Enrolling for a research degree
STEP 1: Initial Contact with the tic
Your initial contact with the tic will generally be by telephone or by email or you may have had contact with members of the tic staff through previous study at the tic, by attending short-courses or from other events or publicity.
Because Research Degrees, unlike taught courses, are individually tailored to the student, it is important that you can summarise your prior academic study and your interests and aspirations so that the tic can assess whether it may be in a position to offer you a place to study for a Research Degree. It is extremely helpful if you can summarise your academic qualifications and professional experience (if any), together with your main areas of interest so that these areas can be explored in more detail by completing the Initial Application Form and returning this to the tic so that we can consider your application.
This form summarises your prior qualifications and experience and provides an opportunity for you to tell us about the area of research that is of most interest to you. Clearly if your research area would need specialist equipment, the tic may not be in a position to provide this.
You should also have considered carefully the financial implications of studying for a Higher Degree (not just the payment of Research Degree Enrolment Fees but also the need keep yourself during your studies).
Assuming the outcome of the initial contact is positive, you will be invited to the tic for an Initial Interview with the Research Degrees Coordinator and research staff who may have interests that align with your area of interest. If you are an Overseas student it may be possible to conduct the initial interview by telephone or video-conference, but a face-to-face interview is preferred.
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STEP 2: Initial Interview at the tic
The Initial Interview is an extremely important part of the Research Degree process, where you have the opportunity to explore the facilities and expertