Should I apply as a full-time or part-time student?
Formulating an initial Research Proposal
General guidance and full information on policy and procedures
Entry requirements
You must normally hold a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree in an appropriate subject and/or an MA with distinction or near distinction in a degree subject related to the proposed research.
It will greatly benefit your studies if you are able to live within reasonable travelling distance of the College whilst you are studying, with easy access to research libraries and facilities. If you apply for part-time study, you must demonstrate that you will spend a minimum of two and a half working days a week in study.
You must show that you can meet the financial requirements of research study. If you receive an offer, you will be expected to provide evidence that you are able to pay your tuition fees. This can be from sponsorships, bursaries or scholarships. If you intend to pay your own fees you will have to do this from a capital sum invested in a bank account or other accessible cash fund. Please note that property is not eligible for this purpose.
Language requirements
If English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. We accept a range of qualifications as shown in the list below.
| Test Type | Total Score: |
| IELTS (taken within two years of the start of your studies at Heythrop) | 6.5 With no less than 6.5 in each of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing |
| TOEFL Internet Based Test (taken within two years of the start of your studies at Heythrop) | 92 with no less than 23 in each of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing |
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English | C (with at least W in each component) |
| Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English | A (with at least B in each component) |
| GCSE/IGCSE English | C |
| International Baccalaureate Standard Level English | 4 |
| Successful completion of an academic qualification, at least equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, which was taught in a majority English-speaking country (as defined by the UK Border Agency) |
Application Documents
Please download and complete the following documents and return them to the Research and Policy Administrator, Ms Frith Hooton, preferably by email to avoid delay, at f.hooton@heythrop.ac.uk.
Postgraduate Application Form (Please note that you cannot save this form. Please 'save as' to your own machine, then print it out and sign it before sending. A scanned PDF of the form once completed and signed is fine.)
Guidance notes for completing the Postgraduate Application Form (includes reference cover sheet and guidance for referees)
Equal Opportunities Form
Please include with your Application and Equal Opportunities Forms the following documentation:
1. A statement of the proposed research of 1500-2000 words (including footnotes), plus a bibliography (not included in the 1500-2000 words) that demonstrates that you have a clear idea of the body of material from which your research results will be drawn, and in the case of empirical research, that you have a well-formed understanding (albeit initial) of how that research will be conducted.
2. References – please arrange for the College to receive two academic references to support your application. These should be from people who will normally have doctorates themselves and/or be accredited lecturers at an institute of higher education, who have good knowledge of academic work you have already undertaken, and are capable of giving the College a professional opinion concerning your abilities.
3. A full transcript of marks from previous relevant BA and MA qualifications. Note: it is essential to supply actual marks, a copy of your degree diploma or certificate is not sufficient.
4. If English is not your first language, you must either provide proof of your ability to write and read English to IELTS level 7 or its certificated equivalent (certificates must be no more than 2 years old), or show that you have studied a degree taught in English in the UK.
5. A copy of the photograph page of your passport.
6. If you are an overseas applicant and require a Tier 4 student visa you must also provide copies of all your previous visas to date, as well as the CAS letters which have been issued to you. We are required to show these to the UKBA authorities if asked, and it is our responsibility to ensure that you meet all the criteria of eligibility.
It greatly helps to avoid delay if you ensure that all the documentation is included with your application in the first instance, and that referees are encouraged to send their references promptly.
Should I apply as a full-time or part-time student?
Note that full-time research means full-time: if you have significant professional or work commitments, or burdensome home commitments, to which you need to give time, you are recommended to choose part-time registration. This permits a less pressured progress through the degree.
Application Process
Applicants may send in applications at any time. There are two points of entry to research programmes. You may begin your study on 01 October (Michaelmas Term) or on 01 January (Lent Term) in any one year. Please specify your desired starting month in the 'Academic year' box on Page 1 of the application form.
All applications are considered by the Dean of Research Students and the relevant Head of Department before a decision can be made. We try to turn these around as quickly as we can, but unfortunately resources do not always allow us to respond immediately upon receipt of the application, so we ask for your patience in this regard. If a response is urgently required please email the Research and Policy Administrator at f.hooton@heythrop.ac.uk.
Interview Procedures
If your application receives initial approval you may be invited to interview by your prospective supervisors. Please contact the Research and Policy Adminstrator if you have any queries about how to reach Heythrop College.
The Research and Policy Administrator will agree a date with you and the interviewers, and send you an invitation. Your interview will last about half an hour, and you should be prepared to describe your proposed research, give full and considered anwers to questions about it, and explain the direction in which you feel the research might lead. You may like to send examples of your written work, in advance, to the Research and Policy Administrator for onward transmission to your interviewers.
Formulating an initial Research Proposal
To find out more about research at Heythrop please visit our Research Degrees page.
A list of the main research strengths of each department can be found on the Research and Centres home page, and a full list of the research interests of staff can be found in the Staff Publications Database (search by research interests.) In formulating your research proposal you may approach a member of academic staff. If they are willing to help you develop a research proposal, you should not envisage extensive contact or intensive help, but rather one or two (at most) meetings.
If you have any questions about whom you might approach or how you do this, you should contact the Dean of Research Studies, Professor Michael Barnes, by email (m.barnes@heythrop.ac.uk) or letter in the first instance.
General guidance and full information on policy and procedures
Full information on all Heythrop research policies and procedures can be found in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees. For information on research ethics please click on the Ethics Committee Code of Practice.
Research Fees
Please see our Money Matters section for details of postgraduate fees and bursaries.
Funding your Research Degree
A number of funding bodies are able to provide full or partial scholarships for research degree study, and the College holds a subscription to the booklet ‘The Alternative Guide for Postgraduate Funding’ which gives useful information on what is available. If you would like a copy please request one from the Research and Policy Administrator at f.hooton@heythrop.ac.uk.
