How to Apply: Postgraduate Research

Applicants for research degrees should discuss their research interests initially with a potential academic supervisor who may be approached directly, or through the Research Office or the Director of Research. Once an appropriate supervisor has been found who is able to supervise the chosen research area, potential applicants should commence the application process. Students may consider joining the probationer MPhil scheme, designed to support students in the development of their research ideas, particularly if they have been out of education for some time. An application form should be completed in discussion with the supervisor with an outline proposal on the Probationer MPhil form. This should be handed in to the Admissions Office, where you will be asked to produce various pieces of documentation just to confirm some details on the form. Potential applicants will be given an unconditional offer and registered for a research degree after careful scrutiny of their proposal:

• Within the relevant faculty
• By the University’s Research Degrees Group
• By the External Research Degrees Committee of
• the University of Southampton

The School will take account of the field in which the student wishes to work, the availability of resources, the nature of current research strengths and the particular needs of the student for facilities.

Entry Requirements

The normal requirement for an MPhil is a good honours degree (first or upper second class) or a relevant Masters degree. For a PhD the normal entry requirement is an MPhil.

Most applicants apply for an 'MPhil leading to PHD' and most students have completed a period as a 'Probationer MPhil' student beforehand.