Tips

Below is an overview of the application process to help you plan and get started, if you have any questions please email PhysicsPG@warwick.ac.uk.

1. Think carefully about what areas of research, supervisors or projects most interest you.

• Start here to find out about the groups and projects.
• A detailed research proposal is NOT needed - you are asked for one if you apply for a scholarship but MUST discuss it first with us. For regular applications, please just upload a placeholder file so that the application form still submits.
• If you have several areas of interest it may be more likely that you will find a funded place.
• Please feel free to contact academics directly or discuss with the PG Admissions Tutor if you are unsure.
• You will be able to discuss research topics again if you are interviewed.

2. How will you fund your studies?

• UK PhD students will normally be funded by a Research Council studentship, industry support or a combination of the two.
• International and EU students may apply for a Chancellor's International Scholarship, which pays full fees and stipend. You are strongly advised to discuss possible research topics with research groups and staff well in advance of the submission deadline. Please note in additional to submitting your Postgraduate Research application you will also need to make a separate application to apply for this funding, details can be found on the Chancellor's International Scholarship page.
• Chinese students can consider the Warwick China Scholarship Council scheme. Please note in additional to submitting your Postgraduate Research application you will also need to make a separate application to apply for this funding, details can be found on the Warwick China Scholarship Council page.
• EU students are eligible for some Research Council and other studentships - please consult the PG Admissions Tutor to check your eligibility and the availability of funding schemes.
• Students with other independent scholarships and/or considering self-funding: If you are applying for (or have successfully obtained) external funding you should include details on your application form.

3. Make an electronic application.

• All applications MUST be made using the University's online postgraduate application form. Please use course code P-F3P0 (for a standard PhD in Physics) and P-F3P2 for a MSc by research in Physics

• Typically, for funding you can just put one or more of: "STFC studentship", "EPSRC studentship", "Chancellor's Scholarship", "Warwick China Scholarship Council", "EU Chancellors Scholarship", "Self", "Family", "XXXX Government scholarship". Do not select N/A as his will delay your application process. The application form will ask for contact details for the funding you have entered, for STFC, EPSRC or University related funding, please put PhysicsPG@warwick.ac.uk for the email address. Please note for some funding options a separate funding application is required in addition to the standard postgraduate application for example; Chancellor's International Scholarships and Warwick China Scholarship Council
• Under "Research application details" it is VERY important that you indicate which research groups, topics and/or supervisors most interest you. A detailed Research proposal is not needed, the application form may require you to upload a document to proceed , but this does not need to be a full research proposal.
  
• Please do NOT make more than one application. You can update us by email if, for example, a new project comes up in which you are interested.

4. Supporting documents, including two suitable references, will be required.

• It is your responsibility to make sure references are sent correctly and on time: make sure your referees know that they cannot simply email a reference to the department!
• References need to be sent electronically using the secure link emailed to your nominated referees: make sure you fill in their email addresses correctly! Please contact the university's admissions team pgt1 at warwick dot ac dot uk if you need to resend the reference request email to your referees.
• The references must be from academics rather than employers. An exception can be made if your graduation date was more than 2 years ago and you do not have regular contact with your university.

• Scanned or electronic copies may in the first instance be uploaded with your application but will NOT be acceptable to meet conditions if you are made an offer. Official confirmation of the award of your degree(s) and grade/classification will be required, this can be uploaded to your application through the applicant portal

• If your first language is not English and you have not been taught entirely in English for at least one year within the last two years from a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI recognised English speaking country) you will need to provide evidence of English language competence.

5. We will arrange interviews for the most promising candidates.

• Overseas candidates will generally be interview by Skype/Zoom

• UK candidates will usually be invited for an interview and visits to the research groups in which they are interested.

• Dates for group interview days (e.g. for all Round 1 Particle Physics candidates) will be announced well in advance.

6. Offers will be made after the first round of interviews.

• Offers are normally conditional on degree result for candidates yet to graduate.

• The offer of a place may be made initially, but may not include details of funding. If you are to be offered funding, you will hear about this separately (e.g. Research Council studentship for a UK student).

• The start date can be flexible but most students will begin at the start of the academic year (start of October).

7. Additional information for overseas applicants

•  International Students Applying to study at the University (warwick.ac.uk) (visas, ATAS, CAS, funding, etc.)

8. What does my offer email mean?

A conditional offer will only be turned into an unconditional offer once all conditions have been met. This means that all supporting documents must have been received and must satisfy the requirements outlined above (section 3).

• The award of your degree and final degree result must be confirmed via either the original or an officially attested copy of your degree certificate which must be signed by your University's registry clearly showing the job title of the person signing it. A member of your academic department will not be accepted. If you have graduated and getting an attested copy from your University would be difficult and you are in the UK, you can get your documents attested at the Post Office, by a solicitor or an officially recognised notary. If you send the original, we strongly recommend you send it via registered post.
• Both of your references must satisfy the conditions outlined above (section 3). If you are applying for an MSc, only one reference will be required.
• Hard copies of your offer letter can be requested via a link on the offer email if needed, e.g. for visa or scholarship applications.

9. Timings.

There are deadlines for the Warwick China Scholarship Council , Link opens in a new window Chancellor's International Scholarship applicationsLink opens in a new window and Commonwealth Scholarships | Study UK (britishcouncil.org). For standard applications there is usually no hard deadline. Interviews will start towards the end of January and continue through February and early March. Offers will be made soon after the interviews, so from February onwards studentships will become filled and hence no longer available. Usually some extra studentships become available from around Easter so there are likely to still be some positions open through into the summer term and beyond. For STFC funded areas (e.g. EPP, Astro and CFSA), it is advisable to apply as soon as possible.