扒哥吃瓜

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.

An application is only complete when:

1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
2. you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

Proposed Supervisor

On your application form, you will be asked to name a Supervisor or co-supervisory team related to your topic and based at the Faculty of Education.  

Before you submit your application, you are required to contact the prospective Supervisor(s) to discuss with them their availability and the suitability of your proposed research. Please note that agreement from a prospective Supervisor does not guarantee an offer of admission.

After you submit your application, it will be routed initially to the named Supervisor. The Faculty does not assign supervisors for your research, and if you do not nominate a Supervisor on your application, the Faculty may not be able to evaluate your application.

For more information on finding a Supervisor, including how to make the initial approach, see '' below.

Research Proposal

All doctoral applicants are required to submit a research proposal of up to 1,500 words. Your proposal would generally contain:

• a research title 
• a clear, well-motivated and viable research question(s)
• a brief discussion of the relevant literature, covering the theoretical basis for your research, the current state of knowledge in the field, and details of what your research will contribute. This may include, for example, details of the research design, data collection techniques, sample size, connection between the ontology and data analysis approach, outputs, implications, etc.
• a brief but comprehensive outline of the research approaches and methods you propose to use

The word limit includes footnotes, appendices, figures, tables, etc., but does not include references. Special formatting is not required.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants can typically expect a decision within 12 weeks of submitting their completed application and all the required supporting documents.

Early application (by the funding deadline of 3 December) is advisable even if you are not applying for funding. Most applications are received between October to December and many supervisors may reach their capacity after that period.

If you are invited to an interview as part of the admissions process, you will be notified of this by email. Interviews may be conducted either in person or virtually through platforms like MS Teams or Zoom.

Further information on How To Apply

Things You'll Need

In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.

• Two academic references  
• Transcript  
• CV/resume
• Evidence of competence in English  
  If required - you can check using our tool
• Proposed Supervisor (200 characters) (mandatory)
  On your application form, you will be asked to name a Supervisor or co-supervisory team related to your topic and based at the Faculty of Education. For more information on finding and approaching a Supervisor, see 'How to Find a Supervisor' below.
• Project Title (250 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
• Your Motivation
  Explain what motivates you to apply for a PhD and what drives your interest in pursuing this program. Highlight your motivation to learn and develop.
• Responding to Challenges
  Describe how you persist through challenges, learn from feedback, and use problem-solving or creative thinking to explore issues from new perspectives. Draw from examples from your academic, professional or personal life.
• Independent Study
  Describe how you manage your own learning and meet important milestones. Provide examples from your academic, professional, or personal life that demonstrate how you have successfully handled independent tasks or how you have developed these skills in preparation for doctoral study.
• Recent Developments Within Your Research Area
  Discuss your knowledge of developments in your research area, including relevant methods or theories or approaches you鈥檝e engaged with through experiences such as self-directed learning, practical applications in a professional setting or in academic contexts.
• Technical Skills
  Describe the technical skills relevant to your research interests (e.g. database management, programming languages, use of archives or long-form writing), and how you鈥檝e developed these skills in your academic, professional or personal life. You might also discuss how you plan to further develop these skills in the future, with specific examples.

Gates 扒哥吃瓜 Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for a Gates 扒哥吃瓜 Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:

• Gates 扒哥吃瓜 Reference  
• Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See for more information.

How to Find a Supervisor

Identifying a Supervisor

You are required to identify a prospective Supervisor before you submit your application. This is because the fit between your doctoral research proposal and the specific research field of the potential Supervisor is essential to doctoral studies.

To identify a prospective Supervisor, first carefully review the information available on the Faculty of Education website, specifically under the section, to confirm if the field of research you are proposing is represented in the Faculty. 

Once you have identified that there is broad relevant research expertise in the Faculty of Education, explore the research interests and projects of our supervisors to determine who you would like to approach.

A full list of potential supervisors will be published on the  page on the Faculty of Education website ahead of applications for the 2025 opening. Please review this list to see if the Supervisor you are interested in accepts doctoral applications during the current application round.

Approaching a Supervisor

When you have identified your preferred Supervisor, and before you apply, you should reach out to them via email to introduce your research proposal and discuss their availability. This initial contact helps you gauge their willingness to supervise you and ensures a good fit between your interests and their research focus.

If time and interest permit, they may provide guidance on developing or improving your research proposal.

Keep in mind that an indication in principle at this stage does not constitute or ensure an offer of admission. It simply means that, should your application be successful, they would be prepared to supervise you.

Nominating a Supervisor

You will be asked to nominate your prospective Supervisor on your application, and they will be the initial reviewer. 

Prospective supervisors receive a large number of applications, and they will consider yours alongside others they have received. If they find your proposal promising and decide to take your application forward, they will contact you for an interview. 

If your nominated Supervisor decides not to proceed with your application, the doctoral admissions team will review to see if another suitable Supervisor is available. However, applicants who are unable to identify a Supervisor during the application process are unlikely to obtain a match through this route.