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What to expect when you enrol for an MPhil/PhD at the University of Westminster

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Information for international students

What to expect when you enrol for an MPhil/PhD at the University of Westminster

Click here to view the Research Degree Key Documents.

As a full-time research student, you are required to spend at least 35 hours a week on your research programme and as a part-time student at least 15 hours a week. Activities will include:

  • meetings with your supervisors
  • meetings with other research students and staff
  • library work
  • fieldwork, where appropriate
  • attendance at University-level training sessions, including training for teaching, and training
  • delivered by your School and/or Department
  • additional English language training, where appropriate
  • attending Masters-level modules, as advised by your supervisors
  • attendance and presentations at seminars at Westminster
  • attendance at colloquia organised by Westminster and outside agencies
  • attendance and presentation of papers at conferences
  • other activities in your School
  • possibly teaching on various modules offered by your School

You won't have 'classes' as such every day but as you can see from the above, your time will be more than filled by the activities required to be undertaken by research students at Westminster.

Induction and enrolment

Induction/enrolment for entry in October 2010 will take place either on 27 or 29 September 2010 and you will be invited to one of these nearer the time.

The date for induction/enrolment in February 2011 is yet to be set.

Induction day is the opportunity to meet key staff from across the University and your fellow students as they start the research degree 'journey'. You will be given essential information about research study at Westminster, ranging from policies and regulations, to student services to support you, to working with your supervisors. There are also opportunities for discussion with your fellow students and a buffet lunch will be provided. You will also be given guidance on what to do next, with details of your supervision team and induction activities in your School. As Induction forms the first element of the University's Research Training Programme and because of the essential nature of the information provided, attendance in mandatory.

For details on the enrolment process click here

Fees and payment

Visit Fees and Payments

If you are an Overseas student you will need to pay a deposit in order to obtain your visa letter. Click here to find out how.

Research training

Research training and the development of generic skills are as important a part of the research degree 'journey' as the pursuit of the research itself - as research degree study aims to develop a 'lifetime' researcher, not only to produce a thesis. All research degree students are therefore required to undertake the University Research Training Programme which seeks to develop and to record the relevant research and generic skills. Students who are engaged in teaching or related academic activity are required to undertake an appropriate training course before they start teaching. This is monitored through the University Research Training Programme.

ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme)

ATAS stands for Academic Technology Approval Scheme and is one of the government’s measures designed to combat terrorism and weapons proliferation.

The British Government now requires International research students who are intending to undertake certain programmes of study in the UK to apply for what is known as an ATAS certificate, which forms part of their student visa application.

Each course and programme of study run at UK universities is identified by a subject code known as a Joint Academic Coding System (JACS) Code, and those International students whose courses/programmes have one of these codes have to apply for an ATAS certificate.

For further information about ATAS and how to apply for a certificate go to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website

You must get your certificate before you apply for your visa.