Pre-PhD

Pre-PhD: Postgraduate Research Preparation

Prepare for doctoral study in the UK by gaining a practical understanding of postgraduate research and the PhD application process.

Pre-PhD: Postgraduate Research Preparation is a stimulating course designed to prepare prospective doctoral applicants for PhD study in the UK. The course supports students in developing a deeper understanding of the nature, expectations, and culture of postgraduate research, while placing particular emphasis on the development of a coherent research proposal and a realistic application plan for future doctoral study.

Recognising that doctoral application processes vary by country and discipline, this course is particularly valuable for students who may be unfamiliar with the UK PhD system. It aims to demystify the doctoral application journey by breaking it down into a series of practical, manageable steps.

The course will not only aim to clarify the key steps and processes, through guided activities and formative practice, students will work towards producing a draft research proposal and application plan. You will gain hands-on experience of the kinds of reading, writing, research, and presenting typically required in the UK doctoral admissions process.

By the end of the course, participants will be better equipped to make informed decisions about doctoral study and to approach PhD applications with confidence and clarity.

Key Information

Level: Introductory to intermediate

Fees: Please see Fees page

Teaching: 60 hours
Expected independent study: 90 hours
Optional assessment: Presentation of proposal

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU) - please check with your home institution.

This course can also be combined with our Exploring British Culture week or our Preparatory English Online Programme.

Syllabus

Course Overview

It can be difficult to decode the expectations and processes of doctoral study, particularly when you are applying for overseas. Yet getting access to good information is essential for making informed decisions and preparing a competitive application. This course provides a practical introduction to postgraduate research in the UK. It guides students through identifying research areas, developing a research proposal, and navigating the doctoral application process. The course emphasises both understanding and practice, giving students opportunities to read, write, research, and present in ways that align with UK doctoral requirements.

The course is structured to begin with the broader landscape of postgraduate research, before focusing on topic identification, supervisor engagement, and funding. Students then learn the practicalities of proposal development and application procedures, culminating in skills for interviews and presenting research ideas.

Week 1

The postgraduate research landscape: UK context, types of doctorates, career pathways
Identifying research areas and potential doctoral topics
Understanding the supervisor-student relationship. Locating potential supervisors and doctoral projects
Funding your doctoral research

Week 2

Developing research questions
Introduction to research design across disciplines
Introduction to reviewing literature
Writing a research proposal
Navigating the UK doctoral application process
Making contact with potential supervisors
Preparing for application interviews

Week 3

Applying for doctoral study and managing timelines
Presenting your doctoral proposal
Developing academic communication and presentation skills
Reflection on research interests and application readiness

Aims and Learning Outcomes

Course Aims

Theory:

Understand the landscape and expectations of postgraduate research in the UK.
Explore the types of doctoral awards and career opportunities for doctorate holders.
Examine how to identify research areas and develop a viable doctoral topic.
Understand the role of supervisors and how to establish effective supervisor-student relationships.
Learn the key components of a research proposal, including problem statements, research questions, literature review, and research design.
Understand the UK doctoral application process, including interviews and timelines.
Recognise how presentation and communication skills impact the success of a proposal.

Practice:

Develop skills in drafting and refining research proposals.
Practice making contact with potential supervisors and discussing research ideas.
Apply research and presentation skills in preparation for interviews and proposal presentations.
Reflect on personal research interests and readiness for doctoral study.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course you should be able to:

Demonstrate awareness of and navigate the UK postgraduate research landscape
Identify and define a research area and potential doctoral topic
Locate and make contact with potential supervisors and institutions
Draft a coherent and persuasive research proposal
Understand and manage the steps of the UK doctoral application process
Prepare for and participate effectively in application interviews
Present research ideas clearly and professionally
Develop a plan for your next steps toward doctoral study.

Teaching and Assessment

Course Structure

The course is designed to teach key knowledge about postgraduate research as well as practical application – understanding postgraduate research and putting that knowledge into practice.

