Frequently asked questions
Academic life
How many hours a week will my course entail?
It depends on the type of course you are doing and will vary across departments.
How do I register on my course? Will I need to provide original copies of my supporting documents?
All students must register with the University when they first begin their studies and again at the beginning of each academic session. All students need to register online via the portal, new full time students will also need to confirm their attendance in person.
If you faxed your supporting documents to the Admissions Office to aid the consideration of your application, you have to bring the documents with you at the time you register in person.
Will I be able to go on and complete a PhD at Nottingham when I have finished my masters?
Acceptance onto a postgraduate research programme will be based upon:
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your academic ability
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the availability of interested and suitably qualified supervisors
Please visit submitting proposals page under Academic life.
Can I start my course at another time of year, rather than September?
PhD and research degrees
The start dates for PhD and research degree programmes can vary and are dependent on the School you are studying with and whether you are in receipt of a scholarship. Please contact your Academic School directly for further information.
Online learning courses
The online learning courses have start dates in January, April and September.
How do I get in touch with school staff or departments?
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University life and support
What extracurricular clubs or societies are available to students?
Are there any language courses available?
For further information on language courses available to postgraduates visit the Language Centre website.
What are the dates of term and/or holidays?
Where do I get my University Card?
At the start of the Academic year in September cards for new students can be collected from their Hall of Residence.
Any student who is not staying at one of the on-campus Halls of Residence can collect their University Card at the Sports Centre when they register. Cards that are not collected from Registration will be sent to the appropriate School Office. If you have not received your University Card please therefore ask at your School Office.
How do I register for the Health Centre?
We have a
health centre on site at University Park which specialises in looking after the health care of students and staff of the University and their families. For more information including how to register and book appointments, please see the Cripps Health Centre
how to register web pages.
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Visiting the University
I’ve been made an offer to study can I arrange a visit to the campus before I start?
Yes, you are welcome to come and take a look at the main campus as it is open to the public all year round. You will be able to view the main facilities such as the Library and get an idea of the location of the departments and various accommodation options. We provide maps and guide books for independent visitors which can be collected from the reception desk in the Trent Building on University Park campus. You can also find campus maps on our maps and directions web page.
If you would like to visit any of the academic facilities or have a talk with any of the faculty staff members, you will need to make these arrangements yourself. Go to our Academics Schools page to find out contact details for your School of interest.
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Finance and applying
Can I pay the fees in installments? If so, when do I have to make my first payment?
There are two installments in the academic year. See the instalments page on the finance website for further information.
What methods of payment are accepted?
We accept a number of methods of payment. See the
fees page of the finance and applying section.
I’ve been made a conditional offer how do I make my offer unconditional?
If you have a conditional offer, you will need to provide the University with proof that you have met all of the conditions in full. Once you have done this, your offer will become unconditional.
How can I submit my references, academic transcripts and other supporting documents?
They can either be attached to the online application at the time of the application, or sent by post later to the
Admissions Office.
I’ve been made an offer can I defer my place until next year?
If you wish to defer starting your postgraduate course you should contact the Admissions Office to ask if this is a possibility.
If you wish to suspend registration on your course for a year, please go to the Voluntary Suspension page of the Quality Manual to check the University’s policy and procedures on this. A form can be downloaded from this link.
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International students
Can I work in the UK while I am studying?
Please see the International Office's Working During your Studies online pdf booklet.
Is there any help provided in finding a job?
The Centre for Career Development offers career development services to both current students and Graduates of the University. They can help you explore the career opportunities in whatever field you are thinking of entering.
When I arrive in the UK will transport be provided from the airport to the University?
The University provides a free Coach Pick-Up service for new international students attending our Welcome Programme in September. This service operates from London Heathrow Airport to the University.
If you are unable to take part in the Coach Pick-Up, you may wish to download our pdf leaflet on travelling to Nottingham independently.
The University also provides a free coach pick-up service for visiting / exchange students studying at Nottingham for the Spring semester, starting in January. This service operates from London Heathrow airport to the University. Further information will be sent to accepted students prior to their arrival in Nottingham.
What is the cost of living in the UK while studying, eg food costs, accommodation costs, academic materials, etc?
For further information on living expenses visit the
cost of living page on our jobs website.
Can I speak with a current student for advice about studying in the UK?
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Accommodation
How and when do I apply for accommodation?
Applications for 2011/2012 will be accepted from 1 March 2011 onwards using our online application form. We encourage you to apply as early as you can as we allocate in date order. For further information visit our
how to apply page in the accommodation section.
What sort of accommodation is available?
We offer University arranged, on-campus and off campus self-catered accommodation. We can also help you find private accommodation. Visit our
accommodation section for more information.
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Living in Nottingham
Where is the nearest supermarket?
Close to University Park there are Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets in the nearby suburb called Beeston, just a 15 minute walk from the West entrance of the University. There are also Lidl and a Tesco Express supermarkets a short walk from Jubilee.
All campuses have easy access to the Nottingham city centre for further amenities, and Sutton Bonington's nearest town for shopping is Loughborough.
What is the night life like?
Visit our nights out and shopping and dining pages in the
Nottingham life section.
What is bus system like to town and between campuses?
Public transport
Each of the University's campuses are situated within easy reach of the city via frequent bus transport.
Hopper bus
There are hopper buses which are free to University staff and students which regularly run between University Park, the Jubilee Campus, Sutton Bonington, St Peter's Court and the Kings Meadow Campus.
Details of these services can be found on our bus services page.