How to apply for Masters courses  Applying for Masters courses

Applications for Masters courses open in October and are submitted online. You will be able to track your application at each stage of the process.

This information is for entry in 2025.

Before you apply, we recommend you take some time to read the University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025-26.

If you are studying in the academic year 2024-25, read our Taught Admissions Policy for 2024-25 

International applicants: If you are an international applicant, we recommend you use the services of our overseas representatives to make your application. We also advise that you visit the UK government website to check the visa requirements for studying in the UK.

Step 1 – find your course

Our full list of Masters courses can be found in Course Search. Course start dates and application deadlines vary, so please check the details of your chosen course before applying. If no deadline is given, we advise applying by July where possible, particularly for international applicants who will require a visa to study in the UK. If you intend to apply for funding, we advise that you submit your course application at least two months before any specific scholarship deadline.

Before you apply, please make sure that you will be able to meet the following requirements:

• the academic entry requirements for your course, as listed on Course Search. If you have studied overseas, check the equivalent international entry requirements
• the University’s English language requirements
• the financial requirements

If you are still studying for the appropriate qualifications and have not yet met the entry requirements, you can usually still apply for a course. You may receive an offer of a place on the condition that you meet the requirements before you start your course.

Step 2 – apply

Applications open each October for courses starting in the next academic year.

To apply, submit an application using our online application portal. You will be able to log in and track the progress of your application at any time. There is no application fee.

Read our guide to using the online application portal.

If you experience any difficulties, please email the Admissions Enquiries team on study@leeds.ac.uk.

Saving your application

You can save your application at any point so you do not need to fully complete it in one session. However, your application may be deleted after 180 days if you do not submit it within this time.

Supporting documentation

Make sure you have all your supporting documents scanned and ready to upload with your online application. All documents should be in English, or accompanied by certified translations into English.

Required documents include:

• your degree certificate and academic transcripts (or a partial/interim transcript, if you are still studying). Please also include a grading scale if this is not clear from your transcripts
• evidence of your English language proficiency. If you do not yet hold a suitable qualification, please select the option ‘No English Language Test’ when applying
• scanned copies of any UK visas/permits/CASs you currently hold or have previously held, if you are applying as an international student.

Depending on the course you apply for, you may be asked to provide additional documents, such as:

• a personal statement
• a CV
• a portfolio
• translation tests.

If your course requires a personal statement, you will find guidance within the application form. We advise that you write your statement separately and then either upload it as a document or copy the text into the application.

If your course does not require additional documents, there will be no option to provide them in the application form and there is no need to submit them separately.

References

When you apply, you may be required to nominate two referees who have knowledge of your academic and/or professional ability. They should usually be a lecturer or supervisor at your last educational institution. However, if you have been out of education for more than five years or are applying with evidence of work experience, it may be appropriate to choose work-related referees. It is your responsibility to ensure that the referees you nominate are able and willing to provide a reference for you.

For some courses, you may be required to provide reference letters at the point of application in addition to the details of your referees. Please check Course Search for any specific requirements for your course.

When reference letters are not required at the point of application, they will not be requested automatically from your referees when your application is submitted. Instead, the admissions team will first assess your application to see if a decision can be made without references. If references are needed, the admissions team will then email your referees using the details you provided.

Please note that for some courses we do not require any references, so you will not be asked to provide any referee details when you apply and there is no need to provide them separately.

Declaring a criminal conviction

If you have an unspent criminal conviction, you may need to declare it to us. This is usually required when we make you an offer that you wish to accept. For a small number of our courses, you will need to declare it when you apply. Having a criminal conviction will only rarely stop you from studying at Leeds. Find out more about declaring a criminal conviction.

Step 3 – we process your application

Your academic school may contact you directly if they require any further information or wish to invite you for an interview or audition. You will receive an email asking you to check your applicant portal for more details.

We aim to make decisions within six to eight weeks if all necessary documents have been received. However, due to a very high volume of applications it may take longer for your application to be reviewed. We will contact you as soon as an update is available.

If you have a scholarship deadline, please notify your academic school using the My Enquiries section of our online application portal and they will try to make a decision in time, where possible.

Step 4 – we let you know our decision

We will notify you of the outcome of your application by email and in the online application portal. If your application is successful, you will be able to view your offer letter in the Decisions section of our online application portal.

Occasionally, the academic school may think that it is more appropriate to offer you a place on a different Masters course. In this case, we will notify you of a change of course offer and you will be able to see the details by logging in to your applicant portal.

Step 5 – you reply to the offer and meet any deadlines

If you receive an offer, you can accept it in our online application portal.

If your offer is conditional, you must typically meet your offer conditions by six weeks before the start date of the course. If you are an international applicant and you accept an unconditional offer, we will ask you to pay a tuition fee deposit or provide appropriate exemption evidence by four weeks before the start date of your course.

If you will be taking a pre-sessional English language course at our Language Centre before your Masters degree, different deadlines apply. For more details, please see our deadlines for pre-sessional English courses.

If you are not able to join the course this year and would like to join us for a future intake, you will need to reapply as we do not permit deferrals.