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• How to Apply For a PhD: Step-By-Step

Written by Hannah Slack

Deciding to do a PhD is a big step and the road to submitting applications can seem long. To help you wade through all the information out there we’ve put together a simple step-by-step guide to the PhD application process.

Complete with top tips and links to further information, applying for a PhD has never looked simpler.

On this page

Step 1: choose your research area.

The first, and most obvious, step to applying for a PhD is to decide what research area you want to work in. Whether you’re looking for an Arts and Humanities PhD or a STEM one, each individual subject is made up of a vast array of research topics.

Most PhD courses will expect students to have a degree in a relevant field, although your previous qualifications do not have to be in the exact same discipline as the PhD you apply for. Students with a Masters in History, for example, may apply to research within the Religious Studies department. As long as the nature of research is similar and your chosen topic correlates with your experience, it’s possible to apply for a degree in a different department.

It’s worthwhile spending a bit of time considering what department you might want to join and what type of research you want to conduct.

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Step 2: decide what kind of PhD you want to do

There are two main types of PhDs: predesigned projects and self-proposed projects. The route you choose to take will mainly depend on your personal preference and situation.

While STEM subjects tend to have more predesigned projects, there are many students who choose to plan their own. Similarly, most Arts and Humanities PhDs are self-proposed but there are also many advertised projects out there.

Predesigned project

Advertised projects usually come in three different forms:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

The main difference between these three types of PhDs is the level of industry experience offered to students, DTPs usually having the least industry involvement and iCASEs the most. However, all three do offer internship opportunities.

Some of these terms are used interchangeably, but you can read more about the differences between predesigned studentships in our guide.

The benefit of predesigned projects is that they are typically fully-funded four-year studentships. There are also many that come with an integrated Masters during the first year for those applying with only a Bachelors degree.

You also won’t have to research and plan your own project, which can save a lot of time.

However, as multiple students will be applying for the same advertised PhD opportunities, places can be competitive. Your choice of projects will also be limited to whatever research is currently advertised.

Design your own project

Many students in all fields choose to design and propose their own research project for PhD study. This option can be extremely rewarding as it allows students a lot more control over their work.

The downside is that not every self-proposed PhD is funded. While there are lots of funding opportunities available, there is not enough to cover the amount of PhD applications each year. Students may have to apply for part-time work or small grants throughout their studies.

Additionally, you will have to put in more time to your application as you need to design a viable PhD project.

For students choosing this route some additional steps are needed:

Step 2.1: research

To be able to propose a viable research project, you will need to spend a significant amount of time researching your chosen field. You may have already conducted some research during your previous degrees, giving you a good starting point.

The point of this step is to become familiar with the main academic arguments in your research area. You should then be able to identify a gap in the academic discussion which you will be able to fill in the timeframe of a PhD. This could include discussing an underused or new source base, criticising an academic argument or applying a new or different theory to the current discussions.

You should then look to identify a preliminary source base and decide how you intend to use the information.

Step 2.2: draft a research proposal

After completing a period of research, you should write up a draft research proposal. While this won’t be your final piece for submission with your application, having a draft can be useful when it comes to step three, contacting prospective supervisors. You can find out more about how to write a good PhD proposal in our guide.

Step 3: contact prospective supervisors

Once you have decided on which projects you intend to apply for, or drafted a research proposal, it’s time to reach out to prospective supervisors. This is an important step as it allows you to gain more insight into how your potential PhD might go. Our top tips for getting in contact with potential PhD supervisors can help you to reach out.

For predesigned projects the supervisor will be listed in the advertisement. By contacting them you can introduce yourself and discuss the research in more detail.

If you are proposing your own PhD research then you will have to search for potential supervisors yourself. The research stage of step two should mean that you have a good grip on the prominent academics in your field. This is a good place to start. It is also worthwhile looking through staff lists on university websites to find other experts who are perhaps earlier on in their career.

Contacting prospective supervisors is a good opportunity to receive feedback on your ideas and research proposal. You should first ask if they are able to take a look at your draft after briefly explaining who you are and summarising your project. Any feedback can be extremely useful as their expertise and experience could help them notice any holes in your proposal that you should consider and fix before applying.

Receiving feedback from an inhouse academic will also help you tailor your proposal specifically to the expertise of your prospective institution and supervisor expertise.

Step 4: check entry requirements

The next major step is to check the entry requirements of the institution or project. Most PhD applicants should have a Masters degree in a relevant field as well as a history of strong academic achievement.

PhD without a Masters

Some funded studentships will allow Bachelors graduates to apply. There is also the possibility to apply for an integrated programme that will include a year of Masters level training before beginning PhD research.

International applicants

If you are applying as an international student, make sure to check what visas may be required and how to obtain them. To study in the UK, international applicants will need a Student Route visa. To apply for this, you will need:

• a confirmation of acceptance into a university
• proof of sufficient funds
• proof that you meet the English language requirements

Make sure to check beforehand the eligibility criteria of the visa you need to apply for in case you need to undertake a language exam or entry test .

Step 5: check fees and potential funding options

Once you have decided which PhD opportunities you want to apply for, and know that you’re eligible, it’s time to look more deeply at the financial practicalities. PhD study is not cheap and often has many unforeseen costs such as books, equipment, travel and conferencing fees. Knowing your potential funding options can help you plan ahead.

Funding options

Practically all PhD applicants hope to be fully-funded. If you are applying for an advertised project then you will typically receive full funding if successful. This funding most commonly comes from Research Councils who outline their own restrictions on how the money can be used and deadlines for thesis submission. It’s a good idea to read the funder’s terms and conditions and make sure you understand what would be required of you as a researcher.

Those designing their own PhD are likely to apply for Research Council funding. Unfortunately, there is only a set amount of money available from Research Councils for self-proposed projects and so some PhDs are unsuccessful in their application. However, this does not mean you can’t go on and complete a successful PhD.

As receiving fully-funded studentships can be very competitive, it’s important to know other potential sources of funding. These can include:

• Universities – Many institutions offer their own funding , ranging from small fee discounts to full studentships. Make sure to research any financial support your chosen universities may offer and what you and your project could be applicable for.
• Charities, trusts and societies – some independent organisations offer to partially (and sometimes fully) fund PhD students if their research correlates with the groups’ interests. Support is available for a large variety of subjects so make sure to do some research.
• PhD loans – The UK government offers doctoral loans to English and Welsh PhD students who were unable to secure a full studentship. This will not usually cover the full cost of a PhD. Students wishing to self-fund with the help of a PhD loan will potentially have to take up part-time work such as teaching within the university.

PhD funding

Find out more about PhD funding options and how it works on FindAPhD.com.

Step 6: prepare to apply

Now that you have thought about the practicalities of PhD study you can start to gather the required documents to apply.

The most important thing to note down when starting to prepare is the PhD application deadlines. Many universities will have different deadlines and if you are applying for funding, applications may need to be submitted even earlier.

It’s a good idea to aim to submit your application with plenty of time to spare, taking into account any difficulties that might arise gathering together the relevant paper work.

The documents you need for your application will depend on the university and funding you are applying for. Some things you may be asked to provide are:

• Personal statement / cover letter
• Research proposal
• Details of at least two referees (make sure to contact them beforehand so they know what you are applying for and why)
• Academic transcript

International students may also need to provide:

• Proof of language proficiency
• Proof of funds
• Student visa

Step 7: submit your application

Once you have written, polished and gathered all the documents you need, it’s time to apply. Most PhD applications are done through the university’s application portal. Many also allow you to start your application and come back to it at a later date, so don’t feel like you have to submit everything all in one go.

If you are applying for funding separately make sure to read the details of how to apply on the funder’s website. Typically, Research Council funding is applied for with the same application you submit to the university. Other sources of funding may have a different application system.

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Our guide explains how to contact a potential PhD supervisor to discuss your proposal or ideas with them before applying.

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• Studying For A PhD

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Applying for a phd: step-by-step guide.

Studying a PhD is a big decision and submitting your application can feel like a long process. Though with the right guidance, applying for a PhD will be a lot more straightforward than you think. 

There is a lot of PhD application advice out there. To help you make sense of it all, we’ve put together a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to apply for a PhD. We cover the PhD application process, what you need to consider, what to prepare and how to submit your application.

Follow the steps below to understand everything you need to know when applying for a PhD.

PhD application checklist

• Choose your subject area
• Choose your type of PhD
• Check application deadline
• Draft a research proposal
• Contact potential PhD supervisors
• Check PhD entry requirements
• Check PhD fees and funding
• Make your PhD application
• Submit your PhD application 

In this article, we’re going to look at all these different elements in greater detail to help you with the PhD application process.

1. Choose your subject area

You will be  studying your PhD for a long time – between three- and four-years’ full time and up to eight years part time – so it is essential you choose to study a subject you are passionate about.

Most PhD students study a subject area that they have studied previously, but in much greater detail. Most PhD courses require some previous academic experience in the research area, for example if you choose to study your PhD on William Shakespeare, you are likely to have studied the works of Shakespeare as part of an English Literature masters degree. Similarly, if your PhD research is in a science-based topic it is likely to be going more in depth into a science-related field you studied as an undergraduate and then as a masters student.

However, your PhD does not have to be directly related to your masters degree, for example an English Language masters graduate could expect to be successful if applying to do research in an  English literature PhD if they have achieved the necessary grades.

There are many areas that you can consider when choosing the subject area for your PhD. These could come from the  Arts ,  Humanities , STEM , Social Sciences and  Business .

Research the department at your chosen university to find the perfect PhD program to apply for.

2. Choose your type of PhD

Whilst most PhDs follow a traditional route (completing an independent research project under a supervisor), there are alternatives.

The two main types of PhD include: self-proposed PhD projects and predesigned PhD projects.

Self-proposed PhDs are the most common and traditional type of doctoral degree, although universities also offer predesigned PhD courses that integrate aspects of taught study.

Make sure you’ve considered your PhD options fully before applying for a PhD. Here are the main differences between self-proposed and predesigned PhD projects.

Self-proposed PhD projects

Self-proposed PhDs are the most common type of PhD, where students propose and design their own research.

With a self-proposed PhD, the student has a lot of control over their work and can specialise in any area that interests them with the support and approval of their academic supervisor.

Not all self-proposed PhDs receive funding, so applicants will need to make sure they have appropriate funding in place to pursue their self-proposed PhD.

There may also be some additional steps in the application process for self-proposed to ensure success in their PhD application. The student will have to dedicate a lot of time to their PhD application as it will need to include their PhD study proposal.

