How to apply

• If you do not have all of the supporting documents required, submit the application along with any supporting documents you do have, and send any outstanding documents by email or post as soon as they become available.
• It is important that you include a supporting statement with your application.
• You should expect to receive a response after a minimum of three weeks. We will be able to handle your application much more quickly if you ensure that you have included all of the supporting documents, and up-to-date contact details.
• Applicants applying for a funded PhD programme or studentship should carefully check the specific programme's application instructions and associated deadlines. Funded programme applicants may need to apply earlier than self-funded applicants.
• There is no deadline for submissions, although early applications may stand a greater chance of success. It is recommended that MPhil and PhD applicants apply at least four months prior to the date of registration.
• It is essential that you meet the English Language criteria for our courses. We require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall, or TOEFL (IBT) 90 overall. Each component of the tests should meet the minimum requirement of IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL (IBT) 22.

It is important that you include a supporting statement with your application. It will help us assess your suitability for the course, especially for applicants from overseas. Supporting statements allow us to compare your practical background and experience alongside your academic qualifications. Failure to include this information may delay the processing of your application. 

Ideally, your supporting statement should include:

• why you want to undertake postgraduate research study;
• why you want to do a postgraduate research degree in Manchester;
• any research experience that you have.

If you have completed a research project during your undergraduate/master's study, please also give a short description of the work you undertook, including the following details:

• the research problem;
• your key findings;
• techniques acquired and skills learned.