Applicant profile

A competitive applicant profile will show:

• Strong academic credentials
• Your readiness to be an independent PhD researcher
• A clear understanding of the proposed research project, its intended methods and its aims
• Alignment between the applicant’s research interests/experience and the supervisor’s or department’s research priorities

Application guidance

You can apply for one of our pre-defined research projects or develop your own proposal. Our academic staff are always open to hear how your research can build on their existing work or about a new topic in their current subject areas.

You must identify at least one (up to two) intended lead supervisor(s) in your application. We cannot consider your application if no supervisor has been named.

To increase your chances of success, we strongly recommend that you contact your intended supervisor(s) ahead of submitting your application to make them aware of your interest and to discuss the intended research project. This applies even if you intend to apply in response to an advertised PhD project opportunity. It is especially important if you intend to apply with your own project idea because, in this case, you will need to ensure, firstly, that your research interests are compatible with the expertise of your intended supervisor(s) and, secondly, that they have capacity to take on new PhD students.

If you are applying with your own project idea (as opposed to applying for a pre-defined/advertised research project), you should submit a 1000-word research proposal with your application. Within your proposal you should explain the knowledge gap you have identified, how you intend to fill it, and it should give an indicative timeline of work for discussion with your potential supervisor.

In all cases, in your personal statement, you will need to tell us why you are interested in pursuing independent research, quote examples of your undergraduate or master's research projects, and explain how a PhD fits with your career plans.

See our guide about how to apply for doctoral study for more information and further documents required.

If you are applying for funding through the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership, you must develop your own project idea and submit a Student Statement Form (Annex A) with your application. See our guidance on applying for ESRC funding for more information.

Selection process

When your application is received, it will be forwarded to your intended supervisor(s). If they are interested in pursuing your application, they will ask the Doctoral Admissions team to review your application. This will include assessing your tuition fee status, checking that your application is complete and confirming that you meet the minimum entry criteria as quoted in the ‘Entry requirements’ section above.

The outcome of the Doctoral Admissions team review will be sent to your intended supervisor(s) who will then decide if they wish to invite you to interview. Interviews will typically be conducted online by the prospective supervisor(s) and an independent member of academic staff or the Director of Studies.

If you are applying to one of our funding competitions, there may be further shortlisting and decision stages which will be competition specific.

It is important to remember that PhD places are competitively awarded and your application will be considered as a whole including the quality of all your uploaded documents and your references as well as your ability to meet entry requirements and demonstrate relevant research experience/potential.

Immigration requirements

If you are an international student, you can find out more about the visa requirements for studying in the UK.

For additional support please contact the Student Immigration Service for matters related to student visas and immigration.