area, check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity. If they are open to doctoral applications, you can contact them to check their availability for supervising you

You can either ask a member of our faculty to be your supervisor if you think they have the expertise to support you or we will match you with a supervisor during the assessment of your application. If you ask to be supervised by a particular member of faculty, this will be considered but not all such requests can be accommodated.

Apply to Sussex

You apply directly to Sussex using our postgraduate application system .

You can apply for up to three postgraduate courses. If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for.

You must submit the following documents when you apply:

• research proposal/research statement
• summary of academic interests (this is optional depending on the subject area you are applying for)
• degree certificates and transcripts. If the originals are not in English, certified translations must be provided
• your English language qualification, where applicable
• two academic references – including one from your most recent university. Or you can provide contact details for your referees and we will email them.

Follow our tips for applying to Sussex

Find out about our admissions policies

Deadline for applications

You can apply all year round for research degrees starting in September, January and May.

The recommended deadline for applications are:

International applicants: Three months before course start date Home/EU applicants: One month before course start date.

PhD applications received after these deadlines may be considered, but we cannot guarantee you will be able to commence your studies at your requested entry point.

Where you are applying for funding or scholarships, check the deadlines for your application. In some cases, you may need to have an offer from us before you can apply for funding.

Check fees, funding and support

We have a number of PhD funding and scholarship opportunities.

If your application is successful, you will have your fee status assessed . If your fee status is unclear, we will ask you to complete a questionnaire . If you disagree with the outcome of your fee status assessment, you can appeal .

Fees information is listed with each PhD degree

Receiving an offer

We will notify you through our postgraduate application system if we decide to offer you a place .

Your offer may include conditions – for example, completing your undergraduate or Masters degree with a certain grade or meeting our English language requirements . In the University of Sussex Business School, your offer may be for the Integrated PhD rather than the PhD. This will happen if the School feel you need the additional training in research skills which the initial year of the Integrated PhD provides.

If you are an international student studying a certain science- or engineering-based course you must apply for Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance after you receive your offer.

Find out about ATAS clearance on the Student Hub .

If you decide to accept our offer, you can notify us using the postgraduate application system .

You can still accept your offer even if you have not yet secured funding. However, you should have funding in place when you start at Sussex.

Confirming your place

If your offer is unconditional, we may still need to verify your qualifications .

If your offer is conditional, you should send in your results by email as soon as they are available, so that your place can be confirmed.

If you are unable to take up your place, you can request to defer your entry to another available entry point (up to a maximum of 12 months).

If your application is unsuccessful and you are not sure why, you can request feedback .

Before you start at Sussex

You will be sent information about joining us in the months before you start your research.

For most students, the registration process is completed online. Registration opens in:

• early September, if you are starting at Sussex in September
• December, if you are starting at Sussex in January
• early April, if you are starting at Sussex in May.

If you are an international student and you need a visa to study in the UK , you complete most of the registration process online. To register, you need to attend in person, so we can take a copy of your passport and visa.

You might also be interested in:

• student support
• applying for accommodation
• visas and immigration information on the Student Hub .

How to apply for a PhD in the UK

Applying for a phd is not quite as daunting as you might think. a postgraduate student recruitment officer from the university of sussex shares his tips for putting together a phd application.

Ben Osborne

There are many different reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD – to move into an academic role at a university, to continue studying a subject you are passionate about or to further your career. 

Whatever your motivation, many students are now choosing to pursue a PhD abroad. This guide will help you understand how to apply for a PhD at a UK university and answer any questions you might have around doing PhDs.

How to apply for a PhD

Application rules and methods vary for each university. The number of courses that you can apply for in a year will vary. For example, at the University of Sussex , you can apply for up to three postgraduate courses per year using the postgraduate application system.

If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for.

You can also apply to different universities to improve your chances of being accepted to a PhD course of your choosing. 

What qualifications do I need?

Each PhD will have specific entry requirements and you will also need to meet a university’s general entry requirements.  This may be an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or an equivalent international qualification. For some PhDs you may need a master’s qualification, and you may be asked to attend an interview.

International students may also be required to prove language proficiency. This will vary across institutions so do check what level universities expect before starting your application. 

Applicants should always check the specific entry requirements in a university’s online prospectus before making an application.

When should I start applying?

This will depend on when your term start date is. Most research degrees will start in September but some courses offer additional entry points in January or May.

You can apply all year round for research degrees starting in September, January and May, and the deadlines for applying are usually one month before the course start date for UK applicants, and three months before for international applicants.

If you’re applying for funding from an external organisation you’ll need to be aware that they may have different deadlines for the funding application. So give yourself plenty of time to research your funding options, and ensure you know how long the application process takes. 

Many universities offer a number of funded PhD opportunities and PhD scholarships for UK and international students, and it’s always worth investigating funding routes such as research councils and other organisations, both in the UK and overseas.

In some cases, it may be possible to study a PhD by distance which means you’ll be able to learn online and have virtual meetings with your supervisor.

If this is something you would be interested in doing you should check before applying whether your university can accommodate this option. 

Nine things to know before doing a PhD Starting a PhD during the pandemic Studying for a part-time PhD: the challenges and the benefits Is it possible to do a three-year PhD as an international student?

How should I look for a supervisor?

Usually if you are applying for a funded project, or to a research centre or group, you will normally be asked to provide a statement explaining your suitability for working in that area, and if successful you will be allocated a supervisor.

If you wish to propose your own area of research, you need to decide on a research topic, and you will be expected to write a research proposal. In some cases you may only be required to provide a summary of academic interests and this can be used to match you to a researcher that suits you.

If you are proposing your own research topic, there may be a research database at your university that you can search, or your university will match you with a supervisor during the assessment of your application. It may be possible to request supervision by a particular member of faculty – this will be considered but not all requests can be accommodated.

If you do find a potential supervisor who matches your research area, check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity. If they are open to doctoral applications, you can contact them directly to check their availability for supervising you.

It is a good idea to draw up a shortlist of two to three potential supervisors, and take an in-depth look into their research history. You can also find out more about your potential supervisors by looking in the reference sections of academic textbooks and searching for articles in research databases and academic blogs.

When you contact your potential supervisor, it is important to tell them something interesting about yourself, and explain your research interests and how you feel your research proposal matches their expertise.

How do I write a research proposal?

If you are proposing your own research you will need to write a strong proposal that formulates a precise, interesting research question, and establishes the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking.

You’ll need to make sure your proposal describes the data or source material your research requires, and outlines a clear and practical methodology that enables you to answer the research question and that states clearly what you hope to discover at the end of your research, and what new areas it might open up.

The precise content and structure of your research proposal will depend on your subject area, and the University of Sussex has some helpful resources on our website to guide you through the process.

How long does the application process take?

Completing an application and writing a research proposal may take some time and should not be left until just before the application deadline.

It’s not easy to give a definite idea of how long it takes to hear if your application has been successful, as it will depend on when the application is made and the nature of the specific PhD, and you would need to meet any conditions contained within the offer before you can start the PhD.

What are the associated costs?

There won’t typically be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees. If a university does charge application fees they will usually be between £50-£100.

The tuition fees for students studying in the UK are set by UK Research and Innovation . Fees for international students are £18,975 for non-lab-based subjects, and £22,975 for lab-based subjects per year.

You’ll also need to factor in living costs, but there are a number of funding routes you can apply for to help with this. As well as PhD scholarships and funded research projects there are research council awards, PhD loans for those eligible, and various organisations to which international students can apply for funding, such as The Gen Foundation and Open Society Foundations.

It’s important to be aware of the costs involved, but it’s also worth remembering that the educational, career and personal benefits of PhD study can be worth it.

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• Queen Mary University of London
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• Research degrees

Applying for a PhD

Considering applying for a PhD? Explore our advice below and see what sort of things you need to consider – from finding a supervisor to drafting a research proposal – we've got tips and advice to help you begin your PhD journey at Queen Mary.

One of the most important things to do before filling out an application is to find a good match with a supervisor or existing research group. Most Schools advise that you make contact with a supervisor via email before submitting an application. If you're applying for entry via a MRes programme, then this is not necessary.

