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 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.
If you have not done so already please click on one of the links on the left, or on projects on the menu to find out 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.
If you need further advice on our applications procedures contact the Postgraduate Administrator, tel: +44 (0)115 8230311 or Email: Postgraduate admission enquiries.
Applicants should have or expect to gain an appropriate qualification in a suitable scientific discipline equivalent to an upper second class honours degree from a UK institution.
Language requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of having recently (within the last two years) attained a suitable standard in English language test (e.g. FOEFL iBT or IELTS). For TOEFL iBT the minimum requirement is 87 with no less than 21 in listening, 22 in reading, 23 in speaking and 21 in writing. For IELTS the minimum requirement is a score of 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element. However some supervisors may ask for a higher level of attainment. Students who have attained, or expect to gain, a degree qualification from a country where the first language is English will not be asked to produce a current TOEFL or IELTS certificate.
When to apply
We advise students requiring University of Nottingham administered International Scholarships to apply before the end of January. Closing dates for University scholarships is usually March/April and only students who have been formally accepted to our postgraduate programme are eligible to apply. Postgraduate training for successful scholarship applicants commences at the end of September but students with their own funding or scholarships are considered all year and can begin training at a mutually agreed time.
How to apply
Complete an online application form clearly naming the supervisor you wish to work with. Please note 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. However, if you wish you may name up to three potential supervisors/research proposals at the top of Section 19 on the online application form. If you are unable to send the required supporting documents with your online application these should be forwarded as soon as possible to the Admissions Office (please follow the online application automated instructions to candidates) for logging and forwarding to the Postgraduate Administrator. Applications will be considered as soon as all the supporting documentation is received. If supporting documentation does not arrive within a reasonable period an application may be automatically lapsed.
We recruit a number of international students to our postgraduate training programme each year. Most register for our three-year PhD programme but we also welcome applications for a two-year MPhil. We also offer an integrated four-year PhD programme in which emphasis is placed on taught modules in the first year.
Information about our major research interests and supervisors can be obtained by clicking on one of the links on the left, or on research or contacts on the menu bar above. Most supervisors have a detailed research page that can be accessed from their individual contact page.
Students are advised to name no more than three potential supervisors (in order of preference) on an online application form and write a short paragraph outlining the reasons for each choice.
Fees and Funding
Successful applicants will require funding to cover both fees and living expenses. Fees are currently £19,640 per annum for standard laboratory-based projects or £11,990 per annum for computer-based projects. However, a higher fee of £23,710, may be required for exceptional technically-intensive/specialised projects with high consumable costs. In addition, a sum of at least £8,000 per annum will be required to cover living expenses but the experience of our current international students indicates that £10,000 is more realistic.
University scholarships providing partial support are available. However, these are quite limited in number and are awarded on a competitive basis to high quality candidates, usually ranked among the top 5% of applicants to the University of Nottingham. Where possible, applicants should seek scholarships from their native country or from organisations such as The Association of Commonwealth Universities . Other links on the right provide further information on funding opportunities and scholarship application procedures.