Predesigned PhD projects (Doctoral Training Centres)

Many universities now have something known as ‘DTC centres’, or ‘ Doctoral Training Centres ’. Many of these are in economic, social or scientific research areas, so if this is your area of interest, PhDs run out of DTC centres are worth exploring, as they can have substantial funding included. 

Predesigned PhD projects are usually slightly longer in course length than most traditional PhDs, as they’re likely to include a year of lectures and a variety of projects in the first year, before choosing to specialise in the second year.

This option is great if you know you want to do a PhD but aren’t entirely certain of what you’d like to do beyond a general area. Best of all, they often offer fully funded  studentships .

3. Check application deadlines

When applying for a PhD it is important to ensure you meet all application deadlines, this includes the deadlines for your PhD application form and PhD proposal as well as any PhD funding deadlines.

Different universities will have different deadlines, and some universities may even have rolling deadlines, this means it is important to check on the website of the university and department you are interested in, to make sure you get your application in on time.

4. Draft a research proposal

It’s important to draft a PhD proposal when you are applying for a PhD. This is a requirement of most self-proposed PhD applications and can also be necessary when applying for other PhDs.

To ensure the success of your PhD research proposal, it’s a good idea to do some research around the subject area before submitting your research proposal. This will give you a better idea of what it is you want to research and will also help you to present your proposal more clearly.

How to write a PhD research proposal

When writing a PhD research proposal, you will need to include the following:

• A TITLE that clearly conveys the theme of your research project.
• The main RESEARCH QUESTION that will be the focus of your research.
• An EXPLANATION of why your research topic is important.
• Brief LITERATURE REVIEW demonstrating your knowledge to answer the question.
• Proposed METHODOLOGY for answering your research questions.
• TIMELINE SCHEDULE of the research project.  

5. Contact potential PhD supervisors

You want to make sure you choose your potential PhD supervisor in plenty of time. Of course, you should always leave plenty of time for any application, but this is especially important for a PhD, as you will often be applying to a particular supervisor who is a specialist in your area of study.

Therefore, you need to ensure you have enough time to research into suitable PhD supervisors and get in contact with them before you apply for the doctorate.

You shouldn’t rush this research, as  getting the most out of your supervisor is the first step to doing well in PhD study – it’s important to make sure you pick the one best for you.

Another important consideration is  where you choose to study . You’ll want to look at the department’s reputation, and to make sure it excels in research in the area you intend to study do you get the support you need.

6. Check PhD entry requirements

To be eligible to study a PhD, you will usually need a  masters qualification in the subject area or in a closely related subject to the subject upon which you wish to base your PhD research.

However, entry requirements will differ depending on the university, so it is important to check the PhD eligibility requirements of the PhD and university that you are interested in studying at.

Applying without a masters

Some PhD courses will allow you to apply without a masters degree although you will need a bachelors degree. These are only usually offered as integrated masters and PhD programs which include a year of masters study before PhD.

Applying for a PhD as an international student  

If you are an international student applying to study a PhD in the UK, check the  visa requirements that you need to meet.

To apply for a PhD in the UK, international students need a Student Route visa.

The Student Route visa is a points-based visa system for all international students – including EU, EEA and Swiss students – who want to study in the UK. This has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

You can apply for a  student visa if you meet the following criteria:

• You have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor.
• You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course.
• You can speak, read, write and understand English – you may need to prove this through a recognised English language test.

Student visas can only be issued for certain courses, and if your course is eligible, your education provider (Student sponsor) will give you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which you use to apply for a student visa.

The earliest you can apply for a student visa is six months before the start date of the course.

7. Check PhD fees and funding

Before committing to PhD study, it is important to check the PhD tuition fees and these will differ depending on the university and the course.

PhD tuition fees in the UK will be more expensive for international students than for home students. Tuition fees in the UK usually range from £3,000-£6,000 per year for home students and up to £18,000 per year for international students.

As a PhD student you will need to cover tuition fees, living expenses and any other unforeseen costs.

PhD scholarships and studentships are available, as is funding from various research councils, so make sure you investigate all your options and find out what financial help is available.

Funding your PhD

There are various funding options available to PhD students – here are the main ones:

University funding – some universities offer alumni funding support for students continuing their studies at their university. Check funding webpages for details.

PhD loans –  PhD loans are available from the  UK government .

PhD scholarships – many universities and companies offer  PhD scholarships , this includes our  Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries .

PhD studentships –  PhD studentships at your university are a great option as they usually include a stipend that covers full PhD tuition fees and some living costs.

Research councils – there are seven research councils in the UK that can provide funding for PhD students, these are:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
• Economic and Social Research Council
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
• Medical Research Council
• Natural Environment Research Council
• Science and Technology Facilities Council . 

Their funding can come as PhD studentships.

Self -funding – as a postgraduate student, you may have saved up money through work to enable you to  self-fund your PhD.

Don’t just apply to the standard big research funding bodies, but do your research and look into charities too. There are plenty of funds, foundations and other sources of money available to people with the right interests – and you might just be one of them!

8. Making your PhD application

Now you’ve done most of the preparation for your application, what about the actual application for a PhD? What does it involve?

When applying for a PhD, you usually apply directly to the university, rather than via a third party such as  UCAS .

PhD applications will differ from university to university, so check on the admissions page of the course you are interested in to make sure you include everything they ask for. You are likely to have to include:

• Completed application form
• Research proposal
• Personal statement
• Academic CV
• Academic references
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Student visa documentation

Ideally, you should have already contacted your intended supervisor and talked about it with them, via email or perhaps in person. They will give you a run through of everything to include in your application to help ensure you don’t leave anything out by mistake. 

You should ensure that you’re not too modest in applying for a PhD! If you’ve been published in a relevant area, or if you did exceptionally well or presented a particularly successful paper at a conference, mention it. You don’t need to brag, but you shouldn’t hide your achievements either.

PhD interviews

Unlike with bachelors degrees and many masters degrees, you will probably need to have a PhD interview as part of your application. If you’ve not had a university interview before, make sure you prepare well for it.

Ideally, if you’re still in education, see if a tutor you know can give you tips, or potentially a mock interview. If not, many universities’ careers service will remain open to you after graduating,,so contact them and see what advice they can offer you. 

Ensure you read up on anything you mentioned in your application and have good solid reasons for why you wish to do a PhD, and why you’ve chosen to do it at in that particular topic  at that particular university.

You should already know by now  what it takes to study a PhD and be able to answer convincingly when asked about these things during your interview.

9. Submit your PhD application

  Now you’ve reached the final step – it’s time to submit your PhD application!

This is likely to be online, although it’s important to check this with your chosen university in case you need to send any hard copies of original certificates or documentation in the post.

Follow the university guidelines. They will usually indicate how to submit your application, what to include, and when you should hear back about the success of your PhD application.

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• How to Apply for a PhD – Application Process Explained
• Applying to a PhD

This guide explains the PhD application process and outlines the steps you will need to follow, and information you will need to provide when applying to a PhD programme.

How to Apply for a PhD – Application Process

There is no single guide that can cover the entire application process for applying to PhDs, as it differs not only between universities, but also between programmes. In the same sense, what a supervisor might consider a strong application for one of their programmes, they may consider a weak application for another of their programmes.

Furthermore, the process of applying for a PhD in the UK can be slightly challenging to navigate as there is no centralised application system, as is the case with undergraduate degrees, and the process can vary from university to university.

Regardless of this, the below outlines the most common steps you will need to follow when applying for a PhD. Pay particular attention to each stage, as slipping on a single one of them can significantly affect your chances of securing the PhD you want.

1. Find Research Projects you like

Identify research areas that align with your research interest.

This should be done by thinking about all topics, courses, projects, recent publications, recurring questions or experiences that have caught your curiosity over the past year.

Once you have a better understanding of your preferred research area, browse through our PhD listings  or the ‘postgraduate research degree’ and ‘research centre’ sections of a university’s website if you already have a particular one in mind.

This is probably the most important thing to consider before you apply to PhD programmes given you will be working on your project for the next three to eight years – make sure not to rush it.

Note: If you intend to study part time or via distance learning, make sure to check the university offers this option as not all do.

2. Contact Potential PhD Supervisors

If you are proposing your own research project, which is usually the case with a self-funded postgraduate programme, you will need to find your own potential supervisor.

The best way to find a suitable PhD supervisor is to review the staff profiles on the department’s webpage and examine the topics they have published on in the past two years, as well as the research projects of the students they have supervised in the past. This will help you decide whether their research interests coincide with yours. Outside of research interests, there are other aspects you will want to look for, such as their level of support and patience, and how successful their former students have been. For further information on this, you can learn how to find a good PhD supervisor here .

If you are applying to a pre-determined research project, which is usually the case with funded programmes, you do not need to find a supervisor, as they already have a supervisor assigned to them.

Before you formally apply to funded PhD projects, most PhD supervisors will prefer you to apply informally by  sending them an email with your CV. This is so they can better understand your motives for applying and where your academic strengths lie before you start the formal application process.

3. Online Application Form

Once you have found a research programme you are interested in, most universities will require you to make a formal application via their online application portal. The below outlines the supporting documentation you will likely require when completing your online application form.

Academic Qualifications and Transcripts

If you have completed your studies, you will be asked to provide original or certified copies of your academic qualifications.

If you are still studying, you will need to provide an interim transcript of the grades you have received to date and details of any previous qualifications you have acquired.

Academic CV

An academic CV outlines your contact details, academic background and relevant experience. You can read our guide on how to prepare an effective academic CV  here .

Cover Letter

An academic cover letter can be requested alongside your CV. An academic cover letter explains why you are applying for the particular PhD project, why you are a strong candidate for the position and what you can offer the department as a research student. You can read our guide on how to prepare a strong cover letter  here .

Personal Statement

Instead of a cover letter, you may be asked to submit a personal statement. A personal statement is a short document describing your interest in the research programme and explaining why you believe you are suitable for it.

Research Proposal

Most universities will require you to submit a research proposal, especially if you are not applying to a pre-determined research project.

A research proposal is a short document describing your proposed research project. It outlines your research question, which topic it concerns and why you consider it valuable. It is used to show you have the potential for postgraduate-level research by showing that you can communicate complex ideas and evaluate them at their fundamental level. A research proposal also allows the academic department to match you with a suitable PhD supervisor with the expertise to support you if needed.

To support your application, you will be asked for an academic reference, ideally from one or more academic referees.

