Application process
If you have discussed your potential application with staff at the appropriate School or institute and are ready to join our research community, you can download an application form and guidance notes here.
You will need to send your completed application form to the Postgraduate Research Office (PRGO). Please do not return your form to the Central Admissions team or the International Office in Recruitment & Admissions. The application process for research degree programmes is different from that for taught programmes and degrees.
Selection and offer
If the appropriate School or institute is interested in your application, you will be asked to attend an interview. You will be interviewed by a minimum of two members of academic staff. If you are based overseas, this may be by telephone or video conference.
Where possible, we will advise you of our decision within three months of receipt of your completed application. If we require more information about your application in order to make a decision, we will e-mail you.
If you are subsequently offered a position as a research student, the School or institute will notify the PGRO. They will be responsible for issuing you with an offer letter,contract and joining instructions and for liaising with other departments to set up your student record.
Replying to accept an offer
You must respond to an offer of admission within 30 days, or by the stated start date of your programme, whichever is earlier. If you do not respond, we will assume that you do not wish to accept the offer and the offer will be withdrawn. To confirm your acceptance of the offer, you must sign and date the offer of admission and return it to the PGRO. You can reply to the offer of admission by scanned e-mail attachment or by post.
All offers of admission are conditional upon satisfactory evidence of funding, evidence of satisfactory qualifications and signing your Assignment of Intellectual Property Rights forms. Further conditions, such as evidence of a satisfactory English language test score and obtaining Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance, may also be applied to the offer of admission.
You must fulfil all conditions of your offer of admission before the start of the programme. All documentation related to the conditions of an offer of admission must be original.
Beginning your studies
Your start date will be on your offer of admission. Remember, you must fulfil all conditions of your offer before the start date of your programme.
If you are an international student and are paying tuition fees, or have a sponsor who is paying fees, you must pay a deposit before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number can be obtained from the UK Border Agency. The balance of any fees due must also be paid in full before the start date.
You are expected to attend the School or institute on the morning of the start date of your studies. You may not join the programme later than the date stated on the offer of admission.
If you need to change the start date of your studies, or if your contact details change, you should contact the PGRO immediately.