To learn more about our PhD programmes, check entry requirements and find the applications forms, select your subject from the drop-down menu below. 

If you applying to come as a visiting/associate student for part of your PhD, you need to apply via this page  https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/associate/  

Step 1: Identify a research match

Before submitting an application, we encourage you to contact a potential supervisor via email. When you write to them, they will be looking for certain things to ensure you are a suitable PhD candidate and will consider the following:

• Is the proposed project suitable for PhD study?
• Do you have the academic strength to complete your project?
• Can the project be completed within the required time?
• Do they have the relevant knowledge to supervise your project?
• Can the School/Institute support your project and do they have the facilities and resources?

If you cannot find the research area you are looking for, or have any queries about the application process, you can either contact the School or our  fill out an enquiry form and our PhD team will be in touch.

Step 2: Review our entry requirements and funding

Entry requirements

Typically, the minimum entry requirement is an UK upper second class honours degree (2:1). Some Schools/Institutes require a first class honours degree and/or a masters degree. If your qualifications are not from a UK university, Queen Mary also considers recognised equivalent qualifications from accredited overseas institutions and equivalent professional qualifications. Relevant work experience may also be taken into account.

If English is not your first language, please check your programme's English language requirements . You do not need to meet this at the point of application. You may provide evidence of your English level at a later date.

Funding You should ensure that you have a realistic plan to secure sufficient funding to complete the research and writing-up process within the normal time period. This is usually three to four years for full-time programmes, and six to seven years for part-time programmes. Many of our PhD students are funded by Queen Mary or one of the Doctoral Training Programmes. Studentships cover your tuition fees and normally include an allowance towards living costs. Studentships are advertised on our School/Institute websites, our Postgraduate Research Studentships page ,  Jobs.ac.uk and Findaphd.com . Read more about PhD funding at Queen Mary.

Step 3: Prepare a research proposal

If you are applying for an advertised project, you may not need to submit a proposal. But if you are proposing your own project idea you will and this is a key part of your application. 

Before submitting your application, it is likely that you will need to revise your proposal several times. Whilst your potential supervisor will help you do this, it is important that you present them with as clear a proposal as you can when you first make contact with them.

Tips for writing a strong research proposal include:

• Formulate a precise, interesting research question; this may take the form of a hypothesis to be tested, or a more open-ended inquiry.
• Establish the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking. Is there a knowledge gap?
• Outline a clear and practical methodology which enables you to answer the research question, and to describe and evaluate any data or source material you will draw upon.
• Suggest what you hope to discover at the end of your research and what new areas it might open up.
• Demonstrate that your research will not take longer than three years.

Check the specific requirements (e.g. word count) on the School/Institute webpages.

Step 4: Gather your documents and apply online

To get to the online application form, select your research area from the list above. You will then be able to select an online application button specifically for your start date (e.g. Semester 1, September 2021).

Each application should include the following:

• A completed application form
• Transcripts for all higher education studies - this includes any undergraduate and postgraduate study
• Proof of English language ability for overseas applicants from non-English speaking countries
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Your research proposal
• A one-side A4 statement of purpose. This should set out your previous academic or other experience relevant to the proposed research; why you wish to undertake this research at QMUL; your previous research or professional training and what further training you think you will need to complete a PhD; and what ethical issues you will need to consider in undertaking this research.
• Two references. At least one reference must be from an academic referee who is in a position to comment on the standard of your academic work and suitability for postgraduate level study. Where appropriate, a second referee can provide comment on your professional experience.

Note: If you don't yet have your final degree certificates or proof of English then you can apply and upload these missing documents at a later date. Include all the information you can at the time of applying.

We will contact your referee(s) by email to supply a reference. However, a scanned colour copy of a reference provided on paper can also be provided either at the point of application or in response to the reference request email your referee will receive.

If your referee emails your reference to us we can only accept it if it is sent from a university or company email address (ie not Hotmail, Gmail etc). Paper reference forms should be endorsed by an appropriate official stamp or on institution/company letterhead. Alternatively, if your referee has agreed to provide an open reference letter, you can scan this and upload it in the upload document section of the online form.

What about international applicants? International applicants are welcome to contact one of our authorised local representatives if they feel they need assistance in submitting their PhD application. Our representatives can help you apply, ensuring you submit all of the requisite documents whilst also supporting you through the immigration process. To find your local Queen Mary representative, see our country/region specific information .

Step 5: What happens next?

Once processed, the School/Institute may get in touch with you directly to discuss your application and arrange an interview. Those not short-listed for interview will receive a rejection message via the applicant portal.

The entire process from the submission of your application, to an invitation to discuss further, interview or decision, typically takes between six to eight weeks. But if you applying for advertised funding, this Schools will not look at your applications until the deadline has passed. If you need a decision by a given deadline in order to apply for external funding, please make this clear in your application.

Admissions Policy

You can download and read our Admissions Policies on the Policyzone.

Can I apply for more than one programme of study? You may apply for a maximum of two taught programmes or one taught and one research programme at QMUL. If you are applying online, you will need to submit two applications. Please note: although you may apply for two programmes, under QMUL regulations you can only study for one qualification at a time. If you receive offers for both programmes, you will be required to accept one and decline the other.

Is there a deadline for receipt of applications? There is no fixed closing date for applications but you should remember that decisions on applications will be made as quickly as possible. Students seeking financial support from Research Councils or other award giving bodies are asked to apply as early as possible and make it clear in their application the Research Council deadline. Additionally students applying for QMUL Studentships are reminded that their applications must be in line with Research Degrees Office deadlines.  Please see our  Postgraduate Research Studentship page  and Postgraduate Research Deadlines page .

Is there an application fee? No, QMUL does not charge an application fee.

Is my qualification recognised? Our International Office has a list of countries/regions for which we have published admissions information online. Please see our international students section. Alternatively we use UKNARIC to check the equivalency of international and European qualifications: www.naric.org.uk What happens after I submit my form? All complete applications will be considered by Admissions Tutors. Providing you have included all the required documentation, we aim to inform you of a decision on your application within six to eight weeks of receipt. Please note this can vary during peak application times (January – April).

Where can I find out more about English language requirements? Read more about our English language requirements  page .

Is there any help for applicants with disabilities? Queen Mary University of London has a dedicated Disability and Dyslexia Service which offers advice, support and guidance for disabled students, including those with mental health difficulties and specific learning difficulties (eg dyslexia), from the point of application through to graduation. This advice covers issues such as agreeing to the provision of reasonable adjustments, as well as accessing external sources of funding and support, such as the Disabled Student’s Allowance. Our Disability and Dyslexia Service is represented at the various open days held across the year, but if you would like to discuss any aspects of support, you can contact the service at any time to request an appointment, either in person or over the phone. Fill out our online form or contact us on the details below: Web: www.dds.qmul.ac.uk Tel: +44(0) 207 882 2756 Email: [email protected]

UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES)

PhD Application Process

Guidance on applying for a PhD within the School.

Additional detailed information on the application form and other tips can be found on the U CL Application Pages within the Graduate Prospectus. 

Applications will open mid-October for the following September entry date. Please note that we accept applicants for September start dates only. 

We strongly encourage applicants to apply as soon as the application is ready and by end of July at the very latest. If you are applying for funding, you will need to apply earlier (usually early January depending on the funder) for external and internal funding schemes. Guidance on funding opportunities and deadlines can be found on our Funding page. 

Entry Requirements

You should normally hold a first or upper second-class honours degree or an equivalent qualification and hold a Masters (or international equivalent). In normal circumstances, we do not accept candidates without an MA degree. Those applying from overseas should have achieved high grades, especially in the modules or subjects relevant to their research, and should attach a certified official transcript to their application.

Students whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of their capacity to research and write in English. In some cases, we may ask for an English language qualification as part of any offer conditions. 

