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Entry requirements
You'll need a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, a merit or distinction at Masters level, or overseas equivalent, normally in a relevant social science, business or science subject.
If English isn't your first language, you'll also need to have a recent UKVI recognised Secure English Language Test (or a SELT) qualification. IELTS – minimum overall score of 6.5 with no individual element below 5.5
Before you apply
Writing your research proposal
Read our guidance on how to write your research proposal.
Getting a reference
Read our help on how to choose references and what the referees need to supply.
The application
During the application you'll be asked for the following:
- your full contact details
- transcripts and certificates of all degrees
- proof of English language proficiency if English isn't your first language
- two references, one of which must be academic
- funding or scholarship information
- research proposal detailing the subject area and topic to be investigated; please use our Postgraduate Research Proposal Outline and attach this with your application
By filling these details out as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay to your application being processed by the University. Incomplete applications will be returned to applicants.
Supervisors
If you're interested in studying for a research degree we recommend that you identify members of staff with relevant expertise before applying. You should email the member of staff to chat about the potential for supervision, explaining how your proposed research topic relates to their research interests.
To get a sense of staff members' research interests, you could take a look at our staff profile pages. Reading the research papers listed on their profile pages is a good way to get a better understanding of their interests.
If your chosen supervisor is available to work with you, they'll confirm this and nominate a potential second supervisor. As soon as a second supervisor is confirmed, an offer of study will be sent to you through Pegasus, our online application system.
When you accept our offer of study, you'll receive a full offer in writing via the email address you provide.
Accepting an offer
Once you've accepted our offer, we'll need you to fulfil any academic, administrative or financial conditions that we ask.
UK or EU students
If you're applying as a UK or EU student, you'll then be issued with your registration documentation.