Graduate School

To find out more about applying for a research degree at the University of Portsmouth please click on the appropriate link below:

How to apply : PhD, MPhil, MD and NewRoute degrees

How to apply: Professional Doctorates

At the University of Portsmouth we welcome applications from everyone able to benefit from higher education, whether or not they possess the formal entry requirements indicated for individual courses. We are committed to the goal of widening participation in higher education. No potential student will be excluded on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or creed.

We encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, mature students, and students from overseas, in accordance with our relevant policies and procedures.

PhD, MPhil, MS and NewRoute degrees: How to apply

Complete your research proposal and application form

If you are unsure which department you wish to apply to, please see the research degree areas, fill in a research degree enquiry form or contact one of our faculty admissions centres. Once you have identified the department and supervisor you wish to study with, you should produce a proposal identifying the research problem to be studied.

The proposal should identify the problem to be solved, provide a short review of the relevant academic literature and outline the proposed research methodology. Depending on the faculty, this will be from 1,500 to 4,000 words in length. Please check the required length of your proposal with your faculty admissions centre. The preparation of a proposal of this nature is important as not only does it help you to clarify your ideas, but it will help us to determine the viability of your desired area of research and our ability to supervise your work.

Once you have completed your proposal you should send it to us with an application form and relevant supporting documents (M-level research training statement, personal statement, two references from your referees). You can apply online, by email or by post to your faculty admissions centre.

We decide whether we can accept your application and are able to provide supervision

Upon receipt of your application, the Faculty Admissions Centre and the Faculty Research Degrees Coordinator will liaise to determine whether, in principle, the intended research is viable and there is sufficient in-house expertise to provide a suitable level of supervision in your particular area. This process will normally take up to four weeks.

If your application is accepted, we will invite you for an interview. If your application is unsuccessful we will write to inform you of the reasons. Many applications fail to proceed because there is insufficient academic material underpinning the proposal. A PhD is an academic qualification, therefore it is imperative that applications are rooted within the appropriate literature. Rejection does not preclude you from submitting an alternative research proposal, although you should take into account the reasons why you were unsuccessful when submitting any subsequent application.

The interview and admittance to the University as a postgraduate research student

In most cases, interviews are face-to-face (although we may interview overseas candidates by telephone), which will give you a chance to discuss your application with your supervisor in a little more depth, meet other research students already studying at Portsmouth, clarify any specific research training or equipment you may need and resolve any remaining queries you have about the nature of postgraduate research study.

Providing that the interview is satisfactory and the necessary references have been received, your proposed research programme is submitted to the Research Degrees Committee of the University. Upon receipt, Academic Registry/individual Faculties will write to you to offer you a place on the research degree programme at the University of Portsmouth.

 

Professional Doctorates : How to apply

Professional Doctorates are designed for professionals, who have an active interest in work-based research and professional practice issues, wish to attain the highest level of professional and academic achievement and develop their career. Programmes are offered in the following three broad subject areas:

  • Business Studies - leading to a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)
  • Criminal Justice Studies - leading to a Doctorate in Criminal Justice Studies (DCrimJ)
  • Health and Social Care- which includes the following pathways:
    • Biomedical Science - leading to a Doctorate in Biomedical Science (DBMS)
    • Chiropractic - leading to a Doctorate in Chiropractic (DChiro)
    • Health Science - leading to a Doctorate in Heath Science (DHealthSci)
    • Medical Imaging - leading to a Doctorate in Medical Imaging (DMedImg)
    • Nursing - leading to a Doctorate in Nursing (DNursing)
    • Pharmacy - leading to a Doctorate in Pharmacy (DPharm)
    • Social Work - leading to a Doctorate in Social Work (DSW)

For more information about how to apply, please follow the links to the specific programmes.