Postgraduate research admissions policy 2024-25

The University of Leeds is a research-intensive institution, which creates, advances and disseminates knowledge. Our aim is to develop outstanding graduates and scholars who can make a major impact upon global society.  

The University is shaped by the values of collaboration, compassion, inclusivity and integrity. The setting of admissions requirements plays a key role in maintaining academic excellence and inclusivity throughout the process of admission. Our policies and practice are driven by the belief that the life of the University is enriched by having a body of students and researchers which reflects the community at large and includes postgraduate researchers from all parts of the UK and overseas. 

The University of Leeds is committed to providing a professional admissions service which operates with integrity, through clear and transparent policies and procedures. The University aims to provide fair and equitable access to all prospective postgraduate researchers who have the potential to benefit from and contribute to academic life at a research-intensive university. In order to do so, the University recognises that it may need to demonstrate a flexible approach and, where appropriate, make adjustments for individual applicants.

The University is committed to providing accurate and clear communication of information that will support applicants to make an informed decision about their research degree programme. The University requires academic Schools to publish guideline entry requirements for all research degree programmes. All offer letters must also include full details of any conditions an applicant must meet in order to be confirmed onto a programme.

In order to ensure consistency and fairness, the general principles and procedures set out in this policy are followed by all academic Schools. Additionally, the University requires academic Schools to publish local-level admissions policies, which support this main University policy and provide applicants with more detailed information about course-specific selection criteria and processes. This is set out in the Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidatures.

The University’s admissions policies are consistent with the Quality Assurance Agency’s Code on Admissions, Recruitment and Widening Access and comply with current equality laws affecting the admission of students and Chapter B11, Research Degrees of the Quality Assurance Agency’s Quality Code. The admissions process is covered by the University’s Equality and Inclusion Framework 2020-25 (Word doc), which is available from the University's Equality and Inclusion Unit. 

This policy is reviewed annually by the University’s Postgraduate Research Recruitment Group (most recently in December 2023) and, where appropriate, policies and procedures for the admission of postgraduate researchers to research degree programmes may be revised in line with changes to the internal and external admissions environment. For example, the University continually develops its widening access strategy and processes in line with Office for Students (OfS) guidance and the University’s value of inclusivity. 

The admissions policy and practice of academic Schools, as set out in the Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidatures, is reviewed annually by Faculty Graduate School Committees on the basis of guidance provided by Graduate Board.  

Any amendments made after the point of publication will be summarised in the Version Control section.

Admissions policies at the University of Leeds are overseen by the University’s Postgraduate Research Recruitment Group. The Group’s terms of reference can be found on the University's Student Education Service website. 

Admissions decisions at the University of Leeds are ultimately made by academic schools and/or faculties in order to admit applicants who have the potential to succeed on course. The Admissions Service, provided by professional services staff, is responsible for managing the admissions procedures in line with the University’s admissions policies, providing support and advice to its staff, enquirers and applicants.

The Admissions Service is part of Integrated Student Recruitment (ISR), which also comprises Marketing, Educational Engagement and the International Office. ISR colleagues work together and alongside academic staff to deliver the University’s recruitment strategy.

Directors of Postgraduate Research Studies work collaboratively with admissions and marketing colleagues in delivering the academic elements of the recruitment strategy and faculty/school’s offer-making strategy. This is facilitated, in part, through Faculty Graduate School committees, where responsibility for the review and implementation of faculty/school admissions policies is ultimately held. 

All members of academic and professional services staff with responsibility for the admissions process are given appropriate guidance on national or institutional changes to admissions policy or procedures. 

The University operates a Dignity and Mutual Respect Policy (PDF), which all staff, postgraduate researchers, and third parties, including prospective students, are expected to abide by. The University reserves the right to withdraw an application if behaviours are deemed to have contravened this policy. 