This is so the university has evidence from another academic source that you are a person who is capable of undertaking PhD study, not only in terms of your credentials and academic abilities but also in terms of your character, as someone who demonstrates commitment, perseverance, independence and the ability to communicate effectively.

To ensure the legitimacy of your references, universities often have strict requirements for how they are to be provided, such as requiring the use of official letterheads and original signatures from the reference provider. Therefore, you must check the specific requirements of each institution and forward them to your referee to minimise the risk of any rejections.

Other Supporting Information

Most online forms also have sections where you can upload any additional supporting information. This can include example evidence, such as previous papers you have published or conferences you have participated in.

Note that e xample evidence, especially of scientific research, is rarely required for STEM subjects

4. Entry Requirements

Academic qualifications.

The entry requirement for most UK universities is a 2:1 (Upper Second Class Honours) undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject.

Note that while many universities require a Masters degree, not all do; it’s possible to  enrol in a PhD programme with just a Bachelors degree , as many students have successfully done so in the past.

In both cases, you will be asked to submit a copy of your degree certificate if you have completed your undergraduate study.

English Language Requirement

If you are an international student from a non-native English speaking country, most universities will require you to either meet their English language requirements or complete an English course with them before starting your PhD.

The two most common tests used to examine English language proficiencies for postgraduate study are the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Although the score requirements will vary depending on the course and institution, the typical requirements are:

• IELTS – Overall score of 6.5, and no less than 6.0 in each test category.
• TOELF – Overall score of 88.

International Applicant

If you’re an international student, you may need a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa to study in the UK. If this is the case, the university will require your passport details or a copy of your first page and photo page.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

5. Other Things to Keep in Mind

In most countries, including the UK, a PhD studentship starts in September or October of each academic year. However, it’s worth noting that most PhD projects are flexible and can therefore start at any time throughout the year.

Application Deadline

The deadline for a PhD position will be indicated in its advert description, however, you should apply to them as early as possible as a PhD position can sometimes be filled before its official closing date.

As well as monitoring the course deadline, also be aware of the closing dates of associated doctoral research funding opportunities. This is because some funded PhD projects require you to apply individually to both the course and the funding opportunity.

Standardised Tests

Depending on the type of doctorate you are applying for, you may need to take examinations as part of the application process.

While this is uncommon in the UK, most graduate schools in the US and Canada integrate standardised tests into their doctoral course admissions process, with minimum test scores set as an entry requirement for their PhD programs.

MPhil Registration First

In the UK, most PhD students first have to register for an MPhil ( Master of Philosophy ) for the first year of their studies, and only if they pass it, which usually requires the production of a report and an informal interview, will their course be upgraded to a PhD.

Making Several Applications

Unfortunately, for various reasons, you may not always get your preferred supervisor or research project, so it is best to apply for several projects on one or more research topics you interest you.

Please note that the application process for a professional doctorate, such as a DBA or EngD, is slightly different from the one mentioned in this guide . Therefore, please consult the guidelines of the university you wish to apply to before applying.

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Pre PhD Application

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Additional items such as resumes, personal statements, or letters of recommendation (LoR) will vary depending on the graduate program you are applying to. Please consult the program website for specific materials they require, or reach out to [email protected] for assistance.

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• Step 2: Official, Final Transcripts. Once you complete your undergraduate degree, you will need to request your official, final transcripts from your institution. This needs to be completed as soon as possible . Transcripts are only considered official if they are sent directly from your institution to UNI Admissions ( [email protected] ). Your To-Do List item for ‘Final Univ Transc w/Degree’ will remain pending until your final official transcripts are received. You will not be declared in your major and therefore, not eligible to enroll in courses nor to get your Financial Aid paid until these are on file with UNI Admissions.
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If letters of recommendation are required, you will enter contact information for references in the application, and they will be sent a prompt with instructions.

Reach out anytime if you have questions, comments or need assistance.

Columbia University Computer Science PhD Pre-Submission Application Review Program

Please visit the PhD admissions webpage  to learn more about applying to our PhD program. Apply to the PAR program here . Those who are accepted will be notified by November 13th, then paired with a PhD student in the same research area who will review their materials and provide feedback to them by November 20th – well ahead of the December 15th deadline to apply to the PhD program. If you have any additional inquiries, please do not hesitate to email  [email protected] .

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If you are interested in applying to a degree program , you will be considered for admittance based on your potential to make contributions through your scholarship to your chosen field, whether in academia or in a nonacademic career. The Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS) welcomes applications for admission from individuals who have or will have by the time of matriculation a BA, BS, or equivalent undergraduate degree (for prospective international students, a three- or four-year undergraduate degree from an institution of recognized standing) and actively seeks applicants from groups historically underrepresented in graduate schools . All degree candidates are admitted for full-time study beginning in the fall term. 

Instructions on completing your degree program application

Applications become available in September and are submitted through the Applicant Portal. Admission is for the fall term only. Please note all supporting materials and required components must be submitted electronically as part of the application. Harvard Griffin GSAS does not accept any mailed materials. 

Deadlines vary by graduate program and are noted on graduate program pages. All materials must be submitted by the deadline. The School may request additional academic documents as needed. 

Applications are reviewed by the admissions committee based on the program you applied to. 

Please note all supporting materials and required components become the property of Harvard Griffin GSAS. No materials will be returned to the applicant or forwarded to other schools or agencies.  

The Application 

The application fee is $105 payable by credit card. Harvard Griffin GSAS is committed to ensuring that our fee does not create a financial obstacle. Applicants can determine eligibility for a fee waiver by completing a series of questions in the Application Fee section of the application. Once these questions have been answered, the application system will provide an immediate response regarding fee waiver eligibility. The application fee is not refundable.  

Components and Requirements 

• application and application fee 
• transcripts 
• three letters of recommendation 
• statement of purpose 
• personal statement, for select programs
• demonstration of English proficiency 
• writing samples, for select programs 
• GRE, for select programs.

All written parts of the application including the statement of purpose, supplemental data, additional materials (if applicable), short answers, resume/CV, and employment history must be authored solely by the applicant and not by a third party nor created by generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software. The use of a third party or generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software to develop an applicant’s work, as opposed to assisting their application to suggest minor edits or to identify grammatical errors, is forbidden.

Credit for Completed Graduate Work 

PhD students may be eligible to receive credit for graduate work that they completed while enrolled in a graduate program at other Harvard Schools or institutions. Review the Credit for Completed Graduate Work policy for more information.

When considering applying to more than one degree program, remember that you may only submit a total of three applications to Harvard Griffin GSAS during your academic career. Please note that applications to programs affiliated with the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences count toward this limit. 

Applying To One Degree Program 

Harvard Griffin GSAS will not accept multiple applications to the same degree program in a single year, even if each application notes a different area of study or a different degree (see exceptions below). If multiple applications are submitted, the earliest submitted application will be reviewed and subsequent applications will be withdrawn. Application fees are not refundable. 

Exceptions 

Applying to two subject areas in the Division of Medical Sciences: You may submit two applications to the Division of Medical Sciences noting a different area of study in each application. Each application must be unique, containing a separate statement of purpose, transcripts, recommendations, and test scores as required.

Applying to both a PhD and a master’s degree within Engineering and Applied Sciences : You may submit two applications to Engineering and Applied Sciences if one is for a PhD degree and one for a master’s (ME or SM) degree. Each application must be unique, containing a separate statement of purpose, transcripts, recommendations, and test scores as required.

Applying To Several Degree Programs 

Harvard Griffin GSAS will accept up to three applications to different programs in a single year. Each application must be unique, containing a separate statement of purpose, transcripts, recommendations, and test scores; each application also requires a separate application fee. Please note that each submitted application counts toward the lifetime maximum of three applications per person. 

HILS-affiliated programs 

Please refer to the HILS application instructions for information about applying to multiple programs. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How many times can i apply to harvard griffin gsas .

You may apply to Harvard Griffin GSAS three times only. Submitting additional applications may result in withdrawal of the application. Application fees are not refundable. Please note that applications to programs affiliated with the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences count toward this limit. 

How can I apply for financial aid? 

Consideration for financial aid, if available, is part of the application for admission. Information about funding your degree can be found on the Financial Support section of the School's website.  

If I applied to Harvard Griffin GSAS in a previous year, do I need to complete a new application? 

Yes. You must submit a new application, application fee, updated letters of recommendation, as well as upload transcripts and supporting documents. 

Where can I upload a note/document/information for the selection committee? 

You may upload a document in the Additional Materials section of the application. 

I want to apply to more than one program. How can I start my second application? 

Once you have created your first application, select “Home” in the application navigation panel. At the bottom of “Your Applications,” you will find a link to “Start New Application.” 

If I already hold a PhD or advanced doctoral degree, or if I am an advanced doctoral student at another institution, can I apply to a PhD program at Harvard? 

You may apply to a program in an unrelated field of study; however, preference for admissions and financial aid will be given to those who have not yet pursued a doctoral degree at Harvard or elsewhere. You may also consider non-degree study through our Visiting Students Program. 

What visa documentation should I submit? 

Visa documentation is not required at the time of application. Information about visa requirements will be provided to admitted students. 

Will my application be considered if I have been charged with or incarcerated for a crime? 

The application does not ask prospective students to disclose if they have been convicted of a crime. Program admissions committees review all applicants in a comprehensive way, considering their past educational attainments and the contributions they can make to the academic community and to their field of study. Applicants will not be denied admission based on their disclosure of conviction and should not be discouraged from applying. 

Are alternate payment methods accepted for the application fee? 

Application fees can only be paid with a credit card (debit cards may not be used). Harvard Griffin GSAS does not accept any other method of payment. 

Does Harvard Griffin GSAS offer joint degree programs with other Schools at Harvard? 

Harvard Griffin GSAS offers opportunities to pursue multiple degrees with other Harvard Schools. Visit combined degrees for more information. 

Accommodations for applicants impacted by extenuating circumstances 

We realize that global events, natural disasters, and other extenuating circumstances may have significant impacts on applicants’ academic and personal lives, including the ability to provide all required application materials prior to our stated deadlines. We understand that these impacts may extend to recommenders and offices at institutions previously attended. 

If any of these conditions apply to you, we encourage you to apply even if required materials are missing. Our application form includes a section for you to let us know about any of your materials that may be unavailable. This information will be shared with the appropriate admissions committee and your admissions decision will be based on the materials available at the time of review. 

