If you wish to apply for any of our programmes, you can do so online from the appropriate page in the University's Online Prospectus. Full details on the application process are provided.

You will also need to send a copy of your Curriculum Vitae, a copy of your degree certificate (if you have already graduated), and a transcript of your studies. You should also provide references. You may enter your referees' details on your application form and they will be contacted by the University or you can obtain references directly from your referees in sealed envelopes and send them to us.

Your application documents should all be sent to the Postgraduate Admissions Office in The Registry - the address is given when you complete the application form.

Details about tuition fees and further general information can be found on the University's Postgraduate Admissions website. Details about possible sources of financial support can be found on our Funding Pages. 

Non-native speakers of English without a degree level qualification in English should provide evidence of English language proficiency (IELTS certificate or equivalent). If you have gained just under the score required for your preferred programme, it might be possible to make you an offer based on you attending a pre-sessional English course here at the University. We can also provide support during your time here.

Applying to register as a research student

Before applying to register as a research student, please consult the research interests of our academic staff. This will give you an idea of the areas of research available in the Department.

In the first instance you should prepare a research proposal giving details of your proposed thesis. This should indicate that you are familiar with the general background to your field and that the project has a sense of direction. A beneficial way of thinking of this is to understand the finished thesis as an answer to a good question. Your research proposal should be submitted together with an application form and the supporting documents detailed below. From this information the Department will need to identify an appropriate supervisor from among its staff. If your project is approved and a supervisor is available, the Department will recommend to the University that your application be accepted.

When you prepare your research proposal, you should also (if you have not already done so) complete the application form required by the University. On that form you should give the names and addresses of two academic referees, whom we can contact to ask for their opinion of your capacity to complete the proposed research. You should ask for permission to give their details, but the Department will contact them direct for a confidential reference. In addition to the research proposal, you should also attach to the application form a detailed Curriculum Vitae listing all your academic and professional qualifications/experience.

It is important that you follow the guidelines below in the submission of your research proposal. Proposals that do not adhere to the guidelines will not be considered.

Your research proposal should not exceed 1,500 words (excluding bibliographical references) and you should provide the following information:

1. A precise topic of research within a defined field (e.g. an analysis of British news discourse from a media studies     perspective, an analysis of classroom interaction from a conversation analytic perspective etc.);
2. An indication of the key research question you would be investigating;
3. What prior research, if any, has been carried out by other scholars;
4. What you aim to achieve through your research and why this is important;
5. The approach (i.e. methodology) you intend to employ and a justification of it;
6. Where appropriate, an indication of the sources of data that you would need;
7. If possible, an estimation of the project's time-scale in accordance with MPhil/PhD requirements;
8. The way(s) in which your project make a new and distinct contribution to the field.

You will need to support all or some of these points by reference to relevant literature. This information should be listed in a bibliography at the end of your proposal.

Please note that we may request that you attend an interview before we confirm support for your application.

Where the applicant's native language or language of habitual use is not English, the University will require some evidence of an applicant's proficiency in the English language. Such applicants must be able to demonstrate an ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English and should have gained a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent in both writing and speaking tests. Applicants may be required to take an approved proficiency test examination and/or to attend a course of English Language study before admission (see the University's Postgraduate Prospectus or The Department of Language and Translation Studies for further details).

Application Documents

Please apply using the following documents:

1. Your research proposal.
2. Your curriculum vitae.

Once registered your supervisor(s) will advise you on the postgraduate research training opportunities provided by the University and the Department. A relevant programme of postgraduate research training will then be drawn up by you in consultation with your supervisor(s).

Need more information?

Postgraduate Taught

Tel.: +44 (0)1483 686243
Email: pg.english@surrey.ac.uk

Postgraduate Research

Tel: +44 (0)1483 689198
Email: research.english@surrey.ac.uk