By submitting an application to the University of Leeds, applicants are confirming that the information given is true, complete and accurate. At any point from the start of the application process, continuing through the offer stage and on to when an applicant becomes a student, applicants should not:

• leave out any requested or relevant information 
• make any misrepresentation (for example, through plagiarism) 
• give false or misleading information or documents at any point of the application process including after an offer is made. 

If the University is unable to verify any information and/or documentation provided, additional checks or information may be required. Applicants must fully cooperate with this process.

If an applicant fails to meet any of the above commitments, the University reserves the right to dismiss a current or future application, withdraw an offer of a place, revoke registration as a student and revoke an award.  

The University may subscribe to a system that processes research proposals received in support of an application in order to identify proposals that show similarity. Where potentially plagiarised material is identified by these systems the University will review the case and decide whether the applicant is permitted to submit a new research proposal in support of their application. In cases where this opportunity is not granted (or is not taken up by the applicant), the University reserves the right to reject or withdraw the application.

The University is committed to developing a diverse student and postgraduate researcher community and our admissions processes are implemented in line with University policy and strategy. Academic and non-academic entrance requirements are reviewed annually in line with the University’s aim to provide fair and equitable access to all applicants who have the potential to benefit from and contribute to a quality education on their degree programme, regardless of background.  

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class bachelors honours degree in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher: for example, several faculties also require a Masters degree.

Applicants are advised to check with the relevant school prior to making an application or, if they are uncertain about the entry requirements for a particular research degree, are advised to contact the Faculty PGR Admissions Team prior to making an application. 

Exceptions to this general entry requirement may be made when applicants hold other relevant qualifications and/or experience, which may be deemed to be acceptable as equivalent to or in lieu of a degree.  

Unless otherwise stated in the prescribed programme such applicants will normally be required to satisfy the relevant committee that their educational attainments and experience qualify them to undertake an approved course of supervised research and research training at the appropriate level.

The University considers a wide range of qualifications for entry, and qualifications from across the world are assessed for acceptability through a formal process undertaken by the University’s qualifications working groups, and with ultimate ratification by the University’s Postgraduate Research Recruitment Group.

This may be demonstrated through different qualifications; however, applicants are expected to have demonstrated the ability to study at a progressive and concentrated level. Applicants who would like to discuss their profile in relation to entry requirements are encouraged to contact the relevant postgraduate research admissions team.

The University considers a wide range of qualifications for entry, and new and amended qualifications from across the world are assessed for acceptability by the University’s qualifications working groups with final agreement by the University’s PGR Recruitment Group. Supervision, assessment and support will take place in English, unless otherwise stated. Schools must be confident that applicants have the proficiency in English language necessary to succeed on their chosen research degree programme and that, where relevant, they meet the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) minimum requirements to obtain a Student visa. 

The University requires that all applicants meet our minimum requirements for English, however many courses will have requirements which are higher than this minimum in order to ensure applicants are appropriately prepared for their chosen programme of study. Acceptable English qualifications and the University’s minimum requirements (including validity periods) for these can be found under Accepted Language Qualifications in our Entry Requirements. Applicants can view School-specific English requirements as part of the Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidatures. 

Applicants who wish to pursue a research degree candidature under split-site arrangements are required to provide evidence that they have attained a minimum band score of 6.5 in IELTS with no component below 6.0 or an equivalent qualification. Many courses will have requirements which are higher than this minimum in order to ensure applicants are appropriately prepared for their chosen programme of study.

Applicants who wish to pursue a research degree candidature on a distance-learning basis are required to provide evidence that they have attained a minimum band score of 7.0 in IELTS with no component below 6.5 or an equivalent qualification. Many courses will have requirements which are higher than this minimum in order to ensure applicants are appropriately prepared for their chosen programme of study.

Applicants who do not meet the relevant English requirements at the point of application may be made an offer which is conditional upon meeting the relevant English language requirements. Alternatively, where a postgraduate research student does not meet the English language requirements for the academic course, but does meet the requirements for the University of Leeds pre-sessional English language courses, they may be eligible for an offer which is conditional on successful completion of one of the University of Leeds pre-sessional English language courses run by the Language Centre.