Further details regarding entry requirements and English language requirements can be found at:  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/english-language-requirements

Identify a Supervisor

Interested applicants should identify a member of academic staff with the appropriate specialization, and you should approach them well in advance of the application deadline (and any funding deadlines) to discuss their application. All staff and their research profiles are listed on the SSEES website:

• View A-Z of Staff Profiles
• View Staff Profiles by Subject Area

Guidance on contacting potential supervisors: 

Research Proposal

All applicants are required to submit with the application form a research proposal of 1,000 - 1,500 words. When approaching supervisors, you should have a draft version of this to send (at least 500 words). This will help them decide if they are able and willing to supervise your topic. We advise you approach supervisors plenty of time ahead of any funding deadlines so they can give advice on refining this ahead of an application if needed. Some guidance on writing a research proposal is given in the below document:

Once your proposed supervisor(s) has agreed to supervise you and you have completed your research proposal, you should formally apply via the UCL Online Portal. Please note any deadlines for funding and application requirements for certain funding schemes, as some may require earlier submission dates and additional documents ( See Funding pages )

Questions about the application process can be directed to the   Programme Administrator (Research and IMESS) .   Questions about potential supervision can be directed to the Head of Postgraduate Research ,  Dr Kristin Roth-Ey . 

Key Contacts

Head of Graduate Research: Dr Kristin Roth-Ey ( [email protected]) Research Programme Administrator: Lana Smirnova ( [email protected] ) SSEES Admissions Office:   [email protected]

• Register your Interest with UCL

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How do I apply for a PhD?

What does a PhD involve?

A full-time PhD with us involves a three year research project. Research students embarking on a PhD programme will normally be enrolled provisionally for that degree. Confirmation of PhD enrolment will be considered within 18 months (for full-time students) or within three years (for part-time students) once evidence of good progress is established. Students have one, sometimes two, supervisors, plus a small Thesis Advisory Panel.

Some UK doctorates have adopted the USA pattern of a taught course plus a shorter thesis; these are mostly called EdDs not PhDs. York does not at the moment offer an EdD in Education.

Applying for a PhD

What are the starting dates for phd programmes in the department of education.

The normal starting month is September (start of semester 1). In exceptional cases, you may start in January. To explore this option, please talk about it with your prospective supervisor and the PhD administrator during the application process.

When should I apply for the PhD programmes in the Department of Education?

You can apply at any time during the academic year up until mid-June, but please note that the application is competitive and there are three sessions of selection panels, late January, late March and late June . You will need to have applied and have been interviewed ahead of one of those panels in order to be accepted onto the PhD programmes.

• Applicants interviewed before 31 December will be considered in the January panel. This is also the departmental deadline for ESRC White Rose scholarships.
• Applicants interviewed before 15 March will be considered in the March panel. This is also the deadline for Departmental Scholarships (subject to availability).
• Applicants interviewed before 15 June will be considered in the June panel. 

If you apply after mid-June, you may not be offered a place until the next admissions year. Please consult with your prospective supervisor and the administrator during the application process if you are in this situation.

Is there an application fee?

Are there any grants.

Yes. There are government funded ORS grants, university scholarships and sometimes department scholarships. All have deadlines and all are highly competitive. Look at Scholarships for further details on funding opportunities.

What does the admissions process look like?

 The selection process is made up of 4 formal steps:

• Central preselection 
• Departmental preselection
• Interview with supervisor
• PhD committee final decision

Below is a more detailed description of the application and selection process, broken down into more steps. If you have any questions, or if your specific circumstances mean that it is impossible for you to follow these steps, please email [email protected] .

Given you fulfill basic requirements, your research idea is what matters most . What are you interested in? Why? Have you identified a gap in a research area? Has this intuition come from practice? Once you have a clear idea of what you would like to research, here's what your application process is likely to look like:

1) Try to identify a supervisor in our department who could supervise your project

You might want to look at our Research Centre pages , staff pages and the Education Department PURE page . This should help you get a sense of whether your research interests would be a good fit for our department or not.  

Before applying, you may email prospective supervisors in the department directly. Please note that they are not obliged to reply to you until you have formally applied for the PhD programme .

2) Apply formally for the PhD programme, with a full proposal and required documentation

You will find plenty of information about what a research proposal should look like on our FAQ page .

3) Your application will now be reviewed by central admissions

At this stage, if it fails, it is because basic entry requirements are not fulfilled.    If your application is accepted at this stage, then...

4) Your application will then be reviewed by PhD programme leaders

At this stage, the most common reasons for an application being rejected are:

• your project is not aligned with anyone's research expertise here. It does not necessarily mean your proposal is not of good quality! It is not in your interest to be supervised by someone who does not have the expertise, so do look for a better fit elsewhere.
• there is someone in the department who could supervise your research project, but they are currently at maximum capacity for PhD supervisees. Supervisors cannot take too many PhD supervisees at one time, so they sometimes have to regretfully decline good applications.

If your application is accepted at this stage, then...

5) Your prospective supervisor will contact you to arrange an interview

At the interview (which is likely to be online), there will be your prospective supervisor and another researcher, who may or may not be in your research area.

The interview will be conversational and relaxed, but it is a formal part of the selection process . You will doubtlessly be asked to talk about your proposal, to give an idea of your familiarity with the field, to justify your planned methodology, etc. It is perfectly normal at this stage to be unsure about what your PhD will look like exactly, so don't worry about emitting doubts or asking for your interviewers' opinion about your planned methods.

The two interviewers will also use this opportunity to evaluate your overall profile as a potential researcher with us, including personal and contextual characteristics. You should feel absolutely free to ask them questions about the Department and what it would be like to work with us.

At the end of the interview, it is quite common for interviewers to ask candidates to revise and resubmit their proposal. This helps them assess the candidate's receptiveness to feedback and should not be taken as a sign that your proposal isn't good.

Following the interview, your prospective supervisor will let you know whether or not you have passed this stage of the selection process.    If your prospective supervisor supports your application after the interview, then...

6) Your application will be considered at the next PhD committee

• Applicants interviewed before15 March will be considered in the March panel. This is also the deadline for Departmental Scholarships (subject to availability).
• Applicants interviewed before 15 June will be considered in the June panel.

The committee reviews all applications supported by supervisors, and makes a final decision acceptances. You will be notified after the panel whether or not an offer is made to you.

If you accept our offer, then...

7) Thank you, and congratulations!

We will be very pleased to welcome you among our research community when you join us! 

Should I mention a potential supervisor in my application?

Yes, please - it is very helpful to you and to us if you can mention a member of the academic staff in the Department whom you've identified as having relevant expertise and interests. Your application has far greater chances of being considered if you mention a potential supervisor among our staff and if your proposed research project fits their area of expertise.

Should I approach this potential supervisor before applying?

You may, although there is no guarantee they will reply. But if your project truly is aligned with their interests, and they have capacity to take on new PhD supervisees, they will probably reply encouragingly. Not getting a reply is not a sign that you would not obtain a place if you applied, so feel free to apply anyway and mention their name.

What are the main reasons for rejecting applicants outright in your department?

Provided you meet the basic requirements, the main reason for outright rejections is lack of supervisor capacity. This means either that there is no one in the department who has the expertise and interests to support you through your PhD journey, or that there is someone, but they can't currently take on a new supervisee because of other commitments.

Being rejected is disappointing, but the most important thing for you as a PhD researcher is to find a supervisor somewhere who has the expertise and capacity to help you. We would not be able to offer the same quality of supervision if we admitted all candidates, even self-funded, and even excellent, who want to do projects we cannot support them with.

Writing a research proposal

Whose job is it to find a research topic.

Yours. Occasionally, researchers advertise PhD studentships to investigate specific topics, but these are rare. In 99% of cases, you have to find a topic. We have a page of Research Project Ideas , aligned with staff members' interests; but you can also come up with your own research project and apply with us - if there is expertise and interest in our department for the type of study you're projecting to do, you have a chance to get in. 

Can I develop my MA dissertation or an assignment?

Yes. And you can reference your MA dissertation in your PhD thesis, just like any journal article or book. However, the PhD must be a genuine development with fresh data; you cannot submit the same data or the same words for two degrees.

Do I need to write a proposal before I apply?

Yes. We cannot consider your application without a research proposal. Your proposal is a key part of your application; the better it is, the more likely you are to be accepted and the better your research will be. Although you will continue to develop it and work on it for several months after you start the PhD, you still need to prepare a good proposal at the application stage.

