how to apply

Applications
Interview
Eligibility
Selection and induction

Applications now open

We are still accepting entry for September 2012 start but cannot guarantee that scholarships will be available.

Note: We advise that before applying you attempt to find a supervisor who may be interested in supervising your research. Identifying a potential supervisor at the time of applying is strongly encouraged but not compulsory.

Deadlines

_{We are still accepting applications for a September 2012 start, although we cannot guarantee that scholarship places will be available. We advise applicants to apply as soon as possible as we are unlikely to accept applications after June 2012.}

_{Please note, there is no application fee for this programme.}

_{^*For industry scholarships, please refer to the deadlines stated on the adverts.}

Application forms

_{Before applying we suggest all candidates read the FAQs on the main UCL site, accessible here.}

_{Online applications}

_{We advise candidates wherever possible to use the online
application process. Click here to access the online UCL applications system.}

_{Postal applications}

_{If you wish to apply by post, information and a link to download the application form can be accessed by clicking this link.}

Filling in the form

_{If you already submitted an application to another UCL
department; please request their departmental administrator to forward
your application to UCL SECReT. Please ensure that SECReT receives a personal statement that is specific to the security science programme.}

_{Online applications will need the following information:}

_{Department: Department of Security and Crime Science}

_{Degree name: Research degree: Security Science}

_{Degree code: RRDSECSING01}

_{APPLICATION FORM}

_{In the form please fill the below sections as indicated:}

_{UCL Department/Institute}

_{Please write 'Department of Security and Crime Science'}

_{Qualification sought}

_{Please write 'PhD'}

_{Research subject area}

_{Please write 'RRDSECSING01 SECURITY SCIENCE:' then your research
field(s) of interest if known (eg. info security/management, human
perception and behaviour) in the same box.}

_{Name(s) of proposed supervisor(s)}

_{Identifying a potential supervisor at the time of applying is strongly encouraged but not compulsory.
In addition to the list of supervisors currently listed on the SECReT
website, departmental websites are a great source of information to
find out potential supervisors in our partner departments. The two supervisors must be from two different disciplines, preferably from two different domains: science and technology, people’s factor, process’ factor and policy.}

_{Personal statement}

_{As well as other requested information please state
clearly what research fields you are interested in: e.g. information
security/management and human perception and behaviour. Academics will
be looking for evidence of creative links across security science
disciplines as well as reasons for undertaking a four year integrated
doctoral taught programme rather than the traditional 3-year programme.}

_{Defining your research question at the time of applying is not compulsory. SECReT students have the opportunity to explore various disciplines before defining their exact PhD subject at the end of year 1. However, in your personal statement you should clearly indicate what multi-disciplinary research field you are interested in, and detail your research interest. Our website contains a list of security-related research fields that can be covered by SECReT’s academics.}

_{Fees and funding}

_{Please see the separate fees and funding pages for information on how to complete this section (click on relevant links below)}

_{UK residents}

_{EU residents}

_{Overseas residents}

_{Please return the form and all supporting documents to UCL Admissions whose address is indicated on the UCL Application form. DO NOT SEND THE FORM TO THE UCL SECReT ADDRESS. Any documents sent by email to UCL SECReT will be deleted.} _{Applications cannot be considered until they are complete including both references.}

_{Please return the form and all supporting documents to UCL Admissions whose address is indicated on the UCL Application form. DO NOT SEND THE FORM TO THE UCL SECReT ADDRESS. Any documents sent by email to UCL SECReT will be deleted.}

_{Applications cannot be considered until they are complete including both references.}

Interview information

All applications received with proper documentation will be examined after the deadline date for applications has passed and successful candidates will be invited for interview. The interview will last approximately half an hour and will consist of questions from a panel designed to establish a candidate’s interest in and suitability for the course. At the time of interview candidates will be advised when they will be informed of the result of the interview.

Course eligibility

UCL sets high standards and is concerned to attract students with excellent academic qualifications and high levels of motivation.

Students applying should normally have (or expect to achieve) an outstanding academic record with a minimum 2.1 undergraduate degree

Candidates with a good Masters degree (e.g. a distinction) or equivalent, are strongly encouraged to apply.

The subject area should be grounded in a science based subject widely defined (e.g. computer science, chemistry, engineering, information and communications technologies, materials, mathematical sciences, physics and some life and social sciences).

All applications will be subject to approval by the UCL Graduate Admissions Office. Nationality or country of origin is not a criterion for eligibility; we welcome applications from EU students and overseas students.

Selection and induction process

Selection

To ensure appropriate quality of students, applicant selection will be based on two criteria. First, a panel of relevant UCL academics will assess applicants on the basis of their potential in their specialist areas (e.g. signal processing). Secondly we will assess the candidate on the basis of their broader knowledge and skills, and aim to evaluate their potential to pursue truly innovative, interdisciplinary research, aswell as their ability to fulfill our expectations for them to engage fully in UCL SECReT wider learning and teamwork activities. We are looking for candidates who really stand out as potential leaders in their field, and whose work will create genuine impact.

PLEASE NOTE: The taught components and the PhD together form an integrated 4 year programme. The taught component (largely in Year 1) is not a stand alone course and applicants are expected to commit themselves to the whole four year programme.

How students are selected: seven step process

Applications fowarded to UCL SECReT by central UCL Registry (ie. where you originally sent your application) are shortlisted by the UCL SECReT team; very weak applications or applications non-aligned with UCL SECReT’s ethos or research areas are rejected.
PDF-copies of the shortlisted applications are placed online and can be accessed by all members of the UCL SECReT academic community. (This is why it is useful to have already contacted and/or named a potential supervisor for your proposed research in your application.)
Academics review the applications, focusing on those from students who may share their research interests, and submit a review form back to UCL SECReT.
The SECReT team now further shortlists applicants for interview based on the feedback from academics.
These students are invited for an interview at UCL with a 3 person panel, usually including the Director or Deputy Director of UCL SECReT, and an academic interested in your proposed research (often the person you have previously contacted or named). Students and academics may contact each other before the interview.
After a 40 minute interview of the student, UCL SECReT team will decide in consultation with academics whether s/he will be offered a place on the programme, and whether s/he will be allocated the (EPSRC) scholarship.
UCL SECReT team will request UCL to issue a notification letter, and inform applicants of their decision by email. Results will also be posted online. All unsuccessful applicants will be formally notified by UCL.

Notification

We expect to make offers within a week of interview.

All unsuccessful candidates will be notified by UCL. Please note that due to the large number of applications we process and the confidential nature of certain documents, we will not provide any feed-back.

Deferral

If I apply and am accepted, can I defer my enrollment by one year?

The programme director may allow you to defer once. Please note that you cannot carry your scholarship over to your deferred year, you will need to apply for the scholarship again. Also, if your residency status changes between the time of applying and the time of joining the programme, you may not be eligible for the scholarship.

Induction

All new students will undergo a one week induction course which will introduce them to UCL and the research support facilities available. This will also provide a generic introduction to security science and the operation of the training centre – its background, ethos, aims, programme, regulations, and expectations. This will be held for each annual cohort and will involve all supervisors, UCL SECReT management team and associated support staff. All students will be assigned a mentor to advise on any personal matters but also to assist in the ‘matching’ of students with supervisors. During this week students will be given specific lectures about ‘security and critical infrastructures’, setting the national scene and examining current approaches.

UCL SECURITY SCIENCE DOCTORAL RESEARCH TRAINING CENTRE