How does the selection process work?

International Students

Once you have submitted your on-line study application AND all supporting documents, your application is sent to staff working in your area of research interest or your named potential supervisor(s), for consideration.

Staff may then either enter into discussion with you about the topic; conduct a telephone interview; advise that they are unable to offer supervision.  If they are unable to offer supervision, it may be because their research interests do not sufficiently match your own; they cannot identify a co-supervisor that would be necessary for you to undertake your project at Leeds; they do not consider that your proposal is sufficiently original; your academic background is considered to be too weak to warrant a place for research degree study in our School (even though you may meet the academic requirements, we have a limited number of places for research degree students and are interested in attracting the best qualified students with the most potential); or, they are currently at full capacity for research student supervision.

If we can confirm suitable supervision arrangements for you, we will make a recommendation to the University for your acceptance.  The University will then send you the offer of an academic place, and will instruct you how to accept that place.  You will then need to ensure that your funding arrangements are in place.]

UK/EU Students

The interview panel for the UK Research Council Doctoral Training Awards will be made up of 3 members of staff: the Postgraduate Research Tutor, Deputy Tutor, and the Director of Research (or nominee).  These awards are offered to the candidates who most impress the panel at interview.

The supervisors of projects advertised in our ‘funded’ category will normally offer the award to the candidate that they consider to be most suitably qualified for successful completion of the project.