Fees and funding
All other applicants must pay their own fees and living costs , or find an external sponsor to support them .
Entry qualifications
To apply for a master ’ s research degree , you should hold , or anticipate gaining , a good honours degree from a UK higher education institution , or a degree from an overseas institution accepted by the University as an equivalent . Applicants without an honours degree may only be considered if they can demonstrate equivalent professional experience in a relevant field . All overseas students must provide evidence of their English language ability . A minimum score of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent , with no element of performance lower than IELTS 6.0 , is the entrance requirement for applicants who have not completed a degree taught and assessed in English . You must also produce an outline research proposal that we judge to be feasible and appropriate for the level of study , and that is in a field we can supervise . Finally , you will need to be interviewed . Interviews may take place in person or by telephone .
Support for research degree students
QMU is a forward-thinking higher education institution with an exciting future . It is a particularly good time to consider study at QMU . With a dedicated team of supervisors for each candidate and specialist training offered in key aspects of academic research , we believe that you will have the best possible chance of success in your studies .
Each candidate is allocated a team of two or three supervisors to provide support and advice . In addition , we provide :
• three doctoral study weeks per year offering various workshops and training
• automatic enrolment onto our Researcher Enhancement and Development Programme alongside your doctoral programme
• opportunities to attend further workshops for training in specific skills
• a dedicated research librarian to help you make the most of our library and electronic databases
• a network of peer support from other research students in our Graduate School
• opportunities to attend research seminars and learn from other experienced researchers
How to apply for a doctoral degree
QMU offers two routes for doctoral level study , the PhD and Professional Doctorate . You may apply for either part-time or full-time study . Normally you will be based at QMU . In certain circumstances applications may be considered for non-resident students . Such applications will only be considered where appropriate support can be provided locally and on the understanding that the student will visit Edinburgh at least once per year to meet with their supervisory team , attend doctoral study weeks and connect with the QMU research community .
To apply you must complete the online application form and provide the following documents :
• a research proposal
• a copy of certificates and transcripts for your highest level academic qualifications ( normally master ’ s / undergraduate degree ) including official translations into English and if required evidence of English language ability
• two references , one of which must be academic if you have studied within three years of the start date
Those applying for PhD by Publication should also include a publication plan and , where appropriate , a list of prior publications , indicating their contribution to each .
We strongly recommend that you make contact with potential supervisors before submitting your application .
Research proposal All applicants must provide a proposal .
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This allows us to check how well you understand the research process and to make sure the topic is in an area we can supervise .
The research topic must be within the expertise of our staff . The topic must have academic merit and it must be capable of generating new knowledge . Research that is linked to the applicant ’ s creative work may be considered .
It is essential that you check whether QMU has any expertise in your chosen field . See our website : www . qmu . ac . uk / study-here / postgraduate-research-study / graduate-school-and-doctoral-research / for further information on the areas we cover . See also the information on our research activities on page 162-163 .
The proposal should be approximately 1000 words long . The proposal should :
• summarise what the research is about and say why it is important , making reference to current literature
• identify provisional research questions
• suggest how the questions can be investigated
Visa information
Since 1 July 2021 , international students who have successfully completed a PhD are able to benefit from three years ’ work experience in the UK upon graduation , through the new Graduate Route . For more information and everything you need to know about the application process , visit the UK Government ’ s Graduate Route guide at http :// assets . publishing . service . gov . uk / government / uploads / system / uploads / attachment _ data / file / 1006443 / Graduate _ Immigration _ Route _ guide _ July _. pdf
More information
Our strategic research centres work at the intersection of conventional disciplinary groupings to create innovative approaches to contemporary societal challenges and public discourse . All centres welcome applications for research degrees . Information on our research centres can be found on our website at : www . qmu . ac . uk / researchand-knowledge-exchange / researchcentres-institutes-and-groups /