Postgraduate Research Next Steps

Are you interested in pushing your knowledge further by pursuing a postgraduate research degree? Perhaps you have just completed another qualification, such as a Master’s, or have decided to return to education from a gap or employment.  

Our postgraduate research environment is an inspiring and welcoming space for you to uncover more in the area you are passionate about. But what is next, and how do you go about it?

Visit us at an open day 

Come and see us in person at an Open Day to explore the campus and see the fantastic facilities we have here at BCU. You’ll have an opportunity to have in-depth conversations with our academics, support services and current students to help you make your decision. 

At our events, you will be able to find out all the information you need about the university and discuss your research ideas with academics in your area of interest. You can also speak directly to our friendly doctoral research college, who can guide you on funding and the research degree application process. 

Choose your area of interest and apply online

Browse our postgraduate research degree courses across a range of subject areas. Our course application pages will provide you with further detail on the structure and entry requirements for each postgraduate research degree. For more information see how to apply for a PhD and our PhD FAQs.

Write a proposal

Your research proposal should give potential supervisors a clear idea of your intentions for your research project, including what you aim to solve or discover and why your research will be important. Outline the idea of your research, what you hope to achieve with it, provide a firm academic context and highlight what benefits your research will have. 

Match with a supervisor

You don’t need to propose a supervisor before you apply for a postgraduate research degree, but you are welcome to contact our academics to discuss your research informally if you wish. After your online application is submitted, our doctoral research college will assign a potential supervisor with expertise in your discipline to assess your submission.

Attend an interview

If your chosen research topic can be supported, the relevant faculty will invite you to an interview. There, they will discuss your application in more detail and explore your project further.   

Consider funding options

There are multiple ways to fund a postgraduate degree, including government loans, studentships and external funding. If you are a current BCU student or graduate, you may be eligible for our graduate scholarship, a 20% fee reduction if you're a BCU graduate enrolling onto a relevant PhD qualification for the first time. Find out more about postgraduate funding here.