Some courses will require additional checks to be undertaken in order for an applicant to gain admittance. These will be detailed in the relevant school’s admissions policy; however, some of the most common checks are as follows:

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health checks 

To comply with the requirements of relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies, applicants to certain vocational or professional courses may be required to pass checks by the DBS, and/or to pass occupational health checks prior to being admitted. Applicants will be advised if these or any other conditions apply when they are made an offer of a place.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) 

Applicants who require immigration permission to study in the UK may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate in order to undertake postgraduate study in certain subject areas. Those who require ATAS clearance must obtain the ATAS certificate before applying for the Student visa. A statement will be produced by the Graduate School in support of an application for ATAS clearance. It is the applicant's responsibility to apply for ATAS clearance. Find out more about ATAS. 

Additional requirements

For some research degree programmes, applicants must meet the requirements for admission stipulated in the relevant prescribed programme of study and by any relevant professional statutory or accreditation body. When such criteria have to be met, the requirements will be set down by the school. 

The following documents must be submitted with a postgraduate research application to the University:

Higher education and professional qualifications 

In order to qualify for admission to a programme of study leading to a research degree, all applicants must demonstrate that they have the qualifications and/or experience required through meeting the normal minimum entry requirements for the research degree concerned. 

Evidence of all previous degrees taken by the applicant must be submitted with the application form. 

If an applicant has already completed professional qualifications or previous degrees, a copy of the final degree certificate should be submitted with the application. Transcripts of an applicant’s academic record, which provide full details of the degree class and grades obtained in each unit/module, are also required.  

If these documents are not in English they must be accompanied by a formal certified translation into English, provided by the awarding institution, by a University of Leeds accredited agent or office, or by an official translator. This should be signed and dated, including the translator’s credentials and company details, and confirmation that the translation is accurate. 

Applicants awaiting the outcome of another degree programme must provide an interim transcript. Any offer made will be subject to the successful completion of the programme.

Candidates for research degrees are not permitted to register concurrently at the University of Leeds and another Higher Education Institution. Applicants currently studying for a research degree at another institution will be required to provide evidence that they have withdrawn from that programme of study. This includes where an applicant is wishing to transfer to Leeds with a supervisor. 

Previous Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement, Biometric Residence Permit and Student visa

Applicants who require a Student visa and who have previously studied in the UK will need to provide documentary evidence detailing any periods of study on a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) Student visa in order for the University to be able to carry out checks to ensure compliance with the UKVI’s immigration rules for students.

Applicants are encouraged to include documents such as previous CAS, copies of passport pages containing visas or copies of Biometric Residence Permits with their application. Any information that is not included in the application will be requested when the application is considered, or we may need to ask the permission of the applicant to check their UK immigration history directly with the UKVI. 

English qualifications 

Proof of English language proficiency is required as part of the application to the University. Copies of the results of any acceptable, formal English tests, which evidence that an applicant has met the requirements for their chosen course, should be submitted with the application.

Without this evidence, any offer made will be conditional on providing evidence that the minimum English requirements have been met.

Professional qualifications are not accepted as evidence of English language competence. 

Documentation needed to meet English language requirements 

We accept the following as evidence of English language proficiency: 

1. The successful completion of one of the approved English language tests, such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS). It must have been awarded no more than two years before the proposed start date of study.   
2. Successful completion of the University’s pre-sessional English Language courses. (Applicants need to have obtained a lower level Secure English Language Test (SELT) first in order to gain entry to a pre-sessional course).
3. A Masters or Undergraduate degree awarded from a UK Higher Education Institute. The duration of the Masters degree must be at least 12 months of full-time and continuous study. The degree must have been awarded less than two years from the proposed start date. The duration of the undergraduate degree must be at least two academic sessions. This would include a 2+2 arrangement that faculties have in place for specific programmes. The date of award is taken to be the standard award date assuming the student has had no extensions to their period of study and has been awarded at the earliest opportunity following the completion of the course. For example, a Leeds Masters student who started their course in September would have an award date of November of the following year.