Most proposals are about 1,500 words in length. Format it like an MA assignment: word processed, double spaced on A4, a footer with your name and the page number, subheadings in bold, all references in a consistent style. Make certain that your English is accurate. Remember, your proposal is your major vehicle for demonstrating to us or other universities that you are intelligent, can think in a research-oriented way, are able to read critically and are likely to complete a thesis successfully in 3-4 years (full-time).

What does a research proposal look like?

Your research proposal is a key part of your application; the better it is, the more likely you are to be accepted and the better your research will be. Although you will continue to develop it and work on it for several months after you start the PhD, you still need to prepare a good proposal at the application stage. We will not hold you to doing exactly what you say in your proposal. However, your proposal needs to give us a clear idea of your thinking about the research topic: in particular, when, where and how you plan to collect your data; and what relevant reading and research you are aware of. A research proposal should be about 1,500 words in length.

Please make every effort to match your proposal to the research expertise of our staff closely. Familiarize yourself with the areas that our staff are willing to supervise. See  https://www.york.ac.uk/education/our-staff/academic/

Your proposal is more likely to succeed if you name a preferred supervisor on your application.  Your proposal must strongly align with their research interests.  The Department will only consider applications for ESRC or Departmental studentships if they align closely with staff interests. See  https://www.york.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/phd/research-projects

Your proposal should address these questions:

Our questions Comments Does your topic fit the PhD Programme? Make sure you apply for the right PhD programme. Read the guidance on the different PhD programmes offered by the Department carefully. What do you want to research? A working title A general topic area and main aim of the study Why? Is there a serious problem or gap? You need to demonstrate that there is a genuine gap in the literature. A PhD needs to be a genuine original contribution to the area. What benefit would your research bring?  How does the problem relate to relevant theories (of education, language or psychology)? What are your research questions? One or more answerable research questions. What aspects are new, different, innovative? Give an overview of the literature in the specific area you want to contribute to. This section is an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have immersed yourself well in the relevant literature, and that you have identified a gap that your research would address. How do you plan to carry it out? Give a brief research design Explain your proposed methods: sample, data collection methods, methods of analysis, location for the study. How will you plan your time? Give an outline timetable of the work. Can you do it? Indicate what relevant experience you already have in key areas. State what training needs you might have. Consider whether your plans for data collection and your timetable are feasible. Please make sure that your proposal is of the highest possible standard of academic English writing. The process of selecting PhD applicants is very competitive. You can find samples of successful PhDs at https://www.york.ac.uk/library/ You can find guidance on how to write a proposal here: Dunleavy, Patrick.  Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation . Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. Verschuren, Piet, Hans Doorewaard, and Michelle Mellion.  Designing a research project . Vol. 2. The Hague: Eleven International Publishing, 2010.

Do my BA/BSc or MA/MSc grades matter?

Yes. A PhD is exciting work, but it is also hard work. You have to work independently and you have to read difficult books and articles, as you have to be able to work seriously with the details of theories and research methods. Your MA/MSc assignment grades are one piece of hard evidence, as is your dissertation grade. Grades are by no means everything, but you do need to show us that you have learned during your previous degrees to cope reasonably easily with high-level academic work.

Does my English matter?

Yes. A normal UK PhD is about 80,000 words long; about four to six times the length of a Masters dissertation. It is also on open access internationally. All the chapters have to be very detailed, closely argued and cross-referenced. The thesis therefore needs to be in good and correct English. It will be hard to write even if English is your first language. If English is a second language, you need to show us when you apply that you can write academic texts in reasonable English, and your English level will be one of the criteria we use to make a decision on whether to accept you.

Who should I use as referees?

Two people who have known you in different ways. Assuming you have an MA, one should be your supervisor, or a module tutor who is familiar with your assessed written work. If you have worked in education, commerce or industry, then the other could be an employer. The aim of the second referee should be to tell us how reliable, hard-working, honest you are, plus whether you have the drive to work independently.

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These are the deadlines for PhD studentships in the 2023/2024 recruitment year.

Details for each individual studentship can be found either via our  course search  or on the studentship's host website.  

PhD and Studentship funding deadlines

Phd project deadlines.

Additional deadlines for individual PhD projects both self-funded and funded can be found on the Postgraduate Research  PhDs and Studentships  in our  course finder . 

Self-funded research degree start dates and deadlines

Please note that not all of the start dates are available for each school.  Contact the Postgraduate Research Service for more information.

The School of Global Development only has an October start date. 

The EdD has a start date every other year. The next start date is expected to be in October 2024.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

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PhD Education / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 60% or above, a minimum mark of 60% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 19 January 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024

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Programme overview.

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The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and programmes. On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see Open days.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £3,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Your fees will cover the cost of your study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation (excluding graduation robe hire).

Payment of tuition fees will also entitle you to membership of The University of Manchester library, the Students' Union and the Athletic Union.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Environment, Education and Development studentships is 19 January 2024.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Environment, Education and Development Postgraduate Research Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• School of Environment, Education and Development Enhancing Racial Equality (SERE) Studentship - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry

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How to apply for a research degree

Once you’ve found a PhD project or decided on your own proposal and spoken with a potential supervisor, you can apply using our online application system.

Prepare your application

The online application form takes about 30 minutes to complete. 

Typically when you apply, you’ll need:

• your personal details
• how you plan to fund your studies
• project title
• supervisor name (you should speak to the supervisor before applying)
• 2 academic references from your most recent place of study
• an academic transcript of your undergraduate degree showing modules and marks achieved
• an academic transcript from your Master's degree showing modules and marks achieved if you have already graduated
• undergraduate degree certificate and Master's degree certificate (if you have already graduated)
• English language qualification (if required)
• CV (also referred to as a resume)
• personal statement
• research proposal (if you are planning your own project or if it states you need to provide it)

Apply as early as possible if you need to secure a UK visa or if you are applying for funding or sponsorship. Deadlines for research funding are usually at least 6 months in advance of the start date. 

Some projects will have a different application procedure. This is usually the case when the project is funded by a doctoral training partnership.

Steps to apply

• Check that you meet the entry requirements and confirm the key dates either on the project page or with your potential supervisor.
• Write a personal statement including your motivation for the project, your relevant skills and experience, and how it supports your future goals. Keep this focused and concise.  
• Have supporting documents ready to attach to your online application.
• Register for an account then complete and submit the online application form. You’ll be able to save and review your application before submitting it.  
• Check you have received our email confirming we've received your application. We usually send this straight away.
• Use your account login details to track the progress of your application.

Ready to apply?

 for questions about applying, please contact our faculty  graduate  schools:,  arts and humanities: .

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• Postgraduate study

Key dates and deadlines for postgraduate courses

This page lists the standard key dates and deadlines for applications to postgraduate courses.

A few courses starting in September use different dates from those listed. If this is the case for your course, it will be indicated on our webpages and/or in your offer letter.

If you're applying to a course that uses our staged admissions process, you should also consult the additional/alternative deadlines listed on our dedicated website:

Staged admissions for postgraduate taught course applications

If your course starts at a different time of year, these dates will not apply to your application. However, we would advise you to follow an equivalent timescale for your start date, for example by applying for your CAS number no later than three weeks before your course starts.

Related information

Semester dates

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Postgraduate Study - PhD and Research Degrees

• Postgraduate Research home

How to apply

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The full process for applying for a postgraduate research degree is outlined below step-by-step:

Applying for a PhD

Before you apply

Please ensure that you meet the entry criteria for your programme of interest and have read through the information about the application process on this page.

PhD and research programme application process

The following guidelines are designed to help you submit a successful PhD research degree application to Exeter.

The information below applies to self-funded PhD, MPhil and Masters by Research applicants, but if you are applying for a funded PhD studentship, please follow the instructions as part of that application. 

Pinpoint your PhD research area

As part of your application you will need to construct a research proposal. This will need to be detailed enough to show that you’ve selected a well-defined research question.

Investigate whether this area is available at Exeter

You will only be able to pursue a research degree with us if we can offer appropriate supervision. Your supervisors will provide the necessary support and guidance and so need to have expertise in your chosen research field. You may join a research team or work with specific members of staff.