Please note that even though the online application system may indicate that your submitted application is incomplete, it will still be reviewed by the appropriate admissions committee. If your application is considered incomplete under this policy and you are denied admission, you are eligible to request that it not count toward the Harvard Griffin GSAS lifetime limit of three total applications that an individual may submit. 

Consent regarding Sensitive Personal Data 

Certain kinds of personal data are regarded by some laws as sensitive and deserving of special protection (“Sensitive Personal Data”). For example, in Europe, Sensitive Personal Data can include personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership; genetic or biometric data; data concerning health; data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation; and personal data relating to criminal convictions and offenses. 

During the application process, you and others (such as recommenders) may provide Harvard Griffin GSAS at Harvard University with certain kinds of personal data about you that is regarded as Sensitive Personal Data. By submitting an application, you consent to Harvard’s processing of Sensitive Personal Data about you in order to evaluate your application for admission and your eligibility for financial aid if applicable. Sensitive Personal Data about you also may be processed for other purposes permitted by applicable law. 

Additional EEA Privacy Disclosures provides further information about how Harvard Griffin GSAS uses personal data of individuals in Europe in the admissions process. 

Email the admissions team at [email protected] or call the hotline at 617-496-6100.

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Degree program questions

If you still have questions after carefully reviewing your degree program of interest, reach out to the contact noted on the program’s page .

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How to submit a PhD thesis

The final few months of a phd can often be the hardest, so here are a few tips from a doctoral candidate who recently submitted her thesis.

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You know the transitional phase of childbirth, where a woman says she can’t go on and the midwife will say that means you’re nearly there? Well, I’m hoping that it is the same with this thesis.

About a month before submitting my thesis , I found myself uttering this sentence (working on ancient infertility inevitably means that any analogies I make are related to childbirth in some way). This was at the stage where the tiredness had really set in, but it was also the point where the end was in sight and I finally began to believe that my thesis could be completed before the deadline for submission.

As anyone will tell you, the final few months before submitting a PhD thesis are a whirlwind. There are drafts and redrafts being pinged back and forth between you and your supervisors. That section of a chapter that you’ve been (often with good reason) putting off for the past three years can wait no longer. There are corrections to be made, references to chase, a bibliography to check and arguments to refine – and all you really want to do at this point is lie down in a dark room and pretend that the world doesn’t exist (this may have been just me, but I suspect it’s fairly common).

Although slightly manic, as the thesis came together I actually found that I enjoyed the final stages of thesis writing. Admittedly this may have been an academic version of Stockholm syndrome (where kidnap victims start to identify with their captors), but I learned a lot in those last few months before submission.

Having had some time to reflect, I thought I would share some of the tactics I employed to get my thesis written, things that helped me to keep my sanity – and one thing that meant that I nearly missed my deadline.

Get organised

In the final few months before submission, your world shrinks somewhat and your thesis is likely to become if not the only thing in your life, one of the few things that can grab your attention. Although this is true to some extent throughout your PhD, it does step up a gear at this point. Knowing that this would be the case a couple of months before submitting, I decided to get organised.

In terms of thesis, this meant going through all the criteria for submission from how to set out the title page to downloading the form that I needed to complete when I submitted. I also made sure that I had all the paper and ink cartridges I would need for printing. I also sorted out all the non-thesis things that needed to be done before submission. I wrote birthday cards, booked appointments and did anything I could that would mean I needed to keep as little as possible in my head and fewer things to distract me.

‘Thesis brain’

Unfortunately, being so focused on one thing means that inevitably other things fall out of your brain. This might be a case of not being able to remember simple facts or completely forgetting people’s names. In my case, it was forgetting that the university library doesn’t open on a bank holiday (let’s be honest, forgetting that it actually was a bank holiday). If your brain deems something non-essential, it may well refuse to recall it.

I termed this phenomena “thesis brain” and, if it does happen to you, rest assured that you probably aren’t losing your memory and it is (mostly) reversible once you've submitted. The other positive of thesis brain is that it gives you some interesting stories to tell post-submission (one of mine includes two suspected cases of Ebola – don’t ask).

Plan some time out

With a deadline looming, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking “I don’t have time to stop”, but you do, and it’s essential that you do. This doesn’t have to be a big night out, and to be honest you will probably be too tired at this point anyhow. Take an hour out to have coffee with a friend or dinner with family or anything that involves communicating with another human being.

Admittedly, had I read this advice six months ago, I would have thought two things: a) what an obvious thing to say; and b) it’s OK for you to say that but I really don’t have time. However, in the middle of submitting a thesis, it’s easy to forget and, although it’s taken me a long time to learn this, taking that time out will make you more productive in the long run, I promise.

Beware of the inevitable guilt trip

On the subject of taking time out, this seems the perfect time to mention guilt . For me, and probably a lot of people, writing and guilt go together. From asking myself why hadn’t I read/written this before now, to “what on earth was I thinking taking a week off last Christmas?”: I could beat myself up about anything. About two months before submitting, I realised that I was spending too much time and energy (of which I had little to spare) on asking myself why I hadn’t done something already rather than getting tasks completed now.

In the end, I told myself that there was time to beat myself up after submitting (although to be fair, after the thesis was finished it didn’t matter any more) and right now it was about getting on with it – this telling-off was the best thing I ever did and freed me to get on with finishing the thesis.

There is no right way to complete a thesis

Of course, there are guidelines to follow and standards to be met, but how you go about getting there is unique to you. Just because Bob wrote his introduction in his first year and looks at you in horror when you say you haven’t written yours five months before submission does not mean you are doing the PhD wrong, just that you’re approaching it in a different way, and that’s fine (really it is). Also if, like Bob, you did write a perfect introduction by the end of your first year, that’s also fine, but do try to keep the looks of horror to a bare minimum – they are not helpful.

Do not – I repeat do not – finish proofing, print, bind and post off your thesis on the submission date

This is what I did – and it was nearly my undoing (and yes, I should know better). I was very lucky that this did not go terribly wrong. It will take you longer than you think to print out your thesis. In my case, this was a three-and-a-half hour printing marathon that involved much shouting at my printer (which I still cannot look at without an involuntary shudder) and cleaning the entire house because I could not stare any longer at the printer willing it to print quicker.

This resulted in my turning up at the binders 15 minutes before it shut. They (very kindly) ended up staying open 30 minutes later than normal, during which time they had to deal with a slightly hyper and very tired PhD student (I still owe them a box of chocolates). Then there was the sprint to the post office before it shut at 6pm.

Do not do this. However, if this does happen to you remember you are not alone.

Recognise that the end is in sight

One of the scariest things about a PhD is that it is your project and only you can write it. This is not merely scary; it can be overwhelming at times. However, in those final few months I realised that while the impending deadline was still scary, my thesis no longer was. Despite all its faults, all the things I might have done differently and all the things I still don’t know (I have a long list of all three), I had written a thesis. Four months before I submitted, I genuinely didn’t believe that this was something I would achieve. However, very slowly in those last few months, I began to feel that, although I still had no idea how it was going to happen, finishing my thesis was something I could do.

Those final few months are tough – there is no way around that – but for me they were also the most rewarding part of the entire PhD. In the final stages of thesis writing, everything happens fast: all of a sudden, chapters go from being drafts to being finished; you find a place for the pesky bit of evidence that needed to be included but didn’t seem to fit anywhere; and that perfect quote to open chapter five suddenly appears from nowhere. There is nothing like seeing a project you’ve been working on for so long come together in this way. However, in the midst of submitting a thesis, it’s easy not to recognise this and to ignore all the little accomplishments because all you can think about is what is left to do.

And perhaps this is the most important message I would pass on to anyone heading towards completing their thesis. No matter how stressful it is or how tired you are, take enjoyment out of seeing your thesis come together and from the knowledge that the end is in sight.

Rebecca Fallas  is a full-time PhD student in the Open University’s department of classical studies who has just submitted her thesis on “Individual Responsibility and the Culture of Blame Surrounding Infertility in Ancient Medical Texts”. This post originally appeared on her department’s blog .

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Tag: Pre-Submission Application Review Program

Voices of cs: tao long, the 1st-year phd student talks about the pre-submission application review program and how it helped him finetune his application..

One of the hardest things to do is prepare application materials for a PhD program. It is hard to gather your thoughts and try to distill them in a way that makes sense and will impress the admission committee. Plus, the pressure is on for you to get into a program and a lab that matches your research interests.

These were some of the thoughts running through Tao Long’s mind this time last year when he was figuring out which PhD programs to apply to. He started doing human-computer interaction (HCI) research as an undergraduate at Cornell University and knew that he wanted to continue on the academic research track. When he saw that Columbia’s computer science PhD program had an application review program, he knew that he should apply to it and take the opportunity to get feedback on his application materials.

The Pre-submission Application Review (PAR) program is a student-led initiative where current PhD students give a one-time review of an applicant’s statement of purpose and CV. Now in its third year, the aim is to promote a diverse and welcoming intellectual environment for all. Not many PhD applicants have access to a network that can give advice and guide them through the application process; the student volunteers of the PAR program hope to address these inequities.

Long shares his experience applying to PhD programs, taking part in review programs, and how he is paying it forward by helping other students with their applications to PhD programs.

Q: Why did you decide to go into a PhD program directly after undergrad? During my undergrad at Cornell, I worked on a few projects in several different labs, all focusing on HCI. I am really proud of a digital technology project that I contributed to – collaborating with Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell Law; we are trying to understand the existing barriers for asylum seekers to adopt technologies and how to design ones for them.

My passion for socially impactful technology makes me want to continue doing human-computer interaction (HCI) research. HCI researchers study how people interact with technology and how to better design and develop technology according to people’s needs. Thus, both technical and social science knowledge is essential in this interdisciplinary field. With a background in information science and communication, I believe technology has a communicative capacity and responsibility: we speak, design, and build for those who can’t.

Q: How was your experience applying to PhD programs? I finalized my school list, started reaching out to faculty members I was interested in working with, and prepared my application materials around September and October. In November, I focused on polishing my statement with some current graduate students and pre-submission application review programs held by universities.

December was the time when the long wait began. After the holidays, some applicants will begin receiving interview inquiries. Around late February and March, most applicants will receive their concluded application decisions back. Lastly, they need to decide whether they accept the offer by April 15 (see April 15 Resolution ).

The whole half-year-long application process was too long for me. There are many online platforms, like the r/gradadmissions subreddit and the GradCafe , where people share their admission updates. These information sources made the waiting process more exciting but also made me feel a bit anxious. I think I really enjoyed the post-submission period, where I felt relieved after all my application materials were in. Thus, I started working at an on-campus cafe, learned knitting, and watched YouTube and TikTok all day.

