After you've applied for your PGT course

We will send you an email to acknowledge receipt of your application. Despite receiving hundreds of applications a week during the busiest periods, once we receive all the necessary supporting documentation, we aim to notify you of our decision (or issue an invitation for interview) within 9 working days from the date we acknowledge receipt of your application.  The Admissions Office then carries out checks on each application and highlights important information for Admission Selectors (e.g. whether you are likely to meet/already met the University’s entry requirements, whether you have any specific requirements, etc).

If your application is missing key information, such as an academic transcript, we will hold the application whilst we contact you by email to request the missing document. A few Masters’ courses (especially in the Department of English Language and Literature) require candidates to provide additional written work to supplement an application.

Once all checks are complete and key documents attached, your application is forwarded to the School/College Admissions Selector for consideration.

Each School/College has an Admissions Selector who will review your application and look at a range of criteria such as:

• your current and previous academic performance;
• prior experiential learning;
• current courses of study;
• assessments by referees;
• records of achievement;
• evidence of commitment and motivation;
• quality of written work.

The Selectors will also take into account your ability to contribute to the cultural, sporting or social life of the University and the community.

If you are a candidate with a serious disability or chronic medical condition or have significant support requirements, then we will send you a questionnaire to assess your support needs and we may require you to be interviewed by the University's Disability Officer and/or the Director for Occupational Health after the academic decision has been made.

This is to ensure that we are aware of any circumstances which might affect your admission to the University and your subsequent studies and to ensure we can put into place any support systems which you might need.

Once the Admissions Selector has fully considered your application, the decision will be sent to you by email.  You will be informed whether:

• You are to be offered a place, signed by the relevant Admissions Selector on behalf of the University’s Registrar.  If your offer is conditional, it will include the academic requirements which must be met before the start of the academic year.  No offers of admission made by other means are considered to be legally binding.  Indications of admission by a member of staff of any department should not be considered to constitute an offer of a place, nor should it be considered binding in any way, before you receive a formal offer from the Admissions Office.
• You are to be invited for an interview
• We are unable to offer you a place

Candidates should normally receive a decision within 9 working days. Please note: if your application is incomplete, a decision on your application will be delayed.

You can book a place on an open day through our Postgraduate Open Days page

All applicants are welcome to visit the University independently at any time as access to the University is not restricted. However, you should make an appointment with your college if you want to have a look around the School/College and meet with a particular member of staff.

If you want to also have a look at some University accommodation you should arrange this in advance by emailing Residential Services.

Please contact the Admissions Office by email or by telephone: +44 (0) 1792 295358 and we can advise you further.

A conditional offer means that you have been accepted onto a postgraduate course of study SUBJECT TO you meeting the criteria specified in your formal offer of admission.

Go to our English Language Requirements page to see a list of our acceptable language tests.

UK residents: If your course includes a placement involving volunteering or working with vulnerable adults or children then you will be required to undergo an enhanced criminal disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Admissions Office will send you a link to apply for your DBS online from the April preceding your course start date. Please make sure that you complete your application well in advance of your course start date.  Please read our DBS guidance before you start to complete your application.

EU and overseas candidates will be asked to supply an original document from the police authority (or other relevant authority) in your country of residence detailing the status of your criminal record. In many countries, this document is called "A Certificate of No Criminal Conviction", "A Certificate of Good Conduct" or "A Police Clearance Certificate".

• Approach your local police station or your local authority.
• Contact the embassy or the consulate general in your country of residence or in the United Kingdom. Details for embassies in the United Kingdom can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth website.
• Look on the internet - use a word search such as "Criminal background check in country of residence"

If you feel that the University's decision not to offer you a place was incorrect, please contact the Admissions Office by email for feedback on the reasons for rejection.

If you are still unhappy, you can appeal against a decision not to offer you a place in the following circumstances:

a) where there is significant new information, which for good reason was not made available either on the original application or during the selection procedure, and where that new information is significant and directly relevant to the original decision; or

b) where you believe that the University and/or departmental admissions principles and procedures have been inconsistently or incorrectly applied.

Full details of the appeals procedure for applicants can be found on our Complaints and Appeals Policy for Applicants.

If you are unhappy about the way your University application or enquiry has been handled, please contact the Admissions Office by email in the first instance.

After discussing the issue with the Admissions Office, if you are still unhappy you can lodge a formal complaint. Full details of the appeals procedure for applicants can be found on our Complaints and Appeals Policy for Applicants.

Go to our Semester and Term dates page.

The University provides an integrated, professional, student-centred Student Support Services department, offering information, advice, guidance and support to enable every student to develop and achieve their full potential. For detailed information please go to our Student Services pages.

Student Services offers the following services:

• Disability Office and Wellbeing
• Money Advice and Support
• International Student Advisory Service