Schools may also request a higher level of English language proficiency, if the research topic requires it.

English language exemption 

If an applicant provides evidence that they do not meet the English language requirements for their programme but they do meet the University of Leeds minimum English language requirement for research degree study, the relevant school has the discretion to accept the applicant without the need for further English language evidence. 

References

Contact details of two referees should be provided as part of the application. Schools request references from academic or professional referees as a crucial element of the selection process. Nominated referees must not be related to an applicant and should be qualified to comment in detail on the applicant’s capacity to cope with the academic demands of the programme for which they are applying.

View guidance on references for research degree applications.

Research proposal 

Some research areas require applicants to submit a research proposal as part of the application process. Applicants should check with the relevant Graduate School before making an application. Information on writing a research proposal is available on the University website. 

For Masters by Research programmes, a research proposal should be submitted and agreed as part of the application process, to ensure that the programme can be completed within the period of study (12 months full time and 24 months part time). 

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is a process undertaken by the University to assess and, as appropriate, recognise prior experiential or certificated learning for academic purposes. This recognition may give the learning a credit value and allow it to be counted towards the completion of a course of study. Credit Transfer is the process by which the University accepts credit arising from prior certificated learning, awarded by either itself or another institution, as contributing to an award of the University.  

Any decision on credit transfer or entry of postgraduate researchers with advanced standing is an academic decision taken within the relevant School at the point of admission onto a programme of study. Retrospective applications from postgraduate researchers part-way through a course will not normally be considered. Further details of the University’s policy can be found on our Accreditation of Prior Learning page. 

APL will be considered in respect of the taught components of research degree programmes only. Applications for consideration of prior learning will (normally) be made at the time of admission and considered by the relevant Faculty/School in accordance with the procedure set out in the programme of study specification. 

Graduate Board will be advised of any decisions taken in respect of APL for taught components. APL is not normally permitted against the research thesis or thesis preparation components.

In exceptional cases individual cases will be considered where a candidate is requesting APL in relation to the research thesis or thesis preparation components.  This case must be made at the admissions stage, be supported by the School and be considered by the relevant committee.  Exceptional cases would include, but not be limited to, where a postgraduate researcher has had to leave a PhD from another higher education institution for circumstances out of their control.

The University is committed to developing a socially and culturally diverse student and postgraduate researcher community and therefore encourages those from all backgrounds to apply for a research degree.  

Applications for a research degree programme or for a period of study as a postgraduate research visitor should normally be received no later than four months prior to the relevant start date. The University will not be able to ensure the relevant checks are undertaken, and the application processed, if received within four months of the chosen start date.

An offer of a place is also needed for many of the scholarships available to international applicants, and scholarship closing dates can often be early in the year.  

If an applicant intends to apply for funding, an application should be submitted for a place at least two months before any specific scholarship deadline. 

Applicants to postgraduate research degrees must apply online, with the exception of applicants for the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsychol), who must apply to the National Clearing House and not to the University.

The suitability and qualifications of all applicants are carefully considered in the light of the entry requirements for the particular research degree programme and other requirements of the University eg English language requirements.  

At least two members of academic staff must be involved in the consideration of each application which meets the University’s minimum entry requirements, including the relevant Director of Postgraduate Research Studies and the potential supervisor(s). Consideration of applications to some collaborative programmes with other universities may involve academic staff from partner institutions and at least one member of staff from the University.   

Pre-application enquiries (including eligibility) should be made with the relevant postgraduate research admissions team prior to making an application.  

Academic requirements for part-time study are identical to those for full-time study and the same principles of admission apply to part-time entry. 

