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Applying for a Masters by Research

Applications for a Masters by Research can be accepted at any time, and start dates can be agreed with the supervisory team throughout the year. However, it is common to align start dates with the academic year, with the Masters by Research starting in October 2024.

For the academic year 2024-25 (start dates up to the end of October 2024), we have 5 Masters by Research pre-defined projects available for candidates to apply for. These come with a research training and support grant (RTSG) of £750pa. Fees for UK students are set at around £4,700.

You are also able to work with our academic team to propose your own topic in this area, or work with them to define a suitable topic that aligns with their research interests. Contact details for Geosolutions academics are here.

Geosolutions Leeds are able to offer three bursaries for UK/Home students for the 2024-25 academic year (start dates up to the end of October 2024) for a Masters by Research. Details on how to access this funding can be found below.

If you are interested in a start date after the end of October 2024, please contact the Geosolutions Centre Coordinator to discuss the process

Application process

Step 1 - Contact

Contact the project lead of your chosen project to register your interest, and to ensure that they will be able to effectively support your application. In many cases potential supervisors may be able to arrange initial visits to Leeds to discuss the work.

Step 2 - Application

Please note the application deadline for start dates to 31st October 2024 is 23:59 Friday 28th June.

An On-Line Study Application (OLA)should be submitted to Leeds via University Application for Research Degree Study.  In the ‘Planned Course of Study’ section, the programme code that should be selected is MSR-EENV; it is important that you select that programme of study.  In the ‘Research Area/Title’ section the OLA you should simply input the full title of the project that you wish to be considered for and the supervisors’ names. Your application cannot receive consideration until you provide all supporting documents, as follows:

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)/resumé, which shows a high level of academic achievement and appropriate non-academic experience. Please include high school results.
  • Transcripts and certificates of ALL degrees to date. If you have not yet completed your current degree, you will need to send an official transcript of your results so far.
  • Personal Statement: Please provide a personal statement, of no more than 1 page, outlining (i) explain why you are interested in your chosen project, (ii) what motivates you to pursue a Masters by Research, (iii) what is your research experience and how does you skill set matches the requirements for your choice of project, and (iv) what is the wider importance of this research project.
  • English Language: If English is not your first language, you may need to meet the English language requirements evidence through an English language test (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL). The test certificate is not required when applying but will be required when registering if you are successful.
  • Academic References: Before we can give full consideration to your application, we will need a minimum of two strong academic references. These can be submitted with your application if they are signed, or alternatively, they can be emailed directly by the referee to the Geosolutions Leeds Centre Coordinator

Please note that it is your responsibility to request these references and ensure they that are sent to us.

Once you have submitted your OLA, you will be able to apply for a Geosolutions Leeds Bursary to cover your fees. Please be aware that we are only able to offer three bursaries for UK/Home students for the 2024-25 academic year for a Masters by Research. The bursary will cover the fees only for one year (or two years as a part time student). Please note, the bursary will not cover any living expenses and require a start date before the end of October 2024. For eligibility criteria and how to apply, please click here. The deadline to apply for this bursary is also Friday 28th June.

Step 3 - Interview

We will call the strongest applicants for interview. We seek to make offers to students who have the best qualifications for the projects and who perform best at interview.

 Step 4 - Offer

We will first make informal offers shortly after interview. Once you accept our offer, we will then make a recommendation for your acceptance for Masters by Research study to the University and you will be sent a formal offer of a study place. The letter will instruct you how to accept the place.