Applying for your research degree
We are here to support you with your application and to help you get one step closer in your research journey.
The timeline below offers you a guide to the steps you’ll need to take in order to submit your application for your PhD.
Before you start your application, you should have:
- Identified the specific research project, CDT or dual-award you'd like to apply for or, if you already have funding, determined your own research project and title and discussed this with a supervisor.
- Contacted the project supervisor and spoken to them about your suitability for the project.
- Explored funding you are eligible for and discussed this with your supervisor, if you don't already have your own funding.
To make your application you should have the following:
- A supporting statement (see the next step!)
- Certificates and transcripts: Certificates and final transcripts of any completed university-level qualifications and interim transcripts for qualifications in progress.
- CV: Summarising your academic record and highlighting experience that demonstrates your potential to conduct research.
- English language proof: A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency. This isn’t required at the point of application, but you will need to provide it during the application process.
- Referees: Names and contact details of two academic referees who we can get in contact with and will support your application.
The supporting statement is your opportunity to tell us what you would have to offer as a postgraduate researcher at Manchester.
Your statement should be one or two pages and include:
- your motivation to pursue postgraduate research;
- the area(s) of research you’re interested in;
- why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester;
- any relevant research or work experience;
- the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed.
After you apply for a postgraduate research programme at Manchester, there are a number of stages through which your application passes. If you need anything, we’ll be here to support you along the way.
- Acknowledging your application - After you submit your application you will receive an automatic receipt. Your application will be uploaded into our Student System and sent to the academic department running your course.
- Your user ID - We will email you your unique University of Manchester user ID. You will need this to set up an IT account so that you can then log in to Self Service to track your application and to accept your offer if you are successful.
- How to contact us - We'll email you the name and contact details of the admissions team who is considering your application. Most communications from us will be by email. Please check your emails regularly as we may ask you for further information or documents. If you need to contact us about your application, please include your application ID in your email.
If you need support in submitting the online application form, you can use our videos on how to create an account and how to submit an application.
If you’re ready to apply, proceed to the online application form.
Don't forget you'll need:
- Your research project title (i.e. the advertised project name or proposed project name) or area of research.
- Your proposed supervisor’s name.
- If you already have funding or if you wish to be considered for any of the available funding.
- A supporting statement.
- Details of your previous university level study.
- Names and contact details of your two referees.
If you have any further queries around applying, contact our admissions team.
If your application meets the standard academic entry requirement, then it will be reviewed by your proposed supervisor(s). If they are able to take your application further, you will be invited to an interview, which are usually held online. If you are nominated for funding by your supervisor, you may be invited to further interviews to determine your suitability for funding.
If your proposed supervisor(s) is unable to take your application further, we may, with your permission, ask other potential supervisors to review your application.
We will try and notify you within 4-6 weeks of your application. However, due to various funding applications and deadlines, you may not receive an answer during this timeframe.
If you have any queries about the progress of your application, you can contact contact our admissions team.