Q: Why did you choose to apply to Columbia CS? What attracted you to the program? Columbia is well-known for its strong academic and research resources. I am now taking a class on how to build a successful startup in CS. The instructor of that class is a Columbia CS PhD graduate with several well-established startups. In addition to courses, countless fascinating research projects from the department widely collaborate with different schools on campus and large tech companies in the city. Specifically, I find the research conducted by my advisor, Lydia Chilton , really cutting-edge in helping users understand and interact with artificial intelligence tools. Many of her recent publications on large language models and text-to-image generative models are fascinating and impactful to the HCI community.

Q: You were part of the PAR program last year; how was it? I found the PAR program on the department website during my school search period. During that month, I looked through many university websites and found several schools that provided similar programs to give feedback to PhD applicants. I chose to apply for the PAR program because I wanted more feedback on my application materials. Sometimes people say you have enough experience, but it isn’t addressed well on the application. I wanted to make sure that I presented myself well and painted a full picture of myself.

Q: Was it helpful to get feedback? I submitted my Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, and academic CV in early November. Then, the PAR team paired me with a reviewer and provided me with valuable and insightful written comments on my application materials by November 21, which is around 20 days before Columbia’s application deadline.

The feedback contained a general evaluation of the pros and cons of my application materials. They pointed out problems in the statement structure – mention more about my experience, stress more about the technical or the non-technical skill sets, shrink the length of the statement, and move one section forward. Feedback was also given on the format and language usage like what tense to use, easy-to-read font style and size, and header or page breaks to help the user flow between sections. Thus, containing feedback from both high-level and low-level perspectives, this PAR review program was beneficial for me to navigate and make future changes.

Q: You are part of the PAR team now, right? Why did you join the group? I became active in the subreddit r/gradadmissions last year while I was waiting for the admission results to come out. I found it helpful to check posts there to learn more about the general admission process from other people’s cases. I also found a few HCI PhD applicants there, thus establishing some prior connections before entering the field. My friend and I started helping applicants from low-resource countries or regions by reviewing their application materials and providing feedback.

When I decided to go to Columbia, I knew I wanted to continue helping PhD applicants. I am part of other review programs offered by affinity groups outside Columbia to help those interested in pursuing a PhD. I joined the department’s PAR program committee in September. We are getting ready for the upcoming November 15th deadline and recruiting current CS PhD students to become reviewers. I highly recommend that applicants join the PAR program! I am sure that you could receive a lot of insightful feedback from the current CS PhD student community to help polish your materials! Good luck!

——

Related Content PAR Program Offers Peer Support to PhD Applicants Student-led Initiative Aims to Help Applicants of the PhD Program

Interested applicants have to apply to the PAR program and submit their personal statement and CV by November 7th at 11:59 pm EST. Because the program is student-run and dependent on volunteers, there is no guarantee that every applicant can be accommodated. Those who are accepted will be notified by November 14th, then paired with a PhD student in the same research area who will review their materials and provide feedback to them by November 21st – well ahead of the December 15th deadline to apply to the PhD program.

PAR Program Offers Peer-Support to PhD Applicants

Phd students will review an applicant’s personal statement as part of the pre-submission application review (par) program..

A group of PhD students wants to reduce the inequities in the department’s PhD application process. They will help applicants of the PhD program – by lending their expertise by reviewing a personal statement. This initiative, called the Pre-Submission Application Review (PAR) Program, is in its second year.

“It is clear that students from underrepresented groups may further benefit from mentorship through the entirety of the process of applying, to deciding, to ultimately entering grad school,” said Sam Fereidooni , a first-year PhD student and PAR Program coordinator. The group plans to organize further mentorship opportunities in future iterations of the program such as spaces where students can engage in conversations in a supportive community of their peers, in addition to current PhD students and faculty members. 

By continuing the program the group hopes to address the systemic disadvantages people from underrepresented communities face by lending a hand and giving advice on how to write a personal statement that will stand out and get the attention of professors. 

“Above all applicants must do research on potential faculty that they would like to work with,” said Kahlil Dozier, a 2nd-year PhD student and PAR Program coordinator. Even if an applicant is not completely sure what their intended research area is, it is better to mention specific faculty that may align with their interests in their application. This is one of the most critical pieces of advice; an application will likely get referred to the names mentioned, and those professors may be the ones deciding if the applicant is a suitable candidate for admission.

And it is not enough to just mention the faculty in the application–potential students should actually look at the recent work faculty has done and read their papers. A PhD can take five to seven years to complete so applicants should see if it is the type of work they actually want to dedicate their graduate research career to. Continued Dozier, “If you have done this, it will inevitably come through in your personal statement and bolster your application.”

Here are more points applicants should consider before writing a Personal Statement:

– The Personal Statement is a key part of the application; oftentimes, it is where an applicant can differentiate themself from other applicants

– In short, the intent is to build a personal narrative, goals, and aspirations, and offer a perspective that is fundamentally absent from a resume/CV.  

– The application is constrained by limited space, so applicants need to focus on a few concrete experiences (broadly defined) that may have shaped the trajectory of the applicant’s academic career up until this point or even themself as a researcher.   

– Even though it is separate and serves a different function than the Research Statement of Purpose, research can still be involved. One approach to making a personal statement is to make a narrative out of one’s CV, fill in the “between the lines”.

– Again, doing prior research on potential faculty can shine through here, and it would be advantageous to show in any way how a faculty member’s work may align with the applicant’s background and goals.

Student-led Initiative Aims to Help Applicants of the PhD Program

In an effort to reduce inequities in the PhD application process, a group of PhD students have created the Pre-Submission Application Review (PAR) Program to help applicants to the PhD program.

When Chris Kedzie and Katy Gero heard about Stanford University’s Student-Applicant Support Program they immediately thought, “this is something that we can do at Columbia.” Within hours they put together a rough plan on how to help applicants of the PhD program – by lending their expertise with reviewing a personal statement.

“Many times people who end up in PhD programs get there because of an invisible network of support, normally from other people who have attended a PhD program,” said Chris Kedzie , a seventh-year PhD student. When he was applying to graduate programs many of his friends who were in PhD programs helped and gave him invaluable feedback on his application, specifically his personal statement. “But for those who do not have access to that kind of network, it can put them at an unfair disadvantage.”

This review program attempts to fill the gap and help provide access to PhD students who can look over an applicant’s statement of purpose. “It is certainly not even close to addressing all of the systemic problems that some people face when applying to grad school,” said Katy Gero , a fourth-year PhD student. She, too, had friends in PhD programs who helped her with her application and she saw what a big difference getting feedback and guidance made. “We hope this is a small step in the right direction and it is something that we as grad students can implement ourselves.”

The initiative did not pop up out of the blue. Kedzie and Gero have been meeting with other students, faculty, and department staff since the #ShutDownSTEM strike for Black lives on June 10th. Over the summer, the group brainstormed ways that they can make the CS department more equitable. One of the points discussed was making the PhD program more accessible and so it was easy to get the group’s support for the PAR Program. 

The initiative was put together quickly because of the support of fellow students, like Khalil Dozier and Tim Randolph , along with Associate Director for Academic Administration and Student Services Cindy Meekins, Professor Augustin Chaintreau, and CS Department Chair and Professor Rocco Servedio. The program was presented to the Dean’s office and officially launched in mid-October.

“The Computer Science Department is very happy to support our PhD students in this effort that they have led to improve the equity of our PhD program,” said Rocco Servedio ,  a professor and chair of the department. The department launched the CS@CU MS Bridge Program in computer science last year and is working on other programs with students and faculty. “We hope that this and other similar-in-spirit programs will bear fruit in broadening access to our department to a wide group of learners.”

Interested applicants have to apply to the PAR program and submit their personal statement and CV by November 7th at 11:59 pm EST. Because the program is student-run and dependent on volunteers, there is no guarantee that every applicant can be accommodated. For those who are accepted, they will be notified, then paired with a PhD student in the same research area who will review their materials and provide feedback to them by November 21st – well ahead of the December 15th deadline to apply to the PhD program. 

“We have been really impressed by the support we have seen,” said Kedzie . “We hope that this is a step towards a lot of bigger changes to the department and the school, to make it a more equitable place for everyone.” 

If you are interested in taking part in Columbia’s #ShutdownSTEM meetings, the group meets every other week on Fridays at 3 pm. Sign up for meeting announcements here: https://lists.cs.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/shutdownstem-columbia  

Find open faculty positions here .

Computer Science at Columbia University

Upcoming events, ms new student reception.

Tuesday 2:00 pm

Labor Day - University Holiday

Monday 9:00 am

First Day of Classes

Tuesday 9:00 am

Fall 2024 Research Fair

Thursday 12:00 pm

In the News

Press mentions, dean boyce's statement on amicus brief filed by president bollinger.

President Bollinger announced that Columbia University along with many other academic institutions (sixteen, including all Ivy League universities) filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York challenging the Executive Order regarding immigrants from seven designated countries and refugees. Among other things, the brief asserts that “safety and security concerns can be addressed in a manner that is consistent with the values America has always stood for, including the free flow of ideas and people across borders and the welcoming of immigrants to our universities.”

This recent action provides a moment for us to collectively reflect on our community within Columbia Engineering and the importance of our commitment to maintaining an open and welcoming community for all students, faculty, researchers and administrative staff. As a School of Engineering and Applied Science, we are fortunate to attract students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, from across the country, and from around the world. It is a great benefit to be able to gather engineers and scientists of so many different perspectives and talents – all with a commitment to learning, a focus on pushing the frontiers of knowledge and discovery, and with a passion for translating our work to impact humanity.

I am proud of our community, and wish to take this opportunity to reinforce our collective commitment to maintaining an open and collegial environment. We are fortunate to have the privilege to learn from one another, and to study, work, and live together in such a dynamic and vibrant place as Columbia.

Mary C. Boyce Dean of Engineering Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor

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Research Voyage

Research Tips and Infromation

Ph.D. Proposal Presentation Template

A Ph.D. proposal presentation template is a pre-designed set of slides that can be used as a starting point for creating a presentation for your Ph.D. proposal Registration. It includes a series of suggested slides, which you can customize to your specific needs. This template can be used by Ph.D. candidates from various fields who are preparing for their Ph.D. registration.

