We receive most of our applications from students interested in working in a specified research area, on a specific project or with a particular supervisor. A focused approach expressing interest in a particular research area and targeted specifically to an appropriate supervisor is much more likely to elicit a favourable response than a general application to multiple supervisors.
If you have not done so already, please read about the research we do and the projects available. Most supervisors also have a detailed research page that can be accessed from their individual contact page within the School's Academic Staff directory.
If you need further advice on our applications procedures contact the Postgraduate Administrator, tel: +44 (0)115 8230311 or Email: biology-pg@nottingham.ac.uk .
Entry requirements
Applicants should have or expect to gain at least an upper second class (2i) Honours degree, a Masters qualification or the European equivalent in an appropriate scientific discipline.
When to apply
Applications can be considered at any time. However, the majority of our studentship awards are allocated during the period January to April for commencement of training at the end of September. The best time to apply is between November and February, but do not worry if you prefer to delay your application until after your final examinations are over. We may have studentships available later in the year for high quality graduates.
How to apply
The way to begin is to contact potential supervisors directly. Email is good but a written application will also be considered. Students are advised to provide an informal covering letter and a curriculum vitae including, names, telephone numbers, postal and e-mail addresses for two academic referees.
Please remember that a focussed approach expressing interest in a particular research area and targeted specifically to an appropriate supervisor is much more likely to elicit a favourable response than a general application to multiple supervisors.
You may then be invited for interview during which time you will have a chance to further discuss the opportunities available, explore our laboratories and meet some of our research staff and current postgraduates. If offered a place and you accept, you will be asked to complete the University Postgraduate Admission Form. You will then receive further information from the University about registration for the postgraduate programme.
We aim to recruit about 10 students to our PhD training programme each year from applicants who are citizens the United Kingdom or other countries within the European Union, or who are considered so for the purposes of postgraduate training. Please contact the Postgraduate Administrator if you need to establish whether you qualify as a Home or EU student (tel: +44 (0)115 8230311 or Email: biology-pg@nottingham.ac.uk ).
Information about our major research interests and potential supervisors in each area can be obtained here . Most supervisors have a detailed research page that can be accessed from their individual contact page.
Students are advised to make a direct approach to their chosen supervisor in good time.
Fees and Funding
Support for successful applicants is provided in the form of studentships awarded by the UK Research Councils (BBSRC, MRC, NERC, EPSRC), the European Union, The Lawes Trust, the University of Nottingham Scholarship Fund and School of Biology Doctoral Training Account. Most of these awards are open to students applying to any qualifying supervisor but some are restricted to specific projects with named supervisors (e.g. BBSRC Strategic Awards).
Each award provides full fees (currently £3,825 per annum) and stipend (currently £13,590) support for a period of three or four years. Stipends vary a little but the minimum University of Nottingham or Research Council award is currently £13,590 per annum. Please note that some Research Council studentships provide fees-only support for non-UK citizens. Although the vast majority of our students are fully funded we have traditionally attracted a number of students willing to fund their own training.