HomeApplying for a PhD
Before you apply
You'll need to have made a decision regarding which of our research groups you think would be the best fit for your area/s of interest. Because we're interested in developing the next generation of outstanding researchers - whether in academia, industry or government - we're only able to supervise students with research interests that tie into our existing research groups. Your research group will be a small and closeknit part of your research degree experience, so we recommend you carefully consider this decision and mention on your application which research group you are interested in joining. You might want to check out what some of our current and former PhD students say about their experiences in their research groups, the School and the College.
Please look at the College's advice on applying for a research degree as well to review the College's entry requirements.
How to apply
Once you've made the decision to apply for a PhD place, you'll need to fill out the College application form. This form must be used. However, instead of the 'Research Proposal' (document checklist point 7) it asks for, we request a 'Statement of Research Interests'.
Your Statement of Research Interest should answer two questions:
- What area of research are you interested in and why? You should be as specific as possible. Please indicate if you have already identified a research supervisor.
- What is your experience in the relevant area? Perhaps your undergraduate or Masters project work is related.
Your statement should be brief: no more than 500 words or one side of A4 paper.
Once you have completed the application form, your Statement of Research Interests and have all of the requested materials from the checklist you can apply either online or by post. Please refer to the postgraduate admission section of the College website for further details.
Once you've applied
Your application will be reviewed by academic staff. If there is a good match between your interests and those of a member of staff and a research group, we'll contact your references and ask your for an interview.
Further information
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us.
