This FAQ is to answer the general questions from applicants. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us.
Can I download an application form and submit my application by email?
No. All applicants for a postgraduate research programme must submit their applications and supporting documents on Application HUB.
What is the minimum entry requirement of a PGR programme?
If you apply for a PhD programme, you will generally need to hold an honours bachelor degree at second class upper division and/or a master degree at merit level or above in a relevant subject from a British university.
Or international equivalent to the above, e.g., a graduate of an approved US university holding a bachelor/master’s degree in a relevant subject (normally with a GPA 3.0/4.0 or above); or a graduate of an approved Chinese university holding a bachelor/master’s degree in a relevant subject (normally with an average 80% or above).
I only hold a bachelor degree, can I apply for a PhD programme?
Currently Faculty of Science and Engineering (FoSE) considers applicants who hold a bachelor degree with second class upper division or above to apply for a PhD programme.
The Nottingham University Business School China only considers extraordinarily outstanding applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree with first class honours from one of Nottingham’s campuses and demonstrate a strong passion for research in a particular area.
Am I eligible to apply for a PhD scholarship?
University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) PhD scholarships are only open to full-time PhD applicants who have a bachelor’s degree with first class honours or a master’s degree with Merit or above (average score no less than 65%) from a British university or its international equivalent. Applicants with a master’s degree also should hold a bachelor’s degree at upper second class or above level.
For some schools/departments that consider applicants holding a bachelor’s degree, an exceptional track record (i.e., first class honours or its international equivalent) obtained from one of the most prestigious universities is expected.
I am interested in a joint doctoral partnership scholarship, should I contact a potential supervisor from UNNC?
Yes. You should identify a potential supervisor from UNNC whose research interest aligns with yours. Even if you have identified a supervisor from a partner institution, you still must identify a UNNC supervisor before submitting your application.
Do all PGR programmes provide both full-time and part-time study mode?
All PhD programmes provide both full-time and part-time study mode.
All MRes programmes provide full-time study mode but only one of MRes programmes, Master of Research in Sustainable Energy and Building Technologies provides part-time study mode.
Can I apply for any entry?
You may consider either Spring or Autumn entry that better serves your study plan. However, you are strongly encouraged to consider September entry for when a majority of scholarships are open.
Please be noted that a few programmes are only open in September entry:
- All Master of Research programmes
I have obtained a degree in an English speaking country, e.g. USA, UK, will the English requirement be waived for me?
The English requirement can be waived should you have obtained a bachelor or master degree from an English speaking country that can be found from the list posted on the website.
However the university may still request you to provide an IELTS under certain circumstances, e.g. the instruction language is not English but others like French or Spanish.
I haven’t got an IELTS test score / My IELTS test score has expired, when is the deadline by which I have to submit a satisfactory IELTS result?
Applicants applying for a PGR programme have to provide a satisfactory IELTS a few weeks before registration, e.g. 31 July 2023 for September 2023 entry, 31 December 2023 for February 2024 entry.
You shall not delay the English language test till you are admitted.
I am a Chinese applicant and I obtained my bachelor or master degree abroad or in Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, do I have to provide the certification obtained from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (教育部留学服务中心)?
Yes, please provide the certification.
I am a staff member employed by UNNC, what kind of additional documents shall I provide?
If you are a current UNNC staff member, please notify your line manager before submitting your PGR application. And please attach an email or letter from your line manager confirming that he or she is aware of your PGR application. If you are applying for a part-time PGR programme, please also attach an email or letter from HR Office confirming their support.
Please give at least one month notice to HR Office when you decide to quit your job at UNNC should your application for a Full-time PGR programme is successful.
Any further enquiries about the above requirements, please contact HR Office (HR@nottingham.edu.cn).
Can I apply for a deferral if I cannot register for one entry?
You can only request a deferral of your offer if there is another start date within the same academic year (the academic year runs from September to August). In other words, only students admitted to the September entry can apply to defer to the next entry in February. If you want to defer your offer to the next entry, please contact PGR Admissions at PGR@nottingham.edu.cn at least four weeks before the expected entry date.
Because there is no spring entry for MRes students, deferral is not applicable to them.
If you have been awarded a UNNC PhD scholarship, the scholarship will be automatically withdrawn. Deferment of a scholarship will only be on a case-by-case basis.
I am in the final year of my degree study, when should I submit my final transcript and degree certificate?
If you are in your final year of degree study, you can submit your application with a provisional transcript and a studying certificate.
Should you are admitted, you are required to have fulfilled all conditions set in your offer normally by the end of July or December for September or February entry respectively. If your current course will not be completed until later in the year and you will not be able to receive your final transcript and degree certificates before the September entry, your application will be assessed for the following entry in February. If the programme for which you applied does not have an entry in the spring, such as the Master of Research (MRes), you should wait and apply for the next intake.