Postgraduate Study and Research

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Admissions Policy

The University welcomes applications from all candidates with the potential to succeed in postgraduate or post-experience studies whatever their background. We are committed to equality of opportunity, as stated in our Equal Opportunity policy. The University aims to avoid unfair discrimination on whatever grounds, including gender, age and ethnic background.

The University and academic departments aim to provide accurate information and advice to prospective students concerning the opportunities for postgraduate study at Warwick.

The University will facilitate swift responses to enquiries and applications, and ensure that all necessary documentation is sent at the earliest possible time.

The admissions decision will rest primarily on the qualifications, needs and aspirations of the applicant, and the educational opportunities available. Candidates selected for admission should be suitably qualified and capable of benefiting from the programme of study.

Applicants should normally possess a first degree of at least second class honours degree standard or the equivalent. Applicants for research degrees should normally possess a first degree of at least upper second class honours standard or the equivalent and/or a Master's degree or its equivalent. The requirement for a first degree may be waived in the case of post-experience modules for candidates who can demonstrate sufficient relevant work experience.

Applicants who do not possess the level of qualifications outlined above may, nevertheless, be eligible for admission to postgraduate courses, where applicable, on the basis of previous work experience or training. The admission of such applicants is subject to approval by the Chair of the Graduate School to whom a recommendation should be made by the admitting department.

Criteria for entry to individual courses of study are in addition to the above and may vary. Achievement or predicted achievement of the required qualifications does not guarantee an offer of a place. The University receives more applications than it has places available and the admissions process is therefore competitive. Course selectors consider applications on their own merits and in competition with others and may take into account examination results already achieved, predicted grades in forthcoming examinations, research project proposals, personal statements and academic references.

When applicable, an example of the candidate's written work may be required, and where possible, applicants for research degrees will be interviewed to assess their motivation and suitability for the project proposed.

All applications will be treated as strictly confidential between the candidate, the Postgraduate Admissions Team and course selectors in the appropriate departments. All applicants must arrange for two satisfactory written references to be sent with their application. These are confidential to the University and verbal or e-mail references will not be accepted. Referees should normally be teachers in higher education with direct knowledge of the applicant's academic work. When applicants with relevant work experience are unable to obtain a second academic reference or where work experience is particularly relevant to the course the candidate wishes to undertake, a person with knowledge of their employment activity may be nominated to act as a referee.

All applicants must meet the University's English language requirements. The University will determine as part of the decision on admission whether applicants fall into either of the following categories which fulfil these requirements:

Applicants who have been instructed and assessed predominantly in English throughout their educational career.

Applicants who possess a recognised English language qualification which meets the University's minimum standards as set down in the current Postgraduate Prospectus and any additional English language requirements for their chosen course.

Applicants who do not meet either of the above criteria but have undertaken at least one year of post-18 education delivered in the English language may be considered for an exemption from the University's requirements. Where applicable, applicants will be notified at the point of offer of the arrangements for any pre-sessional English language training they must complete, to a satisfactory standard, before commencing study.

Applications from students with special needs are considered on the same academic grounds as all others but candidates are asked to discuss their likely requirements with the University in advance. The University, via the Senior Tutor's Office, will give advice concerning the suitability of the campus, the course and the equipment and/or support available. In a small number of cases, we may ask candidates who have indicated a recent, recurring or serious health problem to allow us to request a medical report on their condition. These reports do not form part of the academic selection process and will not be available to anyone except the University Medical Officer. The Registrar is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the University is able to make adequate provision for students with disabilities and for keeping a record of the exceptional cases where a candidate is refused admission on the grounds of disability.

Students will only be admitted to a research degree where an appropriate supervisor can be identified and provision can be made for constant supervision throughout the period of registration, taking account of study leave and other temporary absences of members of staff. Where necessary, departments will advise potential research students that they may need to travel to use specialist research libraries, archives or central laboratories as part of their programme of research work.

Candidates may be considered for exemption from part of a course, normally up to a maximum of one third, on the basis of previous studies or experience.

Admissions decisions are regulated by the Chair of the Graduate School on its behalf. Recommendations can only be made by the Chair of the appropriate Department or School or a deputy, who must be a full-time member of academic staff, nominated by him or her to act as a selector. Applications for research degrees will normally be considered by two members of academic staff before an offer of admission is made.

In cases where information of a relevant non-academic nature leads a selector to recommend that a candidate be rejected, the candidate will be interviewed by two selectors and if they agree that the candidate should be rejected a standing committee will be convened to advise the Vice-Chancellor on the admission or rejection of the candidate. This procedure may be invoked where information is available concerning activities outside the law or the expression of beliefs which prima facie present a clear and immediate danger of infraction of the law.

It should be noted that the University statutes give the Vice-Chancellor, in exceptional circumstances and with the concurrence of the Senate, the power to refuse to admit any person as a student of the University without assigning any reason.

Offers of admission will state clearly the duration of the course for which the student has been accepted, the fee required and any likely increase in the fee, and all conditions attached to the offer will be specified including those pertaining to transfer from one course to another. An offer of a place is not a guarantee of funding.