How to apply for a research degree

You can explain your proposed areas of research in a statement of 500-1000 words. This is an important part of your application and you can contact your proposed supervisor for feedback to  help you finalise your statement. We  recommend that you include the following:

• Your area(s) of research interest: your proposed research topic(s) together with your draft research question(s), if you have thought about them;
• Your reasons for research:  a summary of the factors which prompted you to conduct research in your chosen topic(s);
• How your research will advance knowledge: try to summarise what you see as the most important problems or issues in your chosen topics and how your project(s) could advance the knowledge in your chosen field.  You may wish to reference to any prominent research findings or relevant literature, as you feel appropriate; 
• Data and methods (if applicable): if you intend to use a secondary data, please describe the source, how this data was collected, sample size, a list of key variables, and whether you already have or will have access to this dataset. If you plan to collect your data, please describe the target population including sampling unit and geographical location of participants. In addition, briefly describe how you plan to analyse the data to answer your research questions as identified above.
• Your research location: where you will conduct your research from (for example at Brunel University London), including data collection.  If you will be located overseas for all or part of your studies, please state where you will be based;
• Bibliography: a list of any relevant literature you have referred to in developing your research aspirations and motivation.

Your outline will not bind you to a specific research topic or project.  If you are accepted to study on a PhD/MPhil programme with us, you may refine the scope of your project, hone your research question(s), your hypotheses and the research methods with the help of your designated supervisory team.  It may also be the case that your research questions and/or focus will change as your studies progress.

The online application link is available on each programme page. For a full list of PhD programmes click here. While completing the online application please make sure you have the following information to hand:

• Personal details
• Academic qualifications (level, subject, where studied, results, year taken)
• Work experience details (name of organisations, start and end dates)

When you access the online application, you will be given the opportunity to submit electronically the documents required as part of your application, shown in the table below. These supporting documents can alternatively be posted to the Admissions Office (clearly referencing your application reference number, which will be emailed to you when you save or complete the online application).