The following information details how to apply for most of our research courses. There are some exceptions:

• Find out more about how to apply for Doctor of Business Administration
• Find out how to apply for the Economics Master of Research (MRes/PhD)

Identify your research area of interest

Browse our A-Z list of research courses by department. Read around your chosen subject area as much as possible and start to draft your research idea.

You may also consider whether our departments offer an advertised project or search find PhDs at jobs.ac.uk.

Please visit PhD by Published Works for more information about an alternative PhD route that may be more suitable for you.

Make contact with the academic department

For research degrees, one of the single most important points to consider is whether the academic department you are applying to shares your academic interests. All departments at Warwick are more than happy to discuss their areas of expertise with potential students, so we urge you to make contact before proceeding with your application any further.

Contact a supervisor

Find a supervisor whose research aligns with your chosen subject area. We advise you to make contact with and secure a supervisor before you apply. If you cannot find a suitable potential supervisor, we would recommend that you send a short summary of your research interest to the administrator in your chosen department.

Please note that for applications to Warwick Business School (WBS), this step should be omitted. Find out more about how to apply for WBS coursesLink opens in a new window.

Draft your research proposal (if required by the department)

Different academic departments request different things as far as a proposal and/or application is concerned, so it is important that you contact the department to find out any particular requirements before submitting your application. Find out more about research proposal requirements by department.

Check the entry requirements

All courses have their own entry requirements, which can differentiate substantially depending on the programme of study. You’ll need to check this on a case-by-case basis by searching for a course and visiting the course page. As a guide the minimum standards we generally require for research courses are at least an upper second class UK honours degree or equivalent.

International students

We welcome applications from candidates offering many different international qualifications. You can see how your current degree score or GPA equates to the British system on the International Office equivalent scores table.

We also require evidence that your English Language capability is of a level that will enable you to succeed on your chosen course of postgraduate study. Different courses ask for different standards of English language achievement. See full details of the English language requirements for all courses and departments.

For further advice regarding visa requirements please visit our Student Immigration website.

Check the application deadlines

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2025 open on 2 October 2024.

Some departments will publish application deadlines on their department website and/or course pages. Please check these pages carefully before you make your application. Places are often limited, so we recommend that you submit your application as early as possible.

Applicants requiring a visa to study

Some applicants may need to obtain a student visa to study in the UK. For research courses that start in September and October 2025 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2025 (unless otherwise stated).

For courses starting at other times of the year, we would recommend that you submit your application a minimum of 3 months prior to your intended start date. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

Explore your funding options

There are a number of funding routes available to postgraduate students including postgraduate loans (Home and EU only), University scholarships, fee awards, and department bursaries and scholarships.

Ready to start your application?

Find out more about Stage 2: Submit your application using our applicant portal.