For this course, there will be 4 hours of teaching on most weekdays, comprised of lectures and small group teaching (seminars). The structure will be:

54 hours total teaching time compromising of two 2-hour sessions per day, combining lecture and workshop activities such as paired discussions, group exercises, and proposal development tasks. Sessions end with feedback and reflection on activities.
Independent study: Structured reading and guided exercises will be provided, with students expected to spend 2–3 hours per day on self-directed learning.
Plus 3 guest lectures.

Students will also be given time each day for independent study. Towards the end of the third week, students will also be provided with time for revision.

Due to the intensive nature of the Warwick Summer School, students are expected to attend all timetabled teaching activity, to engage with the teaching material and to spend an average of 2-3 hours per day in self-guided study.

Students registered for Warwick Summer School must attain a minimum of 75% authorised attendance of the timetabled teaching activity. If students fall short of this threshold, they will not be awarded a certificate of completion and they will not be able to sit the exam/submit final assessment. 

Authorised attendance includes any sickness absence during the course of the programme that has been properly notified and recorded. An attendance register will be taken at the beginning of teaching session so students need to ensure they arrive on time in order to be marked as attended.

Course Assessment

Assessment focuses on the development of your research skills and readiness for doctoral study:

Final presentation: Students will present their doctoral research proposal. Feedback will be provided on the proposal content, research design, and presentation skills.

This single, practical assessment allows students to demonstrate understanding of the research landscape, ability to develop a research topic, and proficiency in proposal writing and presentation.

Students must attend at least 75% of timetabled teaching sessions during the Warwick Summer School in order to be eligible to submit their assessment and receive a certificate of completion.

Students who choose to take part in the assessment will receive a transcript of results. The transcript of results will state the name of the student, the course studied, the assessment mark and the grade. Transcripts are automatically sent to students via email by the middle of September.  You should keep this safe in case you need it for credit transfer approval or for future reference. If you would like us to email a copy of your transcript directly to someone at your University who deals with credit transfer please let us know.

The Summer School does not offer re-takes of assessments, whatever your result in the original assessment. 

Sample Timetable

Subject to changes, this is an overview of the timetable for Warwick Summer School students.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Week 1	2 hour introductory lecture	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	4 hours of teaching	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	4 hours of teaching
Week 2	4 hours of teaching	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	No timetabled teaching activity	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	Sports activities
Week 3	4 hours of teaching	4 hours of teaching 1 hour study group	4 hours of teaching	2 hour final assessment preparation 1 hour study group	Final Assessment

In addition to the above schedule, students are expected to attend the Guest Lecture Series on Tuesday afternoons and dedicate approximately 88 hours to self-study throughout the programme. Social activities are also organised throughout the week, with optional trips running on Saturdays and the Wednesday in Week 2; for details, please visit our Social and CulturalLink opens in a new window page.

Entry Requirements Your Teachers

Lecturers

Teaching Assistant

James Buford

Dr Georgiana Mihut

Reading List

Required Readings:

Bentley, P. (2012). The PhD Application Handbook (Revised edition). McGraw-Hill Education.
Burford, J., Henderson, E. F., Kier-Byfield, S., Akkad, A., Dangeni, Mansuy, J. (2023). Potential Doctoral Applicants and those Working with them in Pre-application Doctoral Communications: Project Briefing. Coventry: Department of Education Studies, University of Warwick.
Burford, J., Henderson, E. F., Kier-Byfield, S. (2023). Searching for and approaching a doctoral supervisor [video resource]
Denicolo, P. & Becker, L. (2012). Developing research proposals. Sage. Dunleavey, P. (2003). Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write & finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation. Bloomsbury.
Petre, M. & Rugg, G. (2010). The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research (Second Edition) Open University Press

Suggested Reading:

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage.
Delamont, S., Atkinson, P., & Parry, O. (2004). Supervision of PhD students: A guide to success. Open University Press.
Hart, C. (2025). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination (3rd ed.). Sage.
Phillips, E. M., & Pugh, D. S. (2015). How to get a PhD: A handbook for students and their supervisors (6th ed.). Open University Press.

Please note changes to the syllabus and teaching team may be made over the coming months before exact set of topics are finalised.

Apply now