Admissions Requirements for Postgraduate Research Degree Programmes - 2024/25
1. PGR Admissions Regulation 1: Admission of Students
In order to be considered for entry to a postgraduate research degree course of the University candidates must comply with the specific requirements for entry for that degree course as laid out in the Award Regulations for that degree, and also:
(A) General requirements for admissions and School requirements
Candidates must have satisfied the general requirements for admission (Regulations 2 and 3) and the course requirements (Regulation 5).
(B) Candidates Aged Under 18 at Registration
Whilst the University has no minimum or upper age limits on admission to the University, those applying for schemes of study who will be under 18 years of age at the point of intended registration will be required to comply with University procedures designed to satisfy existing child protection legislation.
(C) Candidates with Criminal Convictions
Any candidate with an unspent criminal conviction (as defined under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act) will be required to make a relevant declaration and comply with University procedures in relation to this area. Note that certain professional doctorate courses are exempt from the Act and all convictions must therefore be declared when making an application to these courses.
Candidates who cannot satisfy the requirements in (A) above may in some cases be admitted to the University in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 4 below. Those applicants who fail to comply with stated University procedure in respect of (B) and (C) are refused entry to the University.
(D) Candidates requiring a Student visa
Such candidates must have obtained leave to remain or leave to enter, under the University of East Anglia’s visa licence. They must also undertake to comply with all UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and University requirements regarding their duties and any associated immigration conditions as a Student 4 visa holder.
(E) Candidates to provide full and accurate information
In providing information to the University prospective students are required to make submissions which are full, unambiguous and honest, and any offer made by the University is made in good faith. Where inaccurate information has been dishonestly provided to the University or where wilful misrepresentation or omission has occurred, a student may be precluded from admission to the University.
2. PGR Admissions Regulation 2: General Academic Requirements for Admission
In order to satisfy the general requirements for admission candidates should have one of the qualifications shown below.
UK Qualifications
A bachelor's degree or a Master's degree from a UK Higher Education Institution approved by the Privy Council or Office for Students to hold degree awarding powers. For all doctoral courses candidates must have at least an upper second class degree or a Master's degree. For all postgraduate research Master's level courses candidates must have at least a lower second class degree or a Master's degree.
International Qualifications
Successful completion of any non-UK degree which is regarded by the University as being equivalent to an approved UK degree, at the level required for the target doctoral or postgraduate research Master’s course (please consult the Postgraduate Research Service).
3. PGR Admissions Regulation 3: English Language Requirements
All International students entering study on a Student visa must satisfy the minimum requirement for English language, as laid out by the UK Visas and Immigration (see Home Office website for current details). Please consult with the Postgraduate Research Service for exact acceptable criteria.
All International students must also meet a minimum English language requirement set by the University. As the requirement differs from course to course, please consult with the Postgraduate Research Service for exact acceptable criteria.
4. Special Cases
The Head of the School concerned (or nominee, or Chair of NBI or Suffolk Graduate School) may make a recommendation to the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research for the relevant Faculty to consider admission of a student in any of the following categories, and for the Associate Dean to deem that they have satisfied the general and course requirements for admission:
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Candidates who do not satisfy any of the academic requirements listed in Regulations 2 and 5, but who submit satisfactory evidence of having passed examinations which are deemed equivalent to any of those listed.
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Candidates who hold a full practising professional qualification obtained by examination.
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Candidates who do not satisfy any of the academic requirements listed in
Regulations 2 and 5, but who submit satisfactory evidence of the capacity and attainments requisite to enable them to pursue the course proposed.
The Head of School (or nominee) may similarly recommend these exceptions for Regulation 3 – English Language Requirements where they relate to a non visa sponsored student. For all visa sponsored students the UKVI regulations are absolute and no exceptions can be applied.
5. Course Requirements
1. Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty and School
Courses
Qualification Requirement
Schools of:
Art, Media and American Studies
History
Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies
MA by Research
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
(Successful candidates are normally expected to achieve 60% or above in a Master’s degree, including at least 60% in the taught element.)
School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing
MA by Research
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study.
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
(Successful candidates are normally expected to achieve 65% or above in a Master’s degree.)
2. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Faculty and School
Courses
Qualification Requirement
Schools:
Norwich Medical School
School of Health Sciences
MSc by Research
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
(Successful candidates normally require MBBS or equivalent, or for interrupting medical students the successful completion of a medical degree course up to Year 3.)
Norwich Medical School
ClinPsyD
Doctoral admission requirement as in Regulation 2, plus requirements as listed in the Award Regulations for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (compliance with Clearing House process and DBS clearance.)
Norwich Medical School
MD
Doctoral admission requirement as in Regulation 2, plus requirements as listed in the Award Regulations for the Doctor of Medicine.
Norwich Medical School
ProfD
Doctoral admission requirement as in Regulation 2, plus requirements as listed in the Award Regulations for the Professional Doctorate.
3. Faculty of Science
Faculty and School
Courses
Qualification Requirement
Schools of:
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Computing Sciences
Engineering
Environmental Sciences
Mathematics
Pharmacy
MSc by Research
PhD
2:2 in a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
Or: a 2:2 in a Bachelor’s degree and 60% or above in a taught Master’s degree in a relevant field of study;
Or: a 2:2 in a Bachelor’s degree and a research Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
3. Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty and School
Courses
Qualification Requirement
Schools of:
School of Economics
School of Psychology
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
(Successful candidates are normally expected to achieve 60% or above in a Master’s degree.)
School of Education and Lifelong Learning
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
(Successful candidates are normally expected to achieve 60% or above overall, and a minimum of 65% in the dissertation or research component of a Master’s degree.)
EdD / MEd
Doctoral admission requirement as in Regulation 2, plus requirements as listed in the Award Regulations for the Doctor of Education and Master of Education.
EdPsyD
Doctoral admission requirement as in Regulation 2, plus requirements as listed in the Award Regulations for the Doctorate in Educational Psychology.
School of Global Development
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
(Successful candidates are normally expected to achieve 65% or above in a Master’s degree.)
School of Law
LLM by Research
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
(Successful candidates are normally expected to achieve 60% or above overall, and a minimum of 65% in the dissertation or research component of a Master’s degree; or a minimum Merit or equivalent in an LLM.)
Norwich Business School
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study, including at least 65% or equivalent overall and at least 65% in the dissertation or extended research element in the Master’s degree.
School of Social Work
PhD
2:1 in a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study, including at least 65% or equivalent overall in the Master’s degree.
4. Norwich Bioscience Institutes Graduate School
The minimum academic entry requirements are those for the intended School/course of registration.
5. University of Suffolk Graduate School
The minimum academic entry requirements are those for the intended School/course of registration.