Part-time study is not offered as an option for all research degree programmes and advice should be sought from the relevant Graduate School before making an application. 

Where the research degree programme is offered on a part-time basis, applicants will be considered only when the Faculty Graduate School is satisfied that the applicant will have access to the necessary facilities for their research on a part-time basis. 

Fee status is determined using the details provided on the application form. If an applicant disagrees with the fee assessment assigned, they can appeal. For more information, visit our fee assessment page.  

Applicants may be subject to a fee assessment in order to determine the tuition fees they will be required to pay, and all postgraduate researchers are expected to have made arrangements to meet the tuition fee payment requirements before accepting their offer. Students should be confident that they will be joining the course before making any payments as a refund may not be possible.  For information about tuition fee payment options, please visit our tuition fees payment schedule page.  

As a UK education institution, the University of Leeds is legally required to comply with all sanction regimes imposed by UK law. This means that we cannot accept funds directly or indirectly from a UK financial sanctions target. Our banks may also require that we do not accept funds, directly or indirectly, from financial sanctions targets designated as such under other sanctions regimes, including those imposed by the EU and US.

As part of the controls implemented to ensure that no relevant financial sanctions regimes are breached, and to ensure our bank will accept payments, for certain students we must collect payment details, including the source of any funds, in advance of any payment being received. This allows us to confirm that no sanctions regimes will be breached by our acceptance of a payment.  If a sanctions breach is identified, the applicant may not be able to proceed with their application to study at the University. If we require advance payment details and source of funds checks, we will notify applicants after they apply. An offer of study does not guarantee that we can accept payment.  

More information can be found on the financial screening to comply with sanctions requirements page.

The University recognises that someone’s age (if under 18) or safeguarding position may need to be taken into account. Please see the School’s policies for further information, as well as our Safeguarding Policy (PDF) and our information for Under 18 applicants (PDF). 

Parental/guardian consent forms must be submitted before a place can be confirmed. 

UKVI guidance states that, for a Student visa, students must be 16 or over. Accordingly, the University cannot assign a CAS for anyone under 16 and those requiring a Student visa must be aged 16 or over in order to be considered for sponsorship.  

The University may ask applicants to declare any previous criminal activity. For the majority of courses, the applicant is only required to declare any relevant unspent criminal convictions when they wish to accept an offer. Information about why this information is requested and the process is on our declaring criminal convictions page and in the University’s Applicants and students with criminal records policy.

For specific areas of research, the applicant must declare any previous criminal activity at the application stage. This is in order for the relevant committee in the academic school to verify that the criminal activity will not be a barrier to study or meeting any professional regulatory or statutory requirements. Additionally, applicants may be required to perform, with satisfactory results, certain checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service. The University will send further instructions as part of the admissions process where this is the case.

The University welcomes applications from disabled people. The University supports the social model of disability and in line with the Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as someone with a physical or mental impairment which is long-term (lasting or expected to last 12 months or more), and which has a substantial adverse impact on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Although some conditions, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (in each case from the point of diagnosis) are expressly deemed to be disabilities for the purpose of the Equality Act, the definition of disability may also include epilepsy, diabetes and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), amongst others.

The University aims to be as inclusive as possible through its application process, learning and teaching. We aim to take an anticipatory approach to reduce the need for applicants and students to request individual support. However, the University also makes individual reasonable adjustments to help disabled applicants have full and equal access to our admissions procedures and courses.

Applicants are encouraged to disclose their disability on their application form so that reasonable adjustments and/or other support requirements can be made/considered. Information about disability is not used when considering academic eligibility for the chosen research programme. Instead it is reviewed in order to identify potential study-related support requirements, possible reasonable adjustments and/or the eligibility for disability-related support funding, so that the University can ensure the applicant is supported effectively on the course.

Applicants are not required to disclose their disability if they do not wish to. However, applicants who choose not to declare their disability should be aware that, without this information it may be more difficult, or in rare cases impossible, for the University to provide support and/or make the reasonable adjustments.