Slide 1: Title Slide

• Title of the work
• Candidate’s name and affiliation
• Supervisor’s name and affiliation

Slide 2: Introduction

• Briefly introduce the topic
• Explain why the topic is important and relevant
• Provide a brief overview of what the presentation will cover

Slide 3: Literature Review

• Summarize the key findings of relevant literature
• Identify gaps and limitations in the existing research
• Explain how your work will contribute to filling these gaps

Slide 4: Motivation and Research Problem

• Explain the motivation behind your work
• Clearly state the research problem you are addressing

Slide 5: Research Question and Objectives

• State your research question
• Clearly articulate your research objectives

Slide 6: Study Design and Methods

• Explain your study design and why you chose it
• Describe your data collection methods and measures

Slide 7: Predicted Outcomes

• Present your predicted outcomes if everything goes according to plan
• Explain how these outcomes will contribute to the field

Slide 8: Resources

• Identify the resources you will need to complete your work
• Explain how you will obtain these resources

Slide 9: Societal Impact

• Describe the potential societal impact of your work
• Explain how your work will benefit society

Slide 10: Gantt Chart

• Present a Gantt chart representing the timetable of the activities planned
• Explain how you will manage your time to complete your work on schedule

Slide 11: Potential Challenges

• Identify potential challenges you may encounter during your research
• Explain how you plan to address these challenges

Slide 12: Conclusion

• Summarize the key points of your presentation
• Conclude by emphasizing the significance of your work and its potential impact

Slide 13: Questions

• Encourage the audience to ask questions
• Thank the audience for their attention

Remember to keep your presentation simple, well-structured, and effective. Use clear and concise language, and make sure your presentation is visually engaging. Good luck with your PhD proposal presentation!

• Title of the work: “A Comparative Study of Deep Learning Techniques for Image Recognition in Medical Imaging”
• Candidate’s name and affiliation: Sarah Johnson, Department of Computer Science, University of ABC
• Supervisor’s name and affiliation: Dr. Robert Lee, Department of Computer Science, University of ABC

In this slide, you have to include the title of your work, your name and affiliation as the PhD candidate, and your supervisor’s name and affiliation. The title should be concise and descriptive, conveying the essence of your research.

• Briefly introduce the topic: Deep Learning Techniques for Image Recognition in Medical Imaging
• Explain why the topic is important and relevant: Accurate and efficient image recognition in medical imaging is crucial for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of patient progress. However, the current state-of-the-art algorithms still have limitations in handling the complexities of medical images, such as noise, variation in size and shape, and variation in imaging protocols.
• Provide a brief overview of what the presentation will cover: In this presentation, I will introduce my proposed research on a comparative study of deep learning techniques for image recognition in medical imaging. I will briefly cover the literature review, the research problem and goals, the study design, and the expected outcomes of the research.

In this slide, you have to provide an introduction to your research topic, explaining its importance and relevance in the field. The introduction should set the context for your research and explain why it matters.

• Summarize the key findings of relevant literature: Previous research has shown that deep learning techniques, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs), have achieved state-of-the-art results in various image recognition tasks, including medical image recognition. However, the performance of these techniques can be affected by factors such as the size and complexity of the dataset, the selection of hyperparameters, and the choice of architecture.
• Identify gaps and limitations in the existing research: While previous studies have compared the performance of different deep learning techniques for image recognition in general, there is a lack of research that compares and evaluates the performance of these techniques specifically in medical imaging. Additionally, there is a need for research that investigates the effectiveness of transfer learning, data augmentation, and other techniques for improving the performance of deep learning models in medical image recognition tasks.
• Explain how your work will contribute to filling these gaps: The proposed research aims to contribute to filling these gaps by conducting a comparative study of various deep learning techniques for image recognition in medical imaging. The study will also investigate the effectiveness of transfer learning, data augmentation, and other techniques for improving the performance of these techniques in medical image recognition tasks. The results of this study will provide valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of different deep-learning techniques in medical imaging, and help inform the development of more accurate and efficient algorithms in the future.

In this slide, you have to summarize the key findings of relevant literature in your research area, identify gaps and limitations in the existing research, and explain how your work will contribute to filling these gaps.

In this format, the information is organized into three sections: key findings, gaps and limitations, and contribution of proposed work. Each section is presented as a bullet point, with the main idea in bold, followed by a brief explanation. This format can be useful for presenting information in a clear and concise manner, while still providing enough detail to convey the main points.

In this format, the motivation and research problem are presented as two separate sections, with each section consisting of bullet points. The motivation section explains why the topic is important and why the proposed research is needed, while the research problem section clearly states the specific questions that the research will address. This format can help ensure that the motivation and research problem are clearly articulated and easy to understand.

In this format, the research question and research objectives are presented as two separate sections, with each section consisting of bullet points. The research question clearly states the specific problem that the research will address, while the research objectives explain the specific goals that the research aims to achieve in order to answer the research question. This format can help ensure that the research question and objectives are clearly articulated and easy to understand.

In this format, the study design and data collection methods are presented as two separate sections, with each section consisting of bullet points. The study design section provides an overview of the design of the study, including the specific groups being compared and the methods used to control for confounding factors. The data collection methods section describes the datasets and measures being used, as well as the specific methods being employed to train and test the deep learning models. This format can help ensure that the study design and methods are clearly explained and easy to understand.

In this format, the predicted outcomes are presented as bullet points, along with an explanation of how they will contribute to the field. The predicted outcomes are based on the study design and methods described in previous slides and can help to demonstrate the potential impact of the proposed research.

This slide presents the resources needed to complete the work, along with an explanation of how these resources will be obtained. This can help to demonstrate that the necessary resources have been identified and that a plan is in place to obtain them.

This slide presents the potential societal impact of the work and how it will benefit society. This can help to demonstrate the broader implications and significance of the research.

Gnatt chart representing the timetable of the activities planned

You have to create a Gantt chart to represent the activities that are planned for completing this research work within the given time frame. The time frame can change depending on the Univesity’s stipulated guidelines for full-time and part-time Ph.D. programs.

The chart is divided into five different stages, which are:

• Completion of the Course Work: You need to complete the coursework papers as per University Guidelines. This stage is expected to take 12 months.
• Literature review: In this stage, we will review and analyze the existing literature to identify gaps and limitations in the research. This stage is expected to take 06 months.
• Data collection: In this stage, we will collect the required data by conducting experiments and surveys. This stage is expected to take 06 months.
• Data analysis: In this stage, we will analyze the collected data to draw meaningful insights and conclusions. This stage is expected to take 3 months.
• Model development: In this stage, we will develop the proposed model and implement it. This stage is expected to take 12 months.
• Results and Analysis: In this stage, we will gather the results from various dimensions of the proposed model and analyze them. This stage is expected to take 03 months.
• Writing and submission: In this stage, we will write and submit the final research report and the thesis. This stage is expected to take 06 months.

You have to allocate appropriate time for each stage to complete the work on schedule. You have to keep track of the progress regularly and make necessary adjustments to the plan to ensure the timely completion of the research work.

In this section, you have to discuss some potential challenges which you may encounter during your research and how you plan to address them.

Potential Challenges:

• Access to data: Since we are planning to collect data from several sources, it may be challenging to obtain access to all the necessary data.
• Time constraints: We have a strict timeline to follow, and any delays could affect the overall success of the project.
• Technical difficulties: There is always a risk of encountering technical difficulties during data collection or analysis.

Addressing the Challenges:

• Data access: We will communicate with the relevant authorities and request access to the data needed for our research. We will also explore alternative sources of data if necessary.
• Time constraints: We will break down our research into smaller, more manageable tasks and allocate sufficient time for each. We will also build in extra time in case of unexpected delays.
• Technical difficulties: We will test our data collection and analysis tools thoroughly beforehand to minimize the risk of technical difficulties. We will also have contingency plans in place in case of any issues that may arise.

By identifying potential challenges and having a plan in place to address them, you can ensure that your research progresses smoothly and efficiently.

In conclusion, this presentation has outlined a research proposal for a comparative study of deep learning techniques for image recognition in medical imaging. The key points covered in this presentation are:

• The importance of developing accurate and efficient image recognition techniques for medical imaging, which can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions
• A review of the relevant literature in this field has identified the need for further research to compare the performance of different deep-learning techniques for image recognition in medical imaging
• The research problem, objectives, and research question, aim to address this need by comparing the performance of different deep-learning techniques for image recognition in medical imaging
• The study design and methods, which will involve collecting and analyzing medical imaging data using various deep-learning techniques
• The predicted outcomes of the study, which could contribute to improving the accuracy and efficiency of image recognition in medical imaging
• The resources required to complete the study, including access to medical imaging data and computational resources
• The potential societal impact of the study, which could benefit patients and healthcare providers by improving the accuracy and efficiency of medical imaging
• The timetable of activities, which has been represented in a Gantt chart to ensure that the study is completed on schedule
• The potential challenges that may be encountered during the research, and the strategies that will be used to address these challenges.

Overall, this research proposal has the potential to contribute to the field of medical imaging by providing valuable insights into the performance of different deep-learning techniques for image recognition. By improving the accuracy and efficiency of image recognition in medical imaging, this research could ultimately benefit patients and healthcare providers.

Download the PhD Proposal Presentation Template here:

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How to apply for postgraduate research

Your postgraduate research application

How to apply for a postgraduate research degree

We believe higher education is for everyone. We value the experiences, ideas and perspectives that make you unique. So we'll consider your application on its merits — whatever your academic or professional background.

Applying for a postgraduate research degree at Portsmouth

1. explore our types of research degrees and subject areas .

Whatever postgraduate research path you take, you'll first need to identify which of our research degrees and our subject areas is the best fit for your research. We recommend you get in touch with the relevant subject area supervisor ahead of applying. You can discuss your research ideas with them and ensure we have supervisory expertise to support you.

If you are interested in an MD , PhD by Publication or Professional Doctorate , you can find application guidance on the respective webpages. 

2. Find a supervisor 

If you've got your own research idea, or want to discuss your options, start looking for a supervisor whose research interests match yours using our Find a PhD Supervisor tool .

Once you've found someone suitable, contact them directly to have a discussion. 

3. Explore our pre-defined PhD projects

Browse our list of already-approved PhD projects available across most of our subject areas. These are PhD projects where a supervisory team is already in place. If you find one that fits your interests, contact the relevant supervisor to discuss your interest. Once you're ready to apply, follow the 'Apply now' link at the end of the project page.

Some pre-approved projects would require you to submit a brief proposal outlining the main features of your proposed research design.If that is the case it’ll be clearly stated in the project page. 

