Entrance to our MSc by Research programme is strongly competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements.

Apply early. Supervisors can accept students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Minimum academic requirements

You will need a minimum of a UK 2:1 undergraduate degree or an equivalent overseas qualification.

Application requirements

You need to consider your research proposal and other supporting documents before submitting an application. Only complete applications showing all necessary documents will be considered.

Your proposed research

Before applying, you need to write a research proposal.

Guidelines on your research proposal

Please note: Your research proposal is liable to be submitted to the .

Supervisor

We strongly recommend you make contact with a potential supervisor before applying. In your application, you must name your preferred supervisor (or up to 3 in order of preference) and the academic research area you wish to work in.

Choosing a supervisor and research area

Required documents

You will need:

  • Official degree certificates and transcripts
  • Contact details for two academic referees or two academic written references
  • CV
  • Research proposal
  • Evidence of English-language competence (further information below)

Guidelines for required documents

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • : total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • (formerly CAE) / (formerly CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • : ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • : total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • (Global and Digital): 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS Academic, TOEF iBT, Trinity ISE, PTE Academic, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality.

Degrees Taught and Assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

More on English language requirements

Overseas students

If you are an international student, you may need to apply for permission to study in the UK. Student Administration provides information on immigration and visa requirements for students.