Prospective students | University of Cumbria

If you’re considering applying to study for a PhD at Cumbria, this page will provide you with all the information you need.

About the PhD Programme

The University is committed to providing excellence in academic practice together with a supportive and stimulating environment in which to conduct your studies.

This is characterised by:

Excellent supervision by a supervisory team
A dedicated Graduate School
Access to research networks
Possibilities for supervised involvement in teaching
Relevant training in research methodologies and skills
Access to appropriate facilities to support research

Research degrees at the University of Cumbria are validated by Lancaster University.

Registration and Length of Programme

PhD: 3-4 years full-time or 4-7 years part-time

We have three registration points in the year: 1 January, 1 April and 1 October.

We strongly recommend that applicants make their applications as early as possible (and at least three months before their preferred start date).

International Applicants

Information for overseas applicants can be found on our international pages

You can also find visa & immigration information on the UK government website.

Fees

Information of PhD programme fees are available here:

Home and EU tuition fees

Overseas students tuition fees

Entry requirements

Academic Qualifications

A 1st or 2:1 honours degree or its equivalent in a relevant discipline from a recognised university in the UK or comparable university overseas. A Master's degree may be desirable in some subject areas. If you have non-standard entry qualifications or wish for previous study to be considered, please contact the Graduate School.

Applications are assessed on:

Content of your academic qualification
Degree certificates and transcripts of previous higher education (college/university) degrees or other courses that you have completed/for which you are currently studying. Note that, for transcripts in languages other than English, a certified English translation will be required
Consistency of your academic performance in your academic qualification
Academic and/or work personal references
Work experience (where relevant)

Language Requirements

Where English is a second language, a recognised English language qualification is required. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each part) or equivalent.

How to apply

Application is direct to the University of Cumbria.

Download an application form

To apply to the University, you must submit an application form and a research proposal. Our Graduate School can help advise you with your proposal, finding your supervisors and funding your studies.

The research proposal is an important part of an application for PhD and we recommend you read our guide to writing a research proposal. Research proposals should be between 1500 and 2000 words (approximately 6 pages of A4 double-spaced) and will include the following:

A Working Title of the Topic Area

Potential Main Supervisor and Department

General Overview of Area

Identification of the Relevant Literature

Key Research Questions

Methodology

Timescale/Research Planning

Bibliography

Applications should be submitted via email to Research Student Admissions: rsa@cumbria.ac.uk