Looking for funded PhDs?

Discover our funded PhD scholarships, see if you're eligible to apply, and contact a project supervisor today.

4. Consider your funding options

We know funding your research can be as challenging as undertaking it. We attract funding for postgraduate research degrees from a range of sources. Browse our funded PhD opportunities or check out loans and discounts on offer .

5. Check out our entry requirements

We typically expect a minimum of an upper second-class honours degree or a Master’s from an internationally recognised university. For a Professional Doctorate, your work environment must also be able to support your professional research and development project.

English language requirements

If English isn’t your first language or your first degree is not from an English speaking university, you will need to demonstrate your English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5, with no component score below 6.0. If applying to a subject area that is particularly linguistically demanding (e.g. law, applied linguistics, translation studies and English literature) you’ll need IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5.

Supporting documentation

You'll need to have the following supporting documentation ready to complete your application:

• Proof of your first degree and grades (officially certified and translated copies if not in English)
• Proof of your English language proficiency (if English is not your first language)
• A personal statement
• A research proposal (if required) or the project code (if you are applying for a pre-approved project)
• Details of two referees or references on official headed paper, one of which should be an academic reference
• An up-to-date copy of your CV

6. How to apply

When you're ready to apply for an MPhil, PhD or a PhD by Publication, please follow the 'Apply now' link on the relevant PhD subject area page . 

If you're applying for a pre-approved research project , remember to add the project code to your application form. The project code can be found at the top of the project page.

If you are applying for an MD or Professional Doctorate , you can find links to the form and guidance on the respective programme pages. 

MPhils, PhDs or a PhD by Publication

Pre-approved research projects

MDs and Professional Doctorates

Additional application information

Criminal convictions.

When you apply to us, we'll ask you to declare if you have any relevant criminal convictions. A 'relevant' conviction is defined as one involving any kind of violence. These include:

• offences concerning the intention to harm or resulting in actual bodily harm
• the unlawful supply of controlled drugs or substances where the conviction concerns commercial drug dealing or trafficking
• offences involving firearms
• offences listed in the Sex Offences Act 2003 or the Terrorism Act 2006

'Spent' convictions are no longer 'relevant' unless you're applying for a teaching, health or social work course or a course involving work with children or vulnerable adults. A conviction becomes 'spent' if you don't re-offend during your rehabilitation period (as defined by The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974).

Assessing applicants with relevant criminal convictions

If you've declared a relevant criminal conviction in your application, we'll contact you to confirm you've declared it correctly. Please don't give us details of the offences when you contact us.

Once we have your confirmation, a panel of our senior staff will consider your application confidentially.

When to apply 

For most of our research degrees we offer three intakes a year: October, February and April. 

We accept applications all year round, but we suggest applying 2–3 months before your chosen start date — so for a February start, you should apply in the preceding November, for an April start, you should apply in the preceding January and for an October start, you should apply by May or June.

If you can't apply that far in advance, don't worry — we'll do our best to process later applications too.

If you are an international applicant please refer to these recommended deadlines . 

After you apply

Once we've received your application, it usually takes us around 4 weeks to process it and give you an update. To help us review your application as quickly as possible, you should make sure to include all the relevant supporting documentation (including a proposal, if required). It's also helpful if you've discussed your research interests with a potential supervisor beforehand.

If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to an interview. 

Accepting your offer

Once your application has been processed, you'll be able to accept your offer via your Student View portal .

Completing your application

At this stage you'll: 

• Upload evidence to meet the conditions of your offer
• Pay your deposit or provide evidence of sponsorship
• Apply for your Doctoral Loan  — for eligible UK and EU nationals
• Apply for ATAS  if required

More about applying for your research degree

Funding your research degree.

Find out how you can fund your postgraduate research project, with options including loans, bursaries, and scholarships.

Writing a research proposal and personal statement

Explore our advice on what you should be looking to include in your research proposal and your personal statement before you apply.

Postgraduate Research Proposal Guide

If you are considering undertaking a postgraduate research degree, follow our step by step guide to writing the perfect research proposal. 

• School of Nursing >
• Admissions >
• Graduate Admissions >
• Post-MS PhD

Post-MS Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Program - Admissions

The University at Buffalo's Post-Master's Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing program is designed to prepare experienced nurses for leadership roles in nursing science and academia. This program equips nurse scholars to advance knowledge development, theory generation, and hypothesis testing to improve nursing practice and health care outcomes. All PhD program tracks are offered online, providing the flexibility needed for working professionals.

Jump to section

About our admissions process.

• The School of Nursing reserves the right to change admission and program criteria to meet prevailing accreditation and registration requirements.
• Students who have been dismissed from other nursing programs are not eligible for admission. 
• An interview is required for all graduate programs as part of the review process. Qualified applicants will be notified of interview via email.

Admissions Information

Admissions requirements.

• Equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree.
• Active U.S. RN license or foreign nursing license.
• Overall MSN GPA of 3.25.

Application Materials

• Online application.
• Application fee: $75
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
• Resume/curriculum vitae.
• Personal statement .
• Two scholarly writing samples.
• Three references.

Transcript Information

All application materials are submitted online through the application portal, except for official transcripts. Please do not upload any screenshots of transcripts.

Select the correct institution

Ensure that your transcripts are sent to SUNY University at Buffalo,  not  to SUNY Buffalo State University.

Please have official transcripts mailed to:

UB School of Nursing Beck Hall-Graduate Admissions 3435 Main Street Buffalo, New York 14214

Electronic transcripts can be:

• Emailed to  [email protected].
• Uploaded via Parchment using the "University at Buffalo" option. 
• Uploaded via National Student Clearinghouse using code: 002837. 

International Applicants

Additional requirements for international applicants, all graduate nursing program applicants.

• SPEAK Test , TOEFL or IELTS scores  (minimum scores and more information);  UB TOEFL code: 2925.
• International Credentials/Transcripts/Proof of Degree/Translations. A WES document is strongly preferred. 
• Upon admission to the program, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degrees/translations in a sealed envelope to the International Admission Office.
• Immigration and financial documents.

DNP Program Applicants

• Students applying to the DNP program are not eligible to obtain an F1 student visa.  Visa requirements can be found here . 
• If you do not have a US RN license, you must contact the state board of nursing to apply. 

Application Deadlines

All documents must be received by the deadline.  

Additional Information

Application tips series.

Letters of recommendation are a vital piece of your application. Here are some important tips for identifying recommenders. 

Learn about filling out an application for the UB School of Nursing graduate programs.

Your resume is a vital piece of your application. Here are some important tips to remember when creating your resume.

Learn tips for writing a quality personal statement.

Learn tips for providing clear and high-quality transcripts will set you up for success during the application process. 

Graduate Programs Information Sessions

Tanner Gelatt Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment 202 Beck Hall 716-829-3765 [email protected] Schedule a meeting with Tanner.

The University at Buffalo is committed to ensuring equal access to its programs and activities. View UB's Notice of Discrimination here.

Call for applications: The Professor Sewankambo Global Health Security PhD Fellowships

The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is excited to announce four (4) PhD Fellowship positions within the prestigious Sewankambo Global Health Security Fellowship Program. This 3-year fellowship aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in Global Health Security (GHS) across Africa. IDI is a renowned Centre of excellence in infectious disease research, training, and patient care in Africa. Through our fellowship program, we are committed to fostering scientific excellence and leadership in global health security.

Who Are We Looking For?

We seek candidates with a background in clinical, numerical, or biological sciences who are passionate about advancing global health security. Ideal candidates will leverage IDI’s rich resources, including datasets, mentorship, internet access, and state-of-the-art facilities, to engage in practical training and internships.  The PhD fellows will be expected to develop PhD proposals with a focus on any one of the following 7 specialized program areas:

• Antimicrobial Resistance: Addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance through innovative research and strategies.
• Laboratory, Biosafety, and Biosecurity: Enhancing laboratory capacity and implementing robust biosafety and biosecurity measures.
• Epidemic Intelligence and Surveillance: Strengthening early detection and response systems for infectious disease outbreaks.
• Case Management, Infection Prevention, and Control: Improving clinical management and infection prevention strategies to reduce disease transmission.
• Vaccination and Medical Countermeasures: Advancing vaccine development and deployment strategies to combat infectious diseases.
• Planetary Health and WASH: Integrating health with environmental stewardship and promoting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives.
• Health Policy, Advocacy, and Economics: Influencing policy decisions and advocating for sustainable health solutions through economic analysis.

Academic Qualification

• Masters in Medicine, public health, veterinary, biological, or numerical background
• Ability to leverage existing data (quantitative and qualitative) to answer research questions related to their PhD topic
• At least two first-author publications

Candidate Eligibility

• Minimum qualifications:  Applicants should have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Medicine, public health, veterinary, biological, or numerical background with at least an upper second. Candidates should have their undergraduate and master’s training from a chattered University. 
• Demonstrated interest in Global Health Security or mathematical modelling.
• A viable and innovative research concept in any of the above-mentioned areas.
• Ability to leverage existing data (quantitative and qualitative) to answer research questions related to their PhD topic.
• Ready to commit as a full-time PhD student.

Application Requirements:

• Certified copies of relevant academic documents.
• Reference letters from two academic referees. The letter should speak to the candidate’s academic maturity, academic ability, intellectual potential, creativity and originality, scientific writing skills, and interpersonal skills.
• Motivation Statement (up to 1000 words)
• Research Concept (no more than 2 pages, excluding references)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing education, work experience, conference presentations, and publications. Candidates are requested to include in their CV links their previous scientific documents authored, including manuscripts, reports, or grant awards.
• Cover Letter

For more information visit  https://idi.mak.ac.ug/opportunities/

The application deadline is 6 th September 2024

Responsive Culture, Partnerships, and Research Ethics Emphasized at CARTA’s APAS Workshop in Kampala

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KAMPALA—Researchers in African Universities have been urged to cultivate a Responsive Culture, create, maintain, and strengthen collaborations, and uphold Research Ethics. In the CARTA programme, Participants explore the requirements for successful research in African universities, including researcher training based on global best practices. They also define and address knowledge management as the process of generating and sharing information; demonstrate the positive linkages between quality research and sustainable development in Africa.

These issues featured prominently at the CARTA’s APAS Workshop in Kampala, a week-long training for Academic, Professional, and Administration Staff (APAS) and Trainers of Trainers (ToTs). It is organized by  Makerere University  and the  Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) .

