Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants are normally expected to hold, or be on track to obtain, at least an upper second-class honours degree (2:1) or a master’s qualification in a relevant discipline. Regrettably, we are unable to provide individual eligibility assessments prior to application. If you meet the general entry requirements, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Yes. Final-year undergraduate and master's students are welcome to apply provided they are on track to meet the academic entry requirements before enrolment.

The CDT typically recruits around 10 doctoral students each year. The exact number may vary depending on available funding.

Applications must be submitted through the online application form on the CDT website. Applicants are required to upload supporting documents, including academic transcript(s), as part of their application. Full details of the required documents and the application process are available on the application page.

International applicants are eligible to apply for UKRI-funded studentships.

The studentship covers:

• a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate
• Home-rate tuition fees
• research and training costs associated with the programme 

UCL will cover the difference between the Home and International tuition fee rates.

Students are responsible for visa application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), travel to the UK, and other relocation costs.

Please note that UKRI limits the proportion of international students funded through CDTs to a maximum of 30% of each cohort.

UCL will cover the difference between Home fees and International fees

Please note that UKRI restricts the number of international students that CDTs can take on board to a maximum of 30% of their overall students’ number per cohort.

Applicants who are not nationals of UK Home Office majority English-speaking countries must provide recent evidence of English proficiency. Applicants must demonstrate at least Level 2 English proficiency. Full details of UCL's English language requirements are available on the UCL Graduate Admissions website.

The CDT AMR programme is full-time and in-person. Remote study is not available. Part-time study may be considered with agreement from the supervisor and CDT Manager. 

Two academic referees are required as part of your application; however, we will only contact referees for candidates who are shortlisted for interview

Applications are reviewed after the deadline. Shortlisted candidates are invited to interview in February. All applicants are notified of outcomes by email.

The interview process normally consists of two stages:

• Interview 1: A 5–10 minute presentation on a research topic of your choice, followed by questions about your academic background, research interests and motivation.
• Interview 2: You will review a research article in advance, prepare a short summary, and discuss your analysis, critical thinking and problem-solving approach with the interview panel. 

Interviews typically take place in February. 

If you require any adjustments to participate in the interview process, please let us know when invited to interview so that appropriate arrangements can be made

Shortlisting will begin soon after the application deadline .   Applicants shortlisted for interview will normally be contacted in early February. Offers are expected to be issued by mid-March.

During the application process, you’ll be asked to indicate your preferred research themes and projects. Supervisors are linked to these projects, and allocations are made after offers are issued, based on mutual interest and project fit.

Please note that while we make every effort to match students with their preferred projects and supervisors, this cannot be guaranteed. Final allocations are made based on applicant preferences, supervisor availability and project fit.

No. You do not need to contact prospective supervisors before submitting your application. All applications are considered through the CDT admissions process.

Your fee status is assessed by UCL based on your nationality, immigration status and residency history. 

Guidance on how UCL assesses fee status can be found on the Student Fee Status webpage 
 

For further information, you can also refer to UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs)

If you have any questions that are not answered on this page, please contact the CDT team at amrcdt.admissions@ucl.ac.uk.