How to apply

We operate a gathered field approach for PhD and MSc by Research applications. Find out how this works.

The School of Health in Social Science operates a gathered field approach to our research applications. A gathered field approach means that all complete applications which meet our minimum entry requirements will be held until the next deadline at which point applications received will be considered on a competitive basis by our subject area specific academic review panels.

This year we will be running two gathered fields for new applications so please take note of these dates. 

All communication about your application will be sent through the online admissions system. Please ensure you check your application inbox regularly and particularly after the notification dates as listed below.  

First deadline: Monday 13th November 2023, 11.59pm (GMT) (applications submitted after this deadline will be held until the second deadline).

Only complete applications received by this date will be considered and outcome notifications will be issued mid-January 2024 for an enrolment date of September 2024 (or January 2025 for PhD programmes only).

Second deadline: Monday 22nd April 2024, 11.59pm (GMT) (applications submitted after this deadline will not be reviewed).

Only complete applications received by this date will be considered and outcome notifications will be issued mid-June 2024 for an enrolment date of September 2024 (or January 2025 for PhD programmes only).

• Online application form (link below).
• Undergraduate degree certificate and transcript (and your MSc degree certificate and transcript should this be required). Most postgraduate degree programmes in the School of Health in Social Science require a minimum of a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent. Some programmes also require applicants to hold a Masters level degree. Please check the relevant pages on the degree finder for more detailed information.
• Research proposal based on the criteria for the programme you are applying for. You must submit your research proposal on the form template below in order to be considered by our academic review panel (see download link below). You are required to download the template and write your proposal on it. If your research proposal is not submitted using the template, your application will not be considered.

  • We will use your research proposal to consider whether supervision can be provided for the research that you propose. It is important that your research proposal makes your basic aims and area of investigation as clear as possible.  We understand that it can be difficult to formulate research plans for a proposal well in advance of carrying out the work, but we encourage you to formulate your ideas clearly and to take great care over your proposal. You should expect to draft your proposal several times, and, ideally, seek comments on it from people able to discuss it with you (perhaps from your referees or former lecturers) before submitting your application. 

  • Where research proposals do not meet the minimum entry criteria we may provide feedback to allow you to review and amend the proposal. If we do so we will contact you to ask whether you wish to revise and resubmit the proposal and be considered at the following application deadline.  

    School of Health in Social Science Research Proposal Form (64.48 KB Word)
    How to write a good PG research proposal (1.44 MB PDF)

• Two references – some programmes require one of your references to be from your most recent academic institution. Please check the relevant entry requirement pages on the School website for more detailed information. Please note that it can take a number of weeks for your referees to respond to a reference request. We must have received your references by the deadline dates above for your application to be considered in that particular application round. If you wish the University to contact your referees through the online application system you must have started the online application and submitted the reference request several weeks before the deadline dates so that your referees have time to respond.
• We strongly recommend that you contact your potential supervisor(s) before applying. Applicants who have researched a potential supervisor before applying are often more successful in gaining an offer for study. Please ensure that you do this as early as possible and, at least, several weeks before the relevant deadlines. If you are unsure if your research interest fits with the Programme, you can contact the Postgraduate Research Programme Director.
• If you are applying for the PhD by Distance you must also submit the PhD by Distance application form.
  PhD by Distance Application and Study Plan (65.56 KB Word)

Evidence of English Language may also be needed before an unconditional offer can be made, but is not required by the application deadline. More information about what the English Language requirements are can be found on the degree finder or on the relevant entry requirement pages on the School website.

If an application is not ‘complete’ by the application deadline it will be rejected. Applicants may make a further application at one of the later deadlines and this will be considered if it is complete. 

Contact

If you need more information about submitting your application and the admissions process, please get in touch with the School Postgraduate Research Admissions Administrator.

Apply now