You can identify if we offer your PhD research area by:

Browsing or Using our search

Ensure that you meet our English language entry requirements (international students only)

These can be found on the research topics and degrees pages of our postgraduate research website.

Construct and refine your PhD research proposal

In addition to references you will also need to supply a research proposal with your application (see  supporting documents required for further details). The research proposal should demonstrate to your potential supervisors that you have identified a piece of research which is well thought out and achievable. Every research proposal will be different dependent on your chosen topic, subject area and type of research degree, but there are some common guidelines.

The perfect research proposal: 

• follows any guidance on the department’s webpages
• is refined a number of times before submission
• contains a strong sense of project direction
• has clear objectives, rationale and methodology
• indicates how the anticipated findings will be novel
• demonstrates planned time scales and project management skills
• identifies potential challenges and seeks ways to overcome these

Further information on how to write a successful research proposal can be found in our Research proposal guidance brochure .

Approach your potential supervisor(s)

We strongly recommend that you informally approach your potential (s) with your research proposal before submitting a formal application to study. This will enable you to find out if you feel they would be able to supervise you and whether they believe your research proposal needs further refinement.

Business School

All applications for PhD subjects within the Business School must include a letter from a member of faculty stating they are willing to supervise you.

Apply online

• The simplest and quickest way to apply for a research degree is to use our online application system . You can also access this from the Apply online links from every research topic page.
• If you are applying for a PhD studentship, you need to click on the 'Apply now' button under 'How to apply' in the relevant individual studentship page to access the application for that particular studentship.
• PhD studentships pages can be accessed in our Funding lists on Finance tabs under each research topic page, and are also available from the Postgraduate Research search results pages on this site, on the PhD projects tab. 

Application deadlines

Application deadlines 

Most subject areas do not have specific deadlines for applications, though the majority of students start in September .

If you are applying for a PhD in the Business School, please note they operate a gathered field approach with applications being considered at three points during a year.

The deadlines for Business School PhD applications are:

• 30 September.

Email acknowledgement of receipt of your application

Within two working days of receipt.

Notification of our decision via email

For research programmes all applications are referred to Academic Departments for a decision. The Department aims to make a decision promptly depending on supporting documentation required, however, during peak/teaching/vacation periods this may take longer.

We aim to make decisions within 20 working days form receipt of a complete application with all required supporting documents . The decision will be communicated to you by email.

Requesting supporting documents

Where your application is deemed to be incomplete or additional information is required we will contact you. Please note that if you do not reply, following our third request we will determine that you no longer wish to continue with your application and we will withdraw it. In order to ensure you submit a complete application please see details in the supporting documents webpage , this will avoid delays in us dealing with your application.

Accommodation application deadline

For information about accommodation and deadlines please visit the  Accommodation website . 

If you have any questions regarding accommodation, please contact the Accommodation Office .  You must hold a firmly accepted offer before you can apply for accommodation. 

Recommended deadline for meeting outstanding offer conditions

We recommend that you meet any outstanding conditions by the end of August for programmes beginning September or  4 weeks before the official start date  for all other programmes. However we know that this is not always possible. If you cannot meet the conditions by the start of your programme please get in touch with the admissions team, who will advise of your options to either defer your entry, or if permissible, facilitate an adjusted start date.

Supporting documents

Visit our Supporting documents page for information on what to include in your application.

Academic requirements

For all research degrees you will normally be required to have obtained or expect to obtain a first degree equivalent to at least a UK 2:1 Honours degree. You will need at least a 2:1 or its equivalent in order to be considered by any of the main funding bodies. For some programmes we also consider evidence of relevant personal, professional and educational experience.

Where an applicant has taken or is taking, more than one academic qualification that meets our entry requirements, the University reserves the right to make an offer on the most recent academic qualification.

Specific requirements for programmes

Entry requirements for research programmes vary and are dependent on your previous academic qualifications, experience and personal qualities.  Please see individual   research topic pages   and also contact your Faculty of interest to discuss your suitability.

International qualification equivalencies

For information on the equivalence of international qualifications, please see the  International Students website .

You can also download a pdf of   EU PGT Qualifications Equivalency Guide . 

Our decision

Receipt of application.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application via email within 24 hours. If you do not receive this email within the stated timeframe please contact us at [email protected] . We would strongly recommend that you check your email settings before applying to ensure @exeter.ac.uk email addresses are not blocked or sent to your spam or junk mail folders.

If you have not sent all the required supporting documents we need to make a decision, we will email you to provide you with information on the documentation we require. Please send this information to us as soon as possible so we can make a decision on whether to offer you a place. Please see supporting documents webpage for information on the minimum documentation we need to make an initial decision. You should ensure you quote your Exeter Reference Number in all correspondence with us.

If you have not yet completed your academic or English language qualifications, if your academic profile meets our requirements, we will normally be able to make you an offer which is conditional on completing these qualifications and supplying any required references. You will need to provide evidence that you have met these conditions before your offer can be considered unconditional . For further information see once you have an offer.

Research programme applications

For postgraduate research applications, we aim to make a decision within 20 working days , as your application will need to be reviewed by potential supervisors, depending on the additional information we require (for example, further details of your research proposal).

You will receive either a conditional or unconditional offer from us, or we will inform you that we are unable to offer you a place. We will notify you of our decision by email (or by letter if you have not provided an email address).

If we are able to make you an offer, your offer letter will be sent via email.

Can I appeal a decision?

If your application has been unsuccessful you can appeal the decision by emailing the Admissions team . This must be done within a maximum of three months of receiving your decision. You need to include details of the programme for which you applied, your Exeter Reference Number, and your grounds for appeal. You can only appeal against a decision once.

The majority of programmes do not require an interview as part of the selection process. If an interview is required, the purpose and format will be communicated to you clearly in advance so you know what to expect and what role this plays in the overall selection process.

Where programmes include interviews or tests as part of their selection criteria we will make this explicit to you, provide details on how the interviews will be conducted as well as the criteria used to select successful candidates. Find out more about our interview policy.

We do not normally require additional written work to supplement an application, although in individual cases we may request this and will explain the reasons for such a request.

Can't apply online?

If you are unable to apply online, you can complete a  paper application form (pdf) . You will also need to complete an  equal opportunities monitoring form (pdf)  and enclose a  cover sheet  with your supporting documents.

Can I change programmes?

It is possible to change programmes. If the programme you wish to change to is within the same faculty you will need to provide a new personal statement clearly outlining your reasons. If the programme is not within the same faculty you will be required to reapply, via the normal route. Please note if you are a Tier 4 Visa holder there may be other implications. If you have any queries, please email [email protected] .

Can I change the status of my application to part-time (or full-time)?

You must check with the faculty if they will allow you to change. If they are happy with this they will contact the Admissions Office, and a new offer letter will be sent to you. Please be aware that if you are an International student, due to visa regulations, you will not be permitted to study part-time.

Applying for more than one programme

It is possible to apply for more than one programme, however, we would ask you to consider your choices carefully and ensure your personal statement is relevant to your choice(s). You can hold more than one offer, but you can only accept one.

You can  apply online using our application portal ,  where you will be able to submit your  research proposal , academic CV and other supporting documents.

Advice and guidance on how to prepare and write your Postgraduate Research Proposal.

Student stories

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Postgraduate research application information

How to apply

Applying for a research degree is a simple process. Explore our step-by-step guide below to help you complete a successful application to Essex.

Ready to apply? Start your application today.

Step 1 – Get to know our research in your chosen field

At Essex, we are passionate about our research and focus our studies in a variety of different fields. Before deciding to study with us, it's best to get to know what we specialise in, and explore what we have on offer. You can do this in several ways. 

• If you have a topic specifically in mind you can use our research finder.  Here you will see all our research centres, groups and areas in your chosen field, as well as potential supervisors to work with, or previous projects in similar areas. Make sure you try a variety of different keywords to be sure you have explored all we have to offer in your area in as much detail as possible.
• If you aren't quite sure of your topic, why not explore our schools and departments  and look at their individual research, or review our  research centres and institutes . You can also have a look through our previous research impact case studies and see for yourself how our research is changing the way we think about the world.
• Alternatively, if you know who you would like to supervise your research, you can search directly for their name in our research finder tool too.

