Admission

Admission to undertake a research degree in the U.K. typically requires a good bachelor's degree (at least lower second or above, but usually an upper second or first class). Students may or may not already have a Master's degree. For some universities, research candidates are admitted to do an M.Phil. first, then later convert to a Ph.D. if they progress well.

Admission to do a research master's degree (or "M.Res"), which is usually based mainly or wholly on a dissertation and associated coursework, depends upon having an undergraduate degree, generally in a related subject. Admission for coursework-based courses usually require a good honours degree (at second class upper or above) in a related discipline.