How to apply for a WIE Research Degree

If you are applying for an ESRC scholarship please notify Louisa Hopkins. Please use the guidance below, including that on writing a research proposal. Further information can be found on the Graduate School website. 

You will need a superivsor for your study, someone who is expert in the field or in the particular research methods you plan to use.

Please try to locate a member of our academic staff who might act as your supervisor, and then contact them by email to discuss your proposal

Find out about our research and our staff research

You may find information about how to write a proposal useful. Further information about writing a research proposal can be found here. An MA by Research proposal will not have as much detail as that for an MPhil/PhD. Neither will the proposal for an EdD.

If you do not feel comfortable contacting an academic then let Emma Traves in the WIE Research Office know that you wish to find supervision, or send your proposal to her.

Once you have written a proposal you are in a position to apply for a research degree - please follow the link to the right on this page. This will tell you everything you need to know about the on-line application process. It will advise you what documents are needed and what format they should be in.

Here is a list of Research Degree Course Codes. Be sure to select the correct one in the drop-down menu on the application form, because this wording will be on your final certificate

If you are applying for a scholarship, you should select this when you reach the 'finance' section fo the form. Further pages will then become accessible to you and will ask you for more information.

International students wishing to pursue a part-time degree (not distance learning) who require a visa to study in the UK will be unable to secure a Tier 4 student visa or a Student Visitor visa to do so. It is only possible for such students to undertake a part-time degree if they have immigration permission in some other category which does not prohibit part-time study (e.g. a dependant visa). Please refer specific immigration queries to the Immigration Service by email immigrationservice@warwick.ac.uk and refer to the website www.warwick.ac.uk/go/immigration WIE research degree are not classed as 'distance learning' courses.

What happens next?

Once you apply on-line the Central Admissions team will upload your application onto the system and make it available to the Department (WIE)

We will look on your application to see if you have discussed your proposal with anyone. If you have, we will send your application straight to that person and the process will be quicker.

If you have not made contact with anyone about supervision we will try to arrange this for you.

Within about two weeks we will return our decision to Central Admissions. The decision we reach will depend on our ability to supervise your study as well as our opinion of your ability to complete a degree.

Central Admissions will email their decision to you shortly, usually within two weeks.

Delays can be caused in the department (WIE) while we try to find supervision for you.

If you are worried about the progress of your application please contact Emma Traves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to write a research proposal?

Yes. Unless we know what you wish to research, and how you want to go about it, we cannot offer supervision and will not be able to process the application.

Do I Have to contact a potential supervisor before applying for a research degree?

No,we can approach various supervisors and ask them if they have availability. But if you have already contacted a superivsor, this will speed up the application process.

What references are required?

If you have studied during the last five years, then two academic refererences are required. That is to say that your references must both be from someone who taught you. If you have not studied within the last five years one or both of your references may be professional (from your employer). In all cases, references must be on original letterheaded paper with the original signature unless the referee had uploaded them direct into the system, having received a request from the admissions system. NB for this to happen you will have had to have input their email address correctly and they will have only one chance to reply.

Can I send scanned or faxed copies of references?

No. References must be on original letterheaded paper with the original signature unless the referee had uploaded them direct into the system, having received a request from the admissions system. NB for this to happen you will have had to have input their email address correctly and they will have only one chance to reply.

What is meant by 'transcripts'?

The transcript is a breakdown of the marks for each module or component of your course (undergraduate or MA degree). Transcripts are required in addition to the certificate.

Can I send scanned or faxed copies of degree transcripts and certificates?

No you must send only original or attested documents, in English. You should use secure posting methods, and you can request that the documents are returned by secure post. (Attested copies are those that have been seen by a legal practitionner who confirms that the original document is genuine and signs the copy as 'attested).

What is an attested copy? 

If you cannot send in your original certificates and transcripts, you should ask the issuing University to make or proivde attested copies. The University will stamp the copies and sign that they are true copies of the original documents. If you cannot ask the University to do this you can ask a 'notary'. A notary is a legal practitionner, such as a solicitor a lawyer or a JP.

Do I have to have an English test?

You will need to prove your proficiency in English to at least level 6.5 IELTS. The test must be recent (not more than two years before your register for your course). If you have been taught entirely in English for a previous degree that was not more than two years ago, you may be exempt. For more information on English Language testing please visit Admissions - English Language Testing

Can I change from full to part time (and vice versa) registration after I have applied?

Yes. To do this you need to email Emma in WIE and say that you wish to change your registration.

NB Overseas part time students are not elibible for a General student visa

Can I change my start date once I have applied?

Yes. You may defer your offer to the following year and then assess the situation again. You may defer again for another year. If you defer your offer for more than two years, you will be required to apply again. You should bear in mind that the Department (WIE) will need to support your deferal and if there are potential supervision problems (if someone is leaving and your supervision cannot be taken on by someone else) this might preclude such support.

Can I start at a different time of the year, or do I have to start at the begining of the academic year (October)?

You can start at any time of the year, but you should consider the following:

It is preferable to start at the begining of the academic year, (October) because then you will benefit from all the induction programmes run by WIE and by the Graduate School. This will also enable you to meet people who have started at the same time as you.

You should consider your Research Methods Training obligation. You need to complete both Foundation and Advanced Research Methods Training (FRM and ARM) and you must complete them in that order. You cannot really get on with your project until you have done this. FRM is taught from October to December. ARM is taught from January to June. FRM is available on-line, and as a summer school but you do need to consider how you will meet this requirement if you are not starting in October.

Does it cost anything to apply for a research degree?

No. It is free to apply for a research degree.

There is a question asking whether I have discussed my proposal with anyone. Should I have done so or will this go against me?

The question is not testing your ability to write a proposal. The reason for this question is to see if you have already located a potential superivsor. If you have not discussed this with anyone we will try to find supervision for you. If you have contacted a superivsor and begun discussing your proposal and your study, this enables us to make a decision about your application much quicker, because we can go straight to them and ask them about it.

 I wish apply as a VISITING STUDENT what should I do?

The process is exactly the same as for students coming here for the whole of their course. You should select 'visiting student' from the course drop-down menu. You should make absolutely sure that you have asked someone to superivse you and that they have agreed this with you. You will need to have confirmed with them the approximate dates of your visit as well. You will be able to enter the dates of your visit on the application form. Include their name on the application form where prompted 'have you discussed your proposal with anyone'. You will also need a letter from your existing supervisor in the institution where you are registered for your PhD, confirming that you are their student and that they support your visit here.