The University is committed to providing a professional admissions service.  The Postgraduate Admissions Policy and accompanying procedures are transparent, fair, and consistently applied, which ensures that prospective students understand how the admissions process works and applications are processed in a timely manner.

The Postgraduate Admissions Policy complies with relevant legislation affecting the admission of students. It presents details of criteria for admission and procedures including for PhDs by Published Works (section 3.1.2), roles and responsibilities of Faculties, Schools and Directorate staff in administering and quality assuring the admissions process (Postgraduate Admissions Policy Appendix 1), and information on policy areas such as selection procedures to Research Degree Programmes (section 4.1.2), which supplements the information contained in this Code of Practice.

The University provides pre-entry information (in a variety of formats on request) to ensure that a student can make an informed decision regarding their preferred subject area as the basis of their application for a place on a Research Degree Programme.  Information on Research Degree Programmes is available through the online Course Finder and Postgraduate Prospectus, School leaflets and brochures, and School websites.  Helpful information and guidance is also available at Find a PhD Supervisor.

Please note that any pre-application contact with academic staff members providing support to develop an application for a Research Degree Programme does not constitute an application in its own right. All those wishing to apply for a place on one of the University’s Research Degree Programmes must apply through the application portal and have their application assessed against the admissions criteria to ensure adherence with the Postgraduate Admissions Policy and to check that all the relevant entry requirements are met.

Amongst the information which should be accessible to all students are up to date overviews of the Schools, their achievements and key research interests; programme information including expected timescales for completion and supervisor support; opportunities for personal development and potential career options; entry requirements; and information about support services including training, accessible learning support, counselling, and careers support.  Where programmes are only offered on a full-time or part-time basis, this will be highlighted by the School.

Funded postgraduate research opportunities are listed on the University's Postgraduate Course Finder under Opportunities.

The Admissions and Access Service is responsible for managing the Postgraduate Applications Portal or will process paper applications for the PhD by Published Works, as required.  The Admissions and Access Service will also issue official documentation to international applicants for immigration and visa entry purposes. The University's Immigration Support Service can offer advice on visa and immigration issues.

The University applies standard criteria and procedures as part of a transparent admission process for all students.  The Postgraduate Admissions Policy outlines the normal entry requirements and criteria to be met for admission to Research Degree Programmes.  Where specific programmes require additional criteria such as additional or specific qualifications, an assessment, or attendance at an interview, this will be detailed under the relevant programme entry in the online Course Finder.  Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant School for further information, where appropriate.

Information regarding the minimum level of English language proficiency required of applicants for whom English is not their first language; and English language qualifications acceptable for entry to Research Degree Programmes, is available in the Postgraduate Prospectus and English Language Requirements web page.

Decisions on the admission of research students are made by suitably qualified academic members of staff, which may include the Head of School.  Schools apply strict admissions criteria for research students, in line with the regulations and the Postgraduate Admissions Policy, and liaise with the Admissions and Access Service, as appropriate, when assessing a student’s eligibility to enrol on a Research Degree Programme.

Where applicants are required to complete an assessment or attend an interview, Schools ensure that any reasonable adjustments which the applicant may require because of a disability or long-term condition, including neurodiversity, are arranged in advance.  Schools consult with Accessible Learning Support for advice where necessary.  Further information on the support available to postgraduate candidates and students with a disability or long-term condition is available from Steps to Apply and on the Accessibility Learning Support web page.

The Postgraduate Admissions Policy, section 4.5 outlines the details of the information which the applicant can expect to receive with the formal offer of admission letter, sent by email, which is specific to the individual applicant.  Students are also advised in the correspondence that by accepting an offer of admission, they are agreeing to meet the responsibilities for their academic studies and candidacy for a research degree as outlined in this Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes.

The offer of admission letter, and supporting Admissions and Access Service guidance provide a range of information, including information relating to funding, accommodation, support services, immigration procedures, and the International Welcome and Orientation Programme.  The Admissions and Access Service issues the official offer letters and guidance notes upon receipt of decisions from Schools.

The Graduate School is responsible for the administration and allocation of Postgraduate Student Awards.  The notification of an offer of an award (studentship funding) is made by the Graduate School in a separate letter to the offer letter from the Admissions and Access Service. Queries about funding offers, and funding body terms and conditions, can be sent to the Postgraduate Awards team, email: pgawards@qub.ac.uk. 

From time to time, postgraduate research students from other universities may wish to transfer to Queen’s to complete their degree.  This is most common where a student is transferring with their supervisor who has been recruited to Queen’s.

The Transfer Protocol for PGR Students sets out guidelines and key principles on postgraduate research students transferring from other universities. The Protocol also outlines the procedures for the consideration and approval of postgraduate research  student transfer applications, including the additional information required to support a transfer application.