Step 2 – Explore your options

Now you have a better idea about what Essex has to offer, it's best to read through our  research study web pages  and explore the options available to you. Depending on the course and your thesis topic, we offer a variety of different research awards such as:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Integrated Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated PhD)
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Master of Arts by Dissertation (MAD)
• Master of Science by Dissertation (MSD)
• Professional Doctorate

Subject to availability, we will also have a range of  postgraduate research opportunities  available to you such as paid studentships or  Doctoral Training Partnerships . There is plenty to choose from.

We have lots of courses available, so feel free to explore on the research tab of our subject pages to find one that works for you. Many of our research degrees also allow you to start in either January or April, as well as October, so consider when you would like to start your degree before you apply.

• Explore our subjects
• Browse our courses by interest

Step 3 – Review the course, check your eligibility, and the fees and funding associated with it

Sometimes, the chosen topic you wish to study might cross over several different courses. Don't worry about this just yet. Just keep in mind the topic you want to study and try to form a thesis title. You'll need this to make your application. As you discuss your thesis with your chosen supervisor (see Step 4) they will help you choose the right course for you.

On each of our course pages we provide details of the entry requirements you need, as well as what the fees are. We also have more information on fees and funding within this section of our website as well.

• View our courses
• Use our scholarship finder to find opportunities for funding

Step 4 – Decide what you want to study and find a supervisor

By now you should have a good idea of what you want to study, and the related courses that match. You then need to find a suitable supervisor. Hopefully by this Step, you would have explored our research and know which fields of study our experts supervise. But if not, you can use our research finder tool to search for the field you're interested in and see which supervisors are available. Each of our supervisors will list what areas they are open to supervision in on their profiles within their 'Research and Professional Activities' section.

Once you know who you want to study with, it's time to get your research proposal in order before discussing with your potential supervisor.

Please be aware that most of our departments do prefer you to get in touch with a potential supervisor before applying to Essex. However, our Department of Economics does not require this, so if you are interested in an economics research degree you do not need to contact a potential supervisor before applying, but you should still prepare a research proposal.

Step 5 – Prepare your research proposal and get in touch with your potential supervisor

Your research proposal is one of the most important parts of your application, and it's one of the main things we use to differentiate you with other applicants. During your studies you will conduct and present the results of your original investigations and research. Therefore, you need to ensure that your research topic will engage and excite you enough for three or four years. Research your topic by reading around your subject area and start to think what you might like to include in your research proposal.

Whilst your research proposal will no doubt go through a few drafts before it is finally submitted to us, it is important that it is clear, concise and well written before you make contact with your potential supervisor. Once you are happy, you can contact them and share your idea. You should also send them an accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) as well, as this will help them learn more about you. They may be able to help you refine your proposal further before you submit your final application.

Guidance on writing your research proposal

This is your chance to explain your personal and academic goals in undertaking an extended piece of research, and reflect on the contribution you will make to the development of new knowledge, ideas and solutions. You should comment on how your research interests fit with the academic focus and expertise at Essex.

Your research proposal needs to demonstrate that you have, or are able to develop, the competencies and skills needed to complete your project, within the time and resources available. The quality of your writing is important and a good research proposal may be rejected if it is poorly expressed or badly presented.

Many of our departments, schools and centres offer more detailed guidance on preparing a research proposal on their web pages. If you are applying for funding, ensure your proposal fulfils the requirements of your preferred funding body.

Your research proposal should include:

• a working title and key words
• a summary of the aims and objectives of your research
• an outline of the ways in which you will meet these aims and objectives
• an overview of the expected outcomes and the original contribution your research will make to existing bodies of knowledge
• a brief statement on how your research interests tie in with those found in the department, school or centre

Step 6 – Get your documents in order and make an application

When you apply to study with us, you'll need to provide a number of supporting documents – we can't process your application until we have these. Some of these documents you will have to be uploaded with your application, others you may be able to provide at a later date. 

You will need the following documents

English Language All teaching at Essex is in English. If English is not your first language you'll need to demonstrate that you meet all the University's English language requirements before you can study with us.

We accept a wide range of proofs of proficiency. These include IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson and other tests (tests must normally be less than three years old at the time of admission) and proof of undergraduate or postgraduate study in English (qualifications must normally be less than five years old at the time of admission). The English language requirement for your course is listed on each of our course's entry requirements. This is expressed as an IELTS level, but we will accept other equivalent proofs of proficiency.

You can see more detailed information about English language requirements here (.pdf)

Transcripts Official transcript(s), in English or a certified translation of your academic results to date, showing marks or grades, must be provided at the time you make your application. (Transcripts are not required from current or previous University of Essex students).

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Also known as a resume in some countries, a CV is required for some research degrees at the time of application

Your research proposal

A personal statement For applicants that require a student visa to study in the UK, a personal statement is required. Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words, and should refer specifically to your reasons for wishing to study at the University of Essex, and why you have chosen your area of study. 

References Don't worry if you can't provide a reference when you make your application, if we need one you will be able to provide this at a later stage.

When you are ready you can make your application online.

Step 7 – Time to apply 

Applying to Essex is simple and straightforward. We'll give you all the important information you need to make your application. Our online application form takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Application deadlines

Applications for  October 2024, January 2025 and April 2025  are open.

We recommend that you apply as soon as you are able to as courses may occasionally close early. This webpage will be updated with any changes to application deadlines. You should also take into account any deadlines for funding applications, such as scholarships.

Please be aware that not all of our postgraduate research degrees offer a January or April start-date. 

Visit our page on student visas if you are not sure whether you need one to study in the UK.

After you apply

We aim to respond to postgraduate research applications within four weeks once we have received all the relevant documents from you. 

When you create your application, you will be issued with an application number (PG number), which is your unique reference number with us.

You will also be able to create an account on our myEssex for Applicants portal to manage your application.

Accepting your offer

If we offer you a place, we'll send you our decision via email. You will be able to view and download your offer letter from your  myEssex  portal within 24 hours of a decision being made. We will send you an email with instructions on this. You should use myEssex to accept your place and to keep us informed of any changes to your contact details by updating them online. We will ask you to reply to your offer within 30 days.

Before starting your course you need to consider how you are going to fund your studies. If you will need to hold an offer for a course to become eligible for funding, you’ll need to allow time to make your course application and get an offer in place before the funding deadline. 

The Graduate Admissions Feedback Policy provides information on how to request feedback if your postgraduate application is unsuccessful. Feedback is not available for all postgraduate courses, and this is explained within the policy.

Other things to consider

Transferring to essex from another university.

If you are currently studying at another university, either in the UK or elsewhere, and it’s not working out, you may be considering transferring to the University of Essex.

We welcome enquiries and applications to transfer to Essex and recommend that you read the guidance below before making an application.

Before applying for transferred entry

Transferring to another institution is a big decision, and can take time to complete. We would recommend speaking with someone at your current university (such as your personal tutor, supervisor or academic support services) who can provide advice and guidance on the possibility of transferring.

You should also discuss with them the impact that a transfer might have on your funding or visa arrangements.

If you decide that you wish to transfer to the University of Essex, we recommend emailing our  Postgraduate Admissions Office  before making an application. 

How to apply for transferred entry

Please email [email protected] stating that you intend to transfer from your existing institution, noting your course choice and preferred point of entry at Essex. You should then make your application for the course via the University’s Postgraduate Application Form and attach the following supporting documentation:

• Personal statement (which might include your reasons for moving institution)
• Research proposal
• A reference (if possible, from your current supervisor)
• Undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts

Upon receipt of your application, the relevant department, school or centre at Essex may invite you to interview and will assess your suitability for transfer to the University of Essex. The following information may also be requested for consideration as part of your application:

• Formal release of all Intellectual Property (IP) from your original institution
•   Data use and/or ownership information
•   Ethical approval information
• Studentship/scholarship funding transfer arrangements

Students requiring a student visa

If you require a student visa to study in the UK, the above information will apply. However, in addition, we will consider whether you would be able to meet all Home Office requirements when determining whether or not you are eligible to transfer to the University of Essex. Visit our immigration pages to find out more information.