Disabled applicants are also advised to email the University’s Disability Services team via disability@leeds.ac.uk once an application has been submitted, to discuss any support requirements they may have in relation to the course for which they have applied. 

If any candidate feels their disability has meant that they faced exceptional circumstances which should be taken into account by the University when considering their application, they should refer to the Applicant and student support section of this page, specifically the section on Applicants who have faced exceptional circumstances.

All applicants must be interviewed before an offer of admission can be made. 

At least two members of academic staff must be involved in conducting the interview. It is normally expected that at least one of the interviewers is a potential supervisor. 

The interview must be conducted in English. Where a face-to-face interview is impractical the interview may be conducted by telephone or by video streaming. Some applicants (for example, disabled applicants, applicants who are pregnant, etc.) will require adjustments at interview (for example, a sign-language interpreter or an adjustment to an audition process) to provide them with full and equal access to the process. Academic schools are responsible for making reasonable adjustments where possible. The University’s Disability Services team should be consulted for further advice or information regarding disability-related adjustments (email Disability Services via disability@leeds.ac.uk) and the Equality and Inclusion Unit for advice on other adjustments (email the Equality and Inclusion Unit via equality@leeds.ac.uk).

In exceptional circumstances, if an applicant does not meet the usual entry requirements, or the School would like special arrangements to be made for the applicant, the school can make a case for the applicant to be made an offer of a place. This could include applicants who hold other relevant qualifications and/or experience in lieu of a degree. Further information is available on the University's Student Education Service website. 

Applicants will receive acknowledgement of receipt of an application from the University. The admissions team may also contact the applicant where further information is required in order to process the application; applicants must therefore ensure that they notify the University of any changes to their contact details.

Formal offers of a place of study are only made by the Admissions Operations team, acting on behalf of the University’s Graduate Board, and following the recommendation of the relevant graduate school.

Offers will be communicated by email and may include specific conditions to be met for successful admission to the programme (see the next section for further information). 

A conditional offer means that the University will offer a place to the applicant providing certain conditions are met. Each offer is specific to an applicant’s individual qualifications and circumstances. Usually, conditions are based on the completion of outstanding qualifications or meeting English language requirements and may state specific grades and/or subjects required. Other conditions may include criminal record and health checks. In most circumstances conditions must be met prior to registration on the programme.

In certain circumstances,  a condition may remain unmet prior to registration.  In this instance, proof that these checks will be fulfilled during semester one can be used to confirm a place. This can be an appointment card or evidence of when forms were submitted. If these checks are failed during semester one, registration could be withdrawn or the programme of study may be changed.

An unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the academic and non-academic entry requirements and has been accepted onto their chosen programme of study at the University of Leeds. 

Applicants should contact the University of Leeds as soon as possible to confirm whether or not they wish to accept their offer via the online application form or by emailing the Admissions Operations team at rp_applications@adm.leeds.ac.uk.

Applicants will be notified if the University has decided not to offer them a place on the degree programme.  

Unsuccessful applicants may request feedback on the reason for this outcome. This request must be made by the applicant to the relevant PGR Admissions team. Generally applicants will be provided with feedback as part of the outcome information provided.  

An application may be withdrawn by either the applicant or the University. If the University withdraws an application the reason will usually be communicated directly to the applicant. The University reserves the right to withdraw an offer up to the point at which it has been accepted by an applicant. An applicant may be withdrawn if they fail to attend the admissions interview without making contact with the University, or if they are unable to attend and an alternative date cannot reasonably be found. An offer may also be withdrawn at any point if it is found that an applicant has failed to comply with the applicant responsibilities outlined in the Applicant and student responsibilities section of this page, or if a change to UKVI policy means that the University is no longer able to sponsor an International applicant for a visa.

This does not prejudice the University’s right to rely upon published disclaimers relating to delivery of courses and services.