Dr. John Bosco Isunju, the CARTA Focal Person, and  iCARTA Project  lead at  Makerere University , highlighted the Workshop’s Goal of fostering a responsive culture among Universities and Research Institutions Staff. By examining the efficiency of governance structures and processes that support research and graduate training in African Universities and Research Institutions. The  CARTA  programme seeks to create an environment conducive to the success of early-career and seasoned researchers.

Therefore, a total of 57 Participants and 14 Facilitators from across Africa are convening in Kampala to train on research systems, policies, and processes. The Participants are from  Makerere University  in Uganda;  Moi University  and  University of Nairobi  in Kenya;  Obafemi Awolowo University  and  University of Ibadan , Nigeria;  University of Rwanda , Rwanda;  University of the Witwatersrand , South Africa;  Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) , Malawi. Further, Participants were drawn from Research Institutions including the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Kenya;  Agincourt Health and Population Unit , South Africa; and  Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania .

The CARTA APAS Workshop was conducted in 3 days for all Participants; and an additional 2 days for the Training of Trainers (ToTs), from August 12 th to 16 th August 2024, at  Makerere University, School of Public Health – ResilientAfrica Network (MakSPH-RAN) , Plot 28, Upper Kololo Terrace, Kampala, Uganda. At the end of the training, Participants were awarded Certificates and urged to cascade the knowledge and skills acquired in their respective institutions.

At the opening session,  Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze , a Professor and Dean of  Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) , emphasized the importance of collaborations in research among African academics.

She noted that over the past five years, MakSPH has collaborated with partners across 25 African countries, indicating a vast network of research partnerships. Dr. Wanyenze also expressed hope that Participants will leave the training with new partnerships and networks, further emphasizing the goal of fostering collaboration among attendees.

“Partnership is very important and I hope as we are here, we will be networking so that at the end of the APAS training, as we leave we will maintain the partnerships and continue to forge networks with researchers we haven’t worked with before. That will hopefully be one of the outcomes of us working together during this APAS Training,” said Professor Wanyenze.

Over the years,  Makerere University  has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with APHRC. According to Dr. Wanyenze, there is a need to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder productivity and collaboration in African Universities and Research Institutions needed to improve the university research ecosystem, with a key focus on students.

She further noted that; “Students are critical in the research ecosystem. They are smart; they have ideas, especially when we give them space and when they know that their views matter. We need to create an environment where students can communicate freely what they think works without feeling shy and thinking that you’re going to throw it back at them, and make them feel uncomfortable in our Universities.”

Dr. Anne Nangulu, a Professor of Economic History and Principal of Bomet University College (a Constituent College of Moi University) who is also the Focal Point for  CARTA  at Moi University, believes it is vital for university officials to be proactive and plan ahead of time to execute their academic and research related duties and responsibilities. Prof. Nangulu, re-echoed Prof. Wanyenze, encouraged faculty to delegate some of their duties to students; early career academic and administrative staff as part of mentorship especially at postgraduate level.

Prof. Nangulu further noted that; “We might be a little selfish when funds arrive in small amounts. You want to accomplish everything such as data collecting, analysis and dissemination. Think about collaborative research by incorporating early career staff as well. Also, please update your resume today, keep it online, and keep it current. It is part of leadership in promoting institutional and individual visibility in the global space.”

Dr. Joseph Gichuru Wang’ombe , a career development expert and Deputy Executive Director at APHRC, emphasized the need for greater participation in high-quality research and urged participants to actively develop research capacity.

“If you believe in something and put it into your mind and heart, it can be realized. The research and good quality research have to be done by more and more people, and that means that we are building capacity and enabling many others to do research.”

In addition, he stated that workshops emphasize the value of a supportive network of research administrators, clear distinctions between functionaries, the need for funding, mainly from African governments, and technology transfer for the continent.

“To appreciate that it is more than simply the research; it is also about what happens in the library. It is what happens in the Registrar’s and bursar’s offices. We are very happy to see people from many sections of our universities come together. One of the most amazing things we have noticed with  CARTA APAS programme  is that personnel in Universities as well as research institutions can come from the same institution and not know each other. They meet for the first time but the silos are broken when they return, you’ll notice they’ve discovered new collaboration methods,” said Dr. Gichuru.

Dr. Akinyinka Omigbodun , a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the  University of Ibadan , believes that; Everyone in the university research ecosystem is essential and that institutions must try to use the multi-disciplinarity and expertise of their human resources to build better research environments.

He further emphasized that; “Let us all work as a group. If you observe soccer players, they are part of a team, but they also work in groups. You have the attackers, midfielders, and the defense. You will find that even defenders score goals. The attackers go back to defend when the team is under pressure. Thus, we all must learn to appreciate and do work as teams as well as groups; that way, we can achieve more in African Universities and Research Institutions.”

Started in 2007/2008, CARTA, a Consortium of eight African Partner Universities, four Research Institutions, and Eight non-African Partner Institutions has been led jointly by the  African Population and Health Center , Kenya, and the  University of the Witwatersrand , South Africa.

Every year, CARTA facilitates APAS Workshops to strengthen the capacity of institutional functionaries. The  iCARTA Project  at  Makerere University  (a NORHED II grant from NORAD), and the Global Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) through CARTA funded the Workshop. This programme seeks to inspire Participants to improve commitment to institutional systems and drive transformation to attain world-class research in African Universities and affiliated research institutions.

In sum, CARTA works as a collaborative arrangement to support sustainable development of a vibrant African Academy able to lead world-class multidisciplinary research that positively impacts public and population health.

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ENABLING Project Social Scientist Positions: (1) Team Lead (3) Research Associates

Makerere University College of Health Sciences-MAKCHS- Centre of Excellence in Women’s Health in collaboration with Makerere University -Johns Hopkins University (MU-JHU) Care Limited received funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Enabling Platforms for Maternal Immunization: Uganda (ENABLING Project).  The Project aims to identify, characterize, and support the delivery platform, policy, and preparedness requirements for introducing new maternal vaccines. The Project seeks to recruit suitable candidates for the following positions;

Social Scientist, Team Lead (01)

Social Scientist Research Associate  (03)

Duty Station : Kampala

Engagement: Full Time 

All applications must be submitted to the email: [email protected] before Monday, 29th July 2024 at 23:59hrs EAT

Call for Abstracts: Makerere Bioethics Conference 2024

The Centre for Bioethics under Makerere University Biomedical Research Centre (MakBRC) is delighted to announce the MAKERERE BIOETHICS CONFERENCE (MakBC 2024) , scheduled to take place on 11 th and 12 th November 2024 at Hotel Africana, Kampala, Uganda. This year’s theme is ‘Contemporary Issues in Bioethics Practice, ‘ and we invite researchers, practitioners, and students to submit their abstracts for presentation.

Thematic Areas:

• Genetics and Genomics
• Assisted Reproductive Health
• Drug and Vaccination Development
• Nanotechnology
• Robotic Surgery
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Biotechnology
• Digital Health
• Research Ethics
• Research Integrity
• Clinical Ethics
• Public Health Ethics

Important Dates:

Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 th August 2024

Registration Deadline: 16 th September 2024

Submission and Registration:

Abstract Submission: Click here to Submit your Abstract

Online Registration: Click here to Register for the Conference

For more information contact Conference Secretariat:

Department of Anatomy,  Last Floor, School of Biomedical Sciences Makerere University College of Health Sciences,  P.O Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda.  Email: [email protected]      Website:  https://chs.mak.ac.ug/makbc2024  Tel: +256 782 363 996 or +256 772 246 681

Admission Lists -Successful Appeals and Re-advertised programmes 2024/25

ADVERT: Employment Opportunities at Makerere University

Mature Age Admission List under Private Sponsorship 2024/25

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Pre-debut K-pop group 3WAY opens auditions for a Filipino member. Here’s what to know. 

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

3WAY. The upcoming Korean boy group is on the lookout for a Filipino member.

ShowBT Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Ever dreamed of becoming part of a K-pop group? This might be your chance! 

Upcoming K-pop boy group 3WAY, also known as World Wide Wonder, is holding auditions to include a Filipino member to its lineup. 

The group’s Korean management NineTwo Entertainment has partnered with Manila-based company ShowBT Philippines to bring the global audition “3WAY PROJECT” to the Philippines, according to a press statement.

ShowBT Philippines formed and previously managed P-pop powerhouse SB19. 

The labels said that there will be auditions across several countries to look for potential members that could expand 3WAY’s “uniqueness, diversity, and versatility.” 

The group currently consists of Korean members Donghyun, Hyecheon, Xiho, Jeongyoon, Wooseok; and Japanese members Ryo, Leno, and Rintaro. 

Only male Filipinos aged 16 to 25 (born from 1999 to 2008) can audition. 

For the initial screening, auditionees should submit a video of them dancing to the choreography of 3WAY’s “On My Way” song, a dance cover video of any song, and a singing cover video of any song. 

Aspirants can send their application through this Google form until August 29 at 10 am. Results of the pre-screening will be announced on the afternoon of August 29. 

Those who successfully pass the initial round will move on to the final auditions on August 31. 

NineTwo Entertainment has yet to provide additional details about their audition project, including the number of auditionees they would accept, as well as possible target date for the act’s official debut. As a pre-debut group, 3WAY released the single “On My Way” in April. 

If a Filipino aspirant gets into 3WAY’s official lineup, they will be joining the growing list of Filipino talents who have debuted in K-pop groups, including Lapillus’ Chanty and UNIS’ Elisia and Gehlee. All-Filipino boy band HORI7ON is also active in the Korean entertainment industry. – Rappler.com

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Paralegal barred for dishonesty in job application

By John Hyde 2024-08-19T10:37:00+01:00

A paralegal has been barred from the profession after failing to tell his firm about a court judgment of fundamental dishonesty against him.

Source: Alamy

Shahraq Hussain, from Birmingham, had secured a paralegal job with national firm DAC Beachcroft in February 2023. The law graduate had been asked in a pre-employment questionnaire whether he had ever been the subject of civil proceedings and whether he had any judgment debts made under a court order still outstanding.

Hussain answered ‘no’ to both questions, when in fact he had been found to be fundamentally dishonest in his conduct of a personal injury claim.

Birmingham County Court had made an order in October 2019 to dismiss his claim and direct him to pay the defence costs.

The matter was reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which found that Hussain had completed this online questionnaire and given false and misleading responses. His conduct was found to be dishonest and it was deemed undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA’s prior approval.

Hussain was made subject to a section 43 order and ordered to pay £600 costs.

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