How to apply

Your completed online application should contain:

1. Two academic references. References should comply with our standard requirements outlined on our guidance pages
2. University degree certificates and transcripts to date (transcripts are documents showing your grades for individual units/essays/exams throughout your degree). Please provide documents from all previous undergraduate and postgraduate study.
3. Your IELTS certificate or equivalent documentation to show that you meet the minimum language requirements detailed in Profile B.
4. A 3,000 word research proposal (stating the aims and objectives of the research, detailing the research design and methods, and including a bibliography). This is the proposal required by the School for admission to the programme, once an offer is made you may be required to provide a shorter proposal for any funding applications.
5. A personal statement highlighting the motivation for applying for the course, and any relevant experience and/or skills (1-2 pages only).
6. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) which might include details of other relevant work experience and qualifications to support your application (1-2 pages only).

Please note that your application is not considered complete until all of the above has been received.

Please ensure your referees are aware that they will receive an online reference request and inform them of any relevant funding deadlines.

Once all documents have been checked the complete application will be sent to potential supervisors for review. It can take a number of weeks to review an application and make a decision. Decisions will be published to you via the online application portal. 

If you wish to commence a PhD starting in September 2026 you would generally need to have submitted your complete application before 1st July 2026. Earlier deadlines will apply for scholarship applications. 

Please note that if you are wishing to commence your study at any time after September (such as January) this is only possible at the discretion of your supervisors. 

If you are interested in being considered for any scholarships, we strongly advise that you submit your complete online application form for the relevant PhD programme well in advance of the advertised deadline. 

Please read through the eligibility criteria and application instructions carefully for each scholarship. You may be asked to complete the application form in a certain way, or be required to submit separate documents to be eligible for consideration, such as shorter version of your research proposal.

Please specify the scholarship(s) that you wish to apply for by selecting the corresponding funding source drop-down list in your application form, if the funding is not listed please select 'other' and specify the award in the free text box. This will highlight to our admissions tutors which funding you wish to be considered for should you be made an offer of study on the programme.

Applicants intending to apply for SWDTP, CSC or UoB funding must have submitted their online PhD programme application by 1st December 2025.

Applicants wishing to apply for SWDTP ESRC-funding should apply to the relevant PhD programme directly. 

**Note: You must hold an offer from the University of Bristol before submitting the application documents for a SWDTP ESRC studentship.**

The SWDTP ESRC scholarship application is a three step process;

1. Submission of complete University of Bristol PhD postgraduate application form. (including all references) 
2. Offer holders and their supervisors must meet for an online "research conversation" as part of the SWDTP application process
3. Submission of completed SWDTP application documents (PhD offer holders only) to spais-pgr@bristol.ac.uk 

The deadlines for 2026/27 are: 

• UoB Programme application deadline: 1st December 2025, 12pm (noon)  
• SWDTP application deadline (programme offer holders only): 9th January 2026, 12pm (noon) 

To be eligible for consideration for China Scholarship Council studentships you must submit your PhD postgraduate application form with a valid English language certificate. 

The deadlines for 2026/27 are: 

• UoB Programme application deadline: 1st December 2025, 12pm (noon)  
• If nominated by the University of Bristol, you must apply directly to the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for a scholarship, deadline TBA

Funding available to students for September 2026 entry include:

• Research Scholarship*
• Research Scholarship for UK-domiciled, Home fee status applicants of Black and mixed-Black heritage*
• Cotutelle Scholarship with Macquarie University, Australia Please read the eligibility requirements carefully if you wish to apply for this funding. Candidates for this Cotutelle must have also applied directly to Macquarie for a PhD enrolment

The deadlines for 2026/27 entry are: 

• UoB Programme application deadline: 1st December 2025, 12pm (noon)

• If your application is successful and you receive a PhD offer, you must then complete and submit a separate Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarship application form. Scholarship application deadline: Friday 23 January 2026 (noon).