Frequently Asked Questions
(1) Question: My reference letter writers will not submit their letters by the deadline. Will my application be automatically rejected?
(1) Answer: No, but you will be at a disadvantage because these letters are used as one factor to determine which candidates are shortlisted. Please (a) request letters well before the deadline, (b) don't be afraid to send your letter writers regular reminders, and (c) know that your letter writers will receive a weblink to submit their letters only after you submit your application. You and your letter reference writers should be regularly checking your spam folders.
(2) Question: Do I have to make a separate application for the Warwick PhD Prize Scholarships?
(2) Answer: No. All applicants will automatically be considered for these Scholarships.
(3) Question: What funding source should I list on the application?
(3) Answer: Do not worry about this application page, as it represents just a purely administrative item that we will ignore (you can just select "Studentship" as "likely source of funding" and then select "Other/Not Listed" for "Name of Award" and leave the other fields blank). Funding may actually be provided from several different sources, some of which are dependent on the project. If you need to fill out additional fields requesting contact information, then you can write "Astronomy Cluster" with the telephone number of +44 (0)24 765 23965.
(4) Question: What Programme Code do I need to select in the application?
(4) Answer: Select "Physics (PhD) Full Time", Programme Code "P-F3P0", Academic Year "25/26". The reason is because the Astronomy and Astrophysics groupLink opens in a new window is a part of the Physics DepartmentLink opens in a new window.
(5) Question: The application asks for a Research Proposal and Personal Statement. What should I write?
(5) Answer: For the Research Proposal, please upload one document specifying which projects you are interested in, and why. You do not need to write a full research proposal, but the more you can describe how your interests and/or skills match the identified projects, the stronger your application will be. If you feel that your Research Proposal and Personal Statement will be very similar, you may upload just one document combining content from both. You must clearly identify the projects that you are interested in.
(6) Question: I currently do not satisfy the University of Warwick's English language requirements. Can I still apply?
(6) Answer: Yes, but will you need to satisfy these requirementsLink opens in a new window before you begin your PhD if you are accepted into the program.
(7) Question: Can I apply if I don't expect to earn a Masters degree by the PhD start date?
(7) Answer: Effectively no. You must have or expect a First or Upper second class MSci, MPhys or equivalent degree in Physics or a closely related discipline by the time you begin your PhD. Holders of BSc honours degrees only are technically eligible to apply for a PhD but would need substantial additional research experience in order to be competitive.
(8) Question: Can I apply for a 1-year Masters by Research (MSci) degree for any of the listed projects?
(8) Answer: No. If you are interested in a 1-year Masters by Research (MSci) degree in Warwick Astronomy, then please see this pageLink opens in a new window.
(9) Question: I want to apply for both Warwick Astronomy PhD projects and another type of Warwick PhD project (like a HetSys project). Can I indicate all of my interests in the same application form?
(9) Answer: No. You must submit two different applications, one with the Programme code for all of the Astronomy projects (P-F3P0) and one with the Programme code for the other Department that you are applying to.
(10) Question: I still have a question that was not answered above. Whom do I contact?
(10) Answer: If your question is about a specific PhD project, then please contact the project supervisor. If your question is a technical question about the application system, then please contact PhysicsPG@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window. For all other queries, contact AstroAdmissions@warwick.