Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a PhD at the ICR, you must possess or expect to obtain a degree in a relevant subject — either an undergraduate degree (at UK First or Upper Second class honours level, or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard) or a Master’s degree (either a UK Master’s or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard).
If you have not yet completed the relevant qualification then you are expected to be in your final year of study, and to nominate an academic referee from your institution who can confirm the classification you are on track to achieve. Note that our standard expectation from undergraduate study is a First, but we will consider candidates with a good Upper Second.
Candidates are also expected to have experience of relevant laboratory or research work. One of your referees must be able to comment on your research experience.
Candidates whose first language is not English must be able to demonstrate a proficiency in English to the equivalent of an IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum of 6 in any one component. Students without a valid IETLS score should have either education experience in English (minimum 1 year) or work experience (minimum 18 months), and be able to satisfy Home Office visa criteria where necessary.
Please note the Home Office visa criteria for English language eligibility is either for applicants to be from or have studied an appropriate academic qualification in a majority English-speaking country, or have passed an approved English language test (the full visa guidance gives details of countries that are recognized as majority English speaking countries).
Application
If you meet the eligibility criteria above, please apply via our online application form which can be found in the "Further official information".
The closing date is 5 September 2016.
The application form requires you to nominate two referees, one of whom must be able to comment on your research experience. We will request references from these referees immediately when your application is submitted, and will not consider applications without references. You are strongly advised to also ask your referees to respond promptly to us, and to submit your application well before the closing date to give your referees more time. The deadline for their references will be 12 September 2016.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed to assess their academic abilities and whether they have the energy, enthusiasm and motivation to succeed at PhD level. Please see our what to expect at interview page for further information.
Contact information
Our main round of recruitment will begin in October 2016 for studentships commencing in October 2017. For any queries and to register your interest for any future PhD studentship opportunities please email Registry.
Admissions Procedure: Full-time PhD Students
- The recruitment process will normally commence in September/October and should include, where possible, all funded studentships.
- Potential projects must be vetted according to the ICR’s procedure for approval of studentships which will cover review of academic, financial and supervisory arrangements for the duration of the project.
- Studentships will be advertised in October as part of the ICR’s annual recruitment process. The advert must be approved by the Academic Dean or his/her Representative. Studentships are normally advertised in the scientific press, relevant websites, the ICR’s website and to university departments with high RAE rankings, running relevant undergraduate/masters degree courses. Studentships in very specialised areas may also be advertised via relevant subject-specific email list.
- All applications must be submitted using the on-line application by the advertised deadline. Complete applications will be initially screened against the criteria, as outlined in 1.2/3.1, to ensure applicants meet or are likely to be able to meet the required minimum standards. All the applications are then made available via a web-interface to the Dean’s Team and supervisors of the projects who will rank the applications.
- Successful applicants will be invited to a recruitment event in January/February. The Registry will normally pay reasonable travel expenditure but not first class travel.
- All interviewees will undergo assessment, and be scored by a panel which will comprise a minimum of three staff acting on behalf of the ICR. Those meeting the minimum requirement on the assessment will then be interviewed by the prospective supervisors.
- Before any offer is made, the supervisors and Dean’s Team will meet to agree all offers. Successful candidates will be contacted by email from the Registry and informally offered a place.
- When a candidate has confirmed their acceptance of the informal offer, a formal written offer will be issued. The offer letter will state the terms and conditions that need to be met. All offers will be subject to medical clearance and, where appropriate, the award of degree with the required classification.
- If a candidate would like to request that their offer is deferred they must submit a request in writing to the Registry including the reason for the deferral and the length of time requested.
- Should a candidate decline the offer, the supervisors of the project may offer to a reserve candidate. If there is no reserve candidate, the supervisors of the project may re-advertise the project with the approval of the Academic Dean’s Team. Any candidates invited for interview are required to be interviewed by a minimum of the project supervisor and a member of the Dean’s Team. The interview should follow the format of the recruitment event as closely as possible.
- In exceptional circumstances (including 2.10 above) supervisors may be allowed to advertise outside of the event as long as they are able to justify this to the Academic Dean’s Team. The supervisor will be required to submit a short written case. This could be where a studentship has not been filled as part of the recruitment event or if a Division receives funding for a studentship which they did not have at the time of the initial advertising round. Studentships can only be advertised outside of the main ICR recruitment event if approved by the Academic Dean’s Team. The studentship must be advertised externally and as a minimum on the ICR’s website. All interviews must follow the format of the recruitment event as closely as possible.
Admissions Criteria
- The specific qualifications for entry, in addition to the general criteria set out in the ICR’s Academic Regulations, are set out in the programme regulations for each course.
Admissions Procedures
- Applications must be made on the ICR’s Application Form. Applications may be made at any time, however there will be a date notified in the prospectus, and to enquirers, by which time no further applications will be considered for entry at the next given intake. An application fee may be charged.
- All applications will be considered in the first instance by the Course Director(s) concerned and at least one other member of academic staff involved in the teaching and delivery of the course in question.
- All applications that the Course Director(s) and other member of academic staff wish to progress will be offered a place, subject to any appropriate conditions. Candidates may be invited to attend an interview prior to a decision being made.
- Any applicant in receipt of an offer of admission who wishes to withdraw before enrolment on the course must notify the Registry in writing of their intention to do so. The ICR reserves the right not to refund the application fee or any other charge paid up until the point of withdrawal.
- Any applicant wishing to request that their offer is deferred must submit a request in writing to the Course Directors including the reason for the deferral and the length of time requested. Any request for deferral is considered by the Course Directors on its merits, which will include the likelihood of space being available on the programme’s next starting date and the reasonableness of the request.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
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