Transferring credit for individual modules

If you wish to transfer credits for individual modules from your current or previous university study or work experience, you should discuss the matter with the relevant Admissions Office in the first instance. Your request may be considered under the University’s Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (AP(E)L) procedure. This procedure may need to be completed in addition to submitting a standard application to transfer to the University of Essex.

Please refer to the University’s  AP(E)L policy  and procedure for further information.

Extenuating circumstances

We understand that sometimes circumstances beyond your control may have impacted your studies. The Admissions Selector may take into account any extenuating circumstances which have affected an individual applicant when deciding whether an offer should be made, or if an applicant’s place may still be confirmed where degree results miss the entry requirement. 

We will automatically consider information provided within the personal statement and reference about any extenuating circumstances which may have affected your academic performance. If you wish to inform us of any extenuating circumstances not disclosed in your application, such as illness or any other serious difficulties during study, these should be emailed to [email protected] or the Postgraduate Admissions Adviser named on your offer letter. You should inform us of any extenuating circumstances as soon as possible. If further information or evidence is required regarding any extenuating circumstances before a decision can be made, we will contact you. Any extenuating circumstances provided should only be those not already considered by an examination board prior to your results being issued.

Disability and health

Applications are considered against the same academic criteria as those from other candidates. If you are disabled, state this on your application form so that we can give early consideration to any support requirements you may have. Please contact Student Support if you would like to discuss this in more detail before you apply.

If you require an application form in an alternative format please call our Postraduate Admissions Office on +44 (0) 1206 876587 to discuss your needs.

Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (AP(E)L)

Policy and procedure for the Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (AP(E)L)

• AP(E)L Policy (.pdf)
• AP(E)L Proforma (.doc)
• The reuse of credit (.pdf)
• Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust reuse of credit (.pdf)

Readmission

This procedure applies to former postgraduate students who are requesting permission to be readmitted to study, having previously left voluntarily or having been required to withdraw from the University.

It does not apply to:

• students who want to be admitted to study at a higher level after having successfully completed an award at a lower level
• students who have successfully completed a degree and want to start another degree in a different subject area

Readmission policy

It is our policy, and part of national HESA rules, that you cannot normally be considered for readmission to the same programme from which you have been required to withdraw, or a similar programme which contained modules you have already taken, for a minimum of two years after you left (with the exception of students who have been required to withdraw for debt).

You can be considered for immediate readmission to a completely different area of study if there are good reasons to indicate that you chose the wrong course originally and there was evidence that you could be successful in a new area. This is subject to the University’s rules relating to the maximum period of study.

In order for your request to be considered, please complete the application form for former postgraduate students .

Supporting documents

Your personal statement should cover the reasons why you wish to be readmitted; what you have been doing since leaving Essex; and why you believe you will be successful if you return to your studies at Essex. If you have studied elsewhere since leaving Essex, please give full details of the course(s) you studied and the dates of your study.

If you are a recent Essex student and you have not studied elsewhere since leaving Essex, then you will not need to supply a new reference with your application.

The deadlines for the submission of a readmission request are set well in advance of the relevant course start date, as the process can be a lengthy one, especially if a student requires a student visa to study in the UK.

Your application will be considered by several departments within the University, so please don’t be concerned if you don’t hear from us immediately. Depending on your case, it may be a number of weeks before you receive a decision. If you have any concerns about the progress of your readmission request please contact: [email protected]

Complaints against decisions

There is no right of appeal against selection decisions made by the University, including decisions about readmission. Complaints will normally be considered to be valid only where there is evidence of procedural irregularity. In the event that you are dissatisfied with the University’s readmissions process, you can submit a complaint in line with the complaints policy for applicants (.pdf).

Our innovative research training scheme, known as Proficio, awards each of our research students up to £2,500 which can be put towards training courses and attending conferences. This funding will enable you to curate your own tailored training plan, developing the skills and knowledge you need to create an outstanding piece of research.

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Imperial College London Imperial College London

Latest news.

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• Postgraduate taught
• Application process

When to apply

Many of our postgraduate courses remain open until they are full – see below for exceptions to this.

Popular courses tend to close early – typically from January onwards in the year that your course is due to start – so make sure you apply in good time.

Courses with fixed application deadlines

The following departments operate application rounds for recruitment to their postgraduate taught courses, with fixed application deadlines throughout the year.  

• Bioengineering
• Business School
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering 
• Earth Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Life Sciences 
• Materials 
• Medicine (Surgery and Cancer, School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Inflammation)
• Physics 

To see what application deadlines are relevant to your chosen course, visit our course pages . 

Apply by midnight (UK time) on the relevant application round deadline to ensure that you receive the outcome of your application by the decision date.

We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.

Deadline for student visa applicants

As a guide, students who require a student visa to study at Imperial should aim to apply by no later than 30 June in the year that their course is due to start.

This is to ensure we can process your application in time and issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) . A CAS is an electronic record that is required for your visa application. 

If you do not require a visa to study at Imperial we recommend you apply by  1 August  in the year your course is due to start so we can process your application in good time.

Scholarship deadlines

If you require funding for postgraduate study, you need to be aware of the various closing dates for awards you may be eligible for.

Use our  scholarships search tool  to see what's currently available and what deadlines apply.

Applying for research degrees

You can apply for a research degree online and track your application at each stage of the process. 

Before you apply please read the following application steps and check the admissions process and requirements for your research area.

Some faculties have specific guidance relevant to their area. Where instructions or advice are different, the faculty-specific guidance should be followed. If you have any queries, please contact the relevant postgraduate research admissions team .

Take a look at our most recent  postgraduate research admissions policy .

Apply online for a research degree now

If you are a current postgraduate researcher studying at another institution and need to use our facilities, please  contact the relevant postgraduate research admissions team .

If you have any difficulties using the online application form, please email our research admissions team via [email protected] .

International applicants

International applicants can contact  University representatives overseas  for support.

You can also review  information about visas and immigration  and specific entry requirements, including English language requirements .

For specific information about visa and immigration requirements for all types of temporary study and research visits, see the visas for research and study visits page .

Disabled students

We are committed to providing high-quality advice and support for postgraduate researchers. You can choose to tell us about your disability during the application process. See how in our information for disabled postgraduate researchers .

Disability information that you disclose on your research degree application form will not be visible to admissions colleagues, but it will be made available to our Disability Services team who will contact you should you accept an offer from us. You can also  register with Disability Services in advance of accepting an offer .

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the admissions and scholarships selection process , please contact the relevant postgraduate research admissions team to discuss your needs.

You are not obliged to inform us of any disability, but you will still be covered by the Equality Act (2010) if that disability becomes known to us.

Application process

Applying for a research degree is a simple five-step process:

Step 1 — choose an existing research project or start your own

For information on the research degrees we offer, visit our research opportunities directory .

Please make sure that you meet the following requirements before submitting your application: 

• The University's English language requirements .
• The academic entry requirements for your course. Programmes have different entry requirements. If you need confirmation of the academic and English language entry requirements for your programme, please contact the relevant postgraduate research admissions team .
• Research degree fees .

Start dates vary and some academic schools and faculties have only one or two start dates per year. Main start dates are commonly in October and February. Please contact the relevant postgraduate research admissions team for advice on when you can start your research or check individual school websites.

Start your own project

If you would like to start your own research project we recommend you are up to date with related literature and news so you are ready to discuss the direction you intend your research to take with potential supervisors. You need to identify the supervisors available to work with you. They must be experts in the topic you are interested in to ensure that your research is accurate and adding to current knowledge. You will then need to develop a research proposal for your application.

Please read the procedures for investigating plagiarism in a research proposal (at the admissions stage) (PDF) , which explains the actions taken when plagiarism is suspected when processing an application. 

How to search for supervisors:

• Search in our research opportunities directory .
• Browse  research news : find academics who are taking part in breakthrough research at the University.
• Check  faculty websites : browse our faculty site list by subject to find our academics.
• Search for authors of recent research journals and articles on The Conversation and Academia  websites.

Step 2 – apply

When applying, it is important you state clearly the intended project or programme.

