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Apply using the Applicant Portal
The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.
An application is only complete when:
- you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
- you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
- your referees have provided their references.
If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.
Applicants are advised to apply in good time before the relevant deadlines. We attach great importance to a well-motivated and viable research proposal; please read carefully the guidelines relating to the research proposal.
We welcome applications from those wishing to study part-time. Part-time applicants from outside the UK should note that visa restrictions may apply and that not all sources of funding are available to part-time students (The Postgraduate Funding Search will detail eligibility for most University scholarships). Please contact the department for further details.
Selection Process
Applications are considered in batches. Final decisions are made at meetings of the Postgraduate Education Committee in January, February, and May. The Department will consider applications made up until 29th April 2026. Applicants who apply by the Postgraduate Funding Deadline (2nd December 2025) will receive a decision around late January. Those who apply after this will receive decisions in April, May, or June, depending on their submission date.
Interviews
Shortlisted applicants are invited to participate in an interview (these will be held online) with a prospective Supervisor.
Further information on How To Apply
Things You'll Need
You should start preparing the things that you'll need when you apply. These will be mandatory, unless specifically flagged as optional.
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Two referees willing to give you a reference
Either academic or professional – please see our References guidance for more information about which type you need. Your referees will need to have submitted their reference by the course deadline. - Transcript
- CV/resume
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Evidence of competence in English
If required - please see our Competence in English guidance for more information. -
Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
Please upload a research proposal of around 2,000 words. Special formatting is not required. Your proposal would generally contain: a clear, well-motivated and viable research question; brief review of the literature, covering the theoretical basis for your research; the current state of knowledge in the field; and details of what your research will add; the research methods you propose to use; you may also want to explain the reasons for your own interest in the subject; and any previous work you have done in the area. The word limit includes footnotes, appendices, figures, tables, etc, but does not include references. -
Sample of Work (1) (document upload) (optional)
Applicants may submit written work. This can be an essay written for your previous course, a published academic article or another piece of writing that shows your suitability for the course. There is no specified wordcount for the Sample of Work, but file size cannot exceed 2.5MB.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:
See Gates Cambridge for more information.
How to Find a Supervisor
Applicants to the PhD should name a prospective Supervisor on their application form. Not all department members are available to take new students every year; please see the list of available supervisors at Choosing a Supervisor.