Guidance for Applicants
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Here is a basic overview of the guide, if you are unable to access the above link:
A completed application will need to be accompanied by the following:
Go to the online application form or to the course A to Z
- 2 references
- Degree Certificate (N/A to University of Manchester graduates or those with degrees currently incomplete)
- Transcript (N/A to University of Manchester graduates)
- Language Test Certificate (only if English is not your first language [see details below])
- (Subject to specific course requirements below) Writing Sample or CV (Resumé)
Course Specific Information
- Art Gallery & Museum Studies: You will need to provide a staement of purpose outlining any work experience (including voluntary work) you have in a museum, gallery, or other related institution
- Arts Management, Policy & Practice: You will need to provide a statement of purpose outlining any work experience you have in an arts management and/or cultural policy related context, for example in arts venues and organisations, cultural services, voluntary organisations.
- Classics & Ancient History: PhD applicants should include a research proposal, which outlines their key research questions and their proposed approach and method . The research proposal should be c.1,000 words long (the word-count to include footnotes but not bibliography).
- Composition/Electro-acoustic Music Composition: Portfolio of works.
- Creative Writing: Please submit either a 2,000 word sample of original prose from your portfolio, or 7/8 poems. You can submit a combination of the two if it suits you best.
- English and American Studies: All overseas students must supply an academic essay relating to the subject.
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History: For a PhD application, please include a research proposal, which outlines your key research questions, your proposed primary source base, and how you situate these in relation to the existing literature in the field. This should be 1,000-1,500 words long. For an MA application, a shorter general statement about the probable dissertation topic of up to 500 words will suffice. Overseas applicants must also supply an academic essay (in English) relating to the subject, between 4,000 and 10,000 words long.
For any subject, we may request an essay when considering the application if your previous academic career is not related to the subject for which you are applying.
Please note: It is in your best interest to supply us with copies of documentation and not originals as we cannot guarantee they will be returned to you.
Language Test Certificate
If English is not your first language, you will need to send us evidence of a language test score. The following are acceptable:
- IELTS (7.0 minimum writing score*)
- Toefl (Internet-based 104 / Computer-based 250 minimum / Paper-based 600 minimum)
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English [CPE] (Grade C minimum)
* (we may accept a score of 6.5 in the case of applicants to Music Composition courses; contact us for details)
The certificate must have been taken no more than 2 years prior to the current application. Also, we might want to see a 2,000 word essay related to the subject for which you have applied. If you have one already, we would recommend you upload it with the application or post it to:
Postgraduate Admissions, School of Arts, Histories & Cultures, Room 2.14, Mansfield Cooper Building, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL
For any queries, please call Claire on 0161 306 1259 or Andy on 0161 275 3144 or email andrew.rigg@manchester.ac.uk .
- Go to the online application form or to the course A to Z