• Home and International students can apply to any of our PhD streams (Biomedical Sciences, Applied Health, Clinical Trials Unit)
• International students who require a visa to study in the UK: start your application early to allow time to receive a CAS number and complete the visa application process.
• You must ensure that you meet the Entry RequirementsLink opens in a new window before applying. Contact the Postgraduate Research Team if you have any questions about meeting the criteria for Entry.

Depending on the remit of your project, you can register for the following PhD titles:

• Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research (RMDA-B92K)
• Health Sciences (RMDA-B91P)
• Medical Sciences (RMDA-A34P)
• Medicine (RMDA-A31P)
• Nursing (RASS-B718)
• Clinical Education (RMDA-B91F)
• Healthcare (RASS-B717)
• Health and Social Studies (RASA-L4PC)

Full time: you will register for a 4-year programme but will pay fees for 36 months only.

Part-time: most of our PhD degrees can be taken part-time. You will register for a 7-year programme and will pay fees for the first 5 years.

Please read this guidance before applying.

1. Contact the Postgraduate Research Team at Warwick Medical School (WMS PGR Team) to express your interest in applying and check your entry requirements.

The email is wms.rdcoord@warwick.ac.uk

2. Finding a Supervisor

• You are encouraged to find and approach potential supervisors before making your formal application via the University PortalLink opens in a new window. Check the supervisors in our approved list of supervisors.Link opens in a new window
• If you need advice on finding a supervisor (or PI), please contact the Postgraduate Research Academic Leads or the Director of Graduate Research StudiesLink opens in a new window
• Once you have identified a supervisor, you will discuss of a project with them. This project, submitted by the supervisor, will need to be approved by the PGR Team.
• Alternatively, check our pre-approved projects.

Note that a PI agreeing to supervise you does not guarantee your acceptance into the programme.

3. Interview with the Postgraduate Research Academic Leads

• Once you found a supervisor and a project, the PGR Team will organise a short interview with our Postgraduate Research Academic Leads.
• You will be notified if you are successful.

4. Formally apply to the degree online via the University online Portal.

You should apply as soon as possible after notification from the WMS PGR Team, and provide all the documents requested, including referees letters.

You must apply to be formally enrolled.

Note: Doctoral Training Centres (MRCDTP, ESRC, MIBTP, Wellcome, ARAP, IGPP) or NIHR have a different application process - please check their websites. Information can also be found here.Link opens in a new window

• All students (except those funded by the MRCDTP), will be registered for the degree of MPhil initially and will be upgraded to PhD registration subject to satisfactory performance.
• Upgrade to PhD registration is expected to take place at the end of month 9 for full-time students or month 15 for part-time students.
• The date of your Upgrade will be communicated to you at the start of your degree.
• This is a formal and mandatory assessment. Upgrade to PhD is not automatic.
• You will provide a 4,000-words report and will prepare a 20-min presentation of your progress towards the aims of your project.
• You will be assessed by 2 academics (Upgrade Panel) who are experts in your field. Your supervisor will not be present.
• You will receive feedback on your performance and in some cases, might be requested to formally address comments made by your Upgrade Panel.
• The Director and/or Deputy Director of Graduates Studies approve all upgrades to PhD registration based on the recommendations of the Upgrade Panel.

Monthly Monitoring points:

• You will be expected to demonstrate your attendance and engagement with your studies monthly through the mandatory record of at least one supervisory meeting. These are mandatory monitoring points.
• Missing monitoring points may result in your permanent withdrawal of the programme.

Review Meetings & Advisory Panel

• You will undergo at least 2 Review Meetings usually scheduled mid-way in your studies (21 months for full-time students) and toward the end of your studies (36 months for full-time students). The dates of these review meetings may vary depending on the course, and will be indicated in our PGR handbook.
• You will provide a 2-page review of your progress and prepare a short presentation to an Advisory Panel made of 2 academics experts in your field.
• Review meetings allow you to discuss any challenges you might have and ask for additional support if needed.
• The Advisory Panel will report to the Director and/or Deputy Director of Graduate Studies who will review the outcomes of the meeting before approving your continuation of studies.

You are expected to submit your thesis before or on the last day of your registration period.

You will receive guidance on how to prepare your thesis document.

You will be examined according to the University regulations .Link opens in a new window