The supporting documents your school needs to process your application may vary but you must provide copies of your academic transcripts or certificates. 

You may also need copies of:

• a research proposal
• certificates and transcripts of any academic qualifications
• English language qualification certificates
• visa and immigration documents.

All documents should be in English or be accompanied by a certified translation into English. They can be sent via the online research degree application or can be emailed to the relevant postgraduate research admissions team after you have submitted your application. Your email should include your student ID number (emailed to you on submission of your application), full name and your intended course of study.

Please do not send original documents at the application stage and only provide documents via email.  

In most faculties, you need to provide the names and contact details of a minimum of two academic referees in support of your application. These should be entered in the referees section of the online application form.

Read more about  references for research degree applications .

Research proposal 

Some faculties require a brief description of the general research area you are interested in, or a specific research proposal. Be aware that the faculty may have deadlines for your proposal so be sure to ask before you apply. Your research proposal is submitted via the application form.

You may not need to provide a research proposal if you are applying for a pre-defined project studentship but please check when applying. 

Declaring a criminal conviction

If you have an unspent criminal conviction, you may need to declare it to us. This is usually required when we make you an offer that you wish to accept. For a small number of our courses, you will need to declare it when you apply. Having a criminal conviction will only rarely stop you from studying at Leeds. Find out more about declaring a criminal conviction .

We advise you to apply at least four months before your proposed start date. This is to allow sufficient time to review your application and undertake any additional checks. You may also need adequate time to apply for ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance or a Student visa, as well as making arrangements to travel to Leeds.

We cannot guarantee that we will be able consider applications received after this date and, where there is not sufficient time, we may consider you for the next possible start date instead.

If you are applying for a scholarship or funding opportunity, this may require you to apply for a place of study much earlier and in advance of funding deadlines, which can often be up to 12 months before the proposed start date.

After you have applied

If you have applied online you will be able to log in and track your research degree application’s progress . The school will contact you if it has any further entry requirements and to let you know if your application status changes. 

Step 3 – find scholarships and sources of funding

There are many options available for you to secure the funding you need to commence your research studies including scholarships and bursaries.

• UK research councils : competition for these scholarships is high but the majority of your fees will be funded so it is well worth applying.
• University research degree scholarships : we offer scholarships centrally and on faculty level to help fund your research.
• Alumni bursary : if you are a University of Leeds alumnus you could receive a 10% discount on tuition fees.
• Other sources of funding: there are databases with funding opportunities as well as charities to help support your research.

Step 4 – accept your offer

If your application is successful you will be sent an offer letter that you will need to respond to. You can accept your research degree offer online using your web login ID and web login PIN. 

If you do accept your offer you will be agreeing to the terms and conditions outlined in your acceptance letter and you should only do so if you have secured funding for your studies.

Changing the start date

To request a new start date, you should contact the relevant postgraduate researcher admissions team . If they are able to accommodate this change then a new formal offer letter will be issued with your revised start and end date. You will have to accept this new offer as outlined previously. 

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How to apply for research programmes.

• Jump to: How to write your research proposal
• Jump to: Before applying

Before applying to study for a research programme at SOAS, ensure that you can meet all the entry requirements.

The information below includes details on how and when to apply for our research programmes.

Postgraduate research degrees

We welcome applications from qualified students holding a good Master’s level degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject for research degrees at SOAS.

Before applying

Before applying for a research programme, please: 

• check that you meet the programme entry requirements which can be found on individual programme pages
• check that your chosen School can provide supervision in your research area. You will be asked to indicate a supervisor in your application form
• consider your funding options and check if we offer any studentships in your research area
• contact the PhD Coordinator for your research area before you apply (you can find their details on your relevant research area   page)

When to apply

• The admissions cycle for September 2024 entry starts on the 1 November 2023 and the deadline to apply for a research programme is  15 June 2024 . We may consider applications received after this date up until the 'late application' deadline of 5 July, but this will not be guaranteed. We therefore encourage you to apply by 15 June for guaranteed consideration.
• Research Degrees start in September.
• The assessment of your suitability and the availability of supervision can take some time, typically between two and three months from submission of your application.
• If you are an overseas applicant, we advise you to apply well in advance of your preferred start date as the Student Visa application process can be very lengthy.
• If you do miss the relevant ‘apply by’ date we will do our best to process your application in time, but you may have to consider a later starting date
• Visiting Research Applicants will need to ensure an application is submitted 3 months prior to the start date of the term you intend to commence your studies.

Application requirements

An application is only considered complete if the following requirements have been fulfilled:

• Your application will only be initially assessed once your reference has been confidentially submitted by your nominated referee. The Doctoral School Admissions team will check that all required documentation has been provided and that the reference is acceptable and meets our requirements during the initial assessment.
• Incomplete applications, missing any of the below elements, cannot be considered and will not go forward to the Academic Selectors within the Department for consideration. 1. A formal application form 2. A supporting/personal statement 3. An up to date CV 4. A research proposal 5. Full academic transcripts 6. Degree certificates 7. English language evidence  8. One reference

Applying for one of our Global Partnerships programmes?

If you are applying for the joint MPhil/PhD in Applied Development Economics programme with University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), as well as completing all the steps in the ‘How to Apply’ section above, you will also need to specify either SOAS or Wits as your ‘Home Institution’ in the Partnership Universities section of the application form.

If you plan to be based mainly at SOAS in the UK for the duration of the programme, please select SOAS as your Home Institution.

If you plan to be based mainly at Wits in South Africa, please select Wits as your Home Institution.

Apply to SOAS

You can apply for postgraduate study at SOAS through our dedicated application system.

Further info

Fees and funding

Find out how to fund your studies with more information on student loans, grants and a range of scholarships that may be available.

SOAS Open Days

SOAS open days are the perfect way to explore our central London campus, meet staff and students, and ask any questions you may have.

Related content

Our research is about change. We see the world differently, and we seek new solutions to historic challenges.

Research fees

Information on our bands of Research fees.

Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

UKRI studentships offer funding for doctoral research. They also offer you access to training, networking and development opportunities to help you build a research and innovation career.

Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training .

You could get:

• a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments
• support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)

The stipend is usually non-taxable and does not need to be paid back. Some research organisations may offer more if you study in London, or they or one of their collaborators might decide to top up the payment. This will be outlined in the studentship advert from the research organisation.

We normally pay the support for tuition fees directly to your research organisation.

The levels given here are for the academic year 2024 to 2025. UKRI’s approach to doctoral stipend and fee levels will be reviewed through the  new deal for postgraduate research .

Additional support for your doctoral studies

As a UKRI-funded doctoral student, you may be able to access additional funding to cover the cost of other related training and development opportunities.

This could include:

• conference attendance
• language training
• overseas research visits
• internships or placements with a non-academic partner

The availability of support will depend on the research organisation and the training grants they have on offer. You should contact the research organisation you are interested in applying to, to find out what you could get.

Extra support if you have a disability

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

You should speak to your research organisation’s disability advisor to assess your needs. They can help put the right support in place, including a DSA application if necessary. You cannot claim DSA directly from UKRI.

DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty.

The allowance covers:

• non-medical personal assistance
• specialist equipment
• extra travel costs
• general expenses

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

If you are a research organisation you can download claim forms and guidance for DSA .

Who can apply

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship.

All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award, both the stipend to support living costs, and home-level fees at the UK research organisation rate.

How to find opportunities

Many UK research organisations offer some form of studentship funding from UKRI. These opportunities will depend on the subject you want to study and will normally be advertised by the research organisations.

Research organisations may have additional opportunities that do not involve UKRI. UKRI supports around 20% of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You should speak to the research organisation you are interested in to find out what studentships are available.

You could also consider using a specialist website like   FindaPhD  to look for opportunities.

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

Many open for applications early in the academic year and close in January or February. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is important that you check the deadlines for the research organisation where you want to study.

How to apply

You cannot apply to UKRI for a studentship. You must contact the research organisation you are interested in studying with and use their application process.

For doctoral students who are already studying with a studentship, there are opportunities to get additional funding to support placements that are separate from your doctorate.  Find training and development opportunities .

Last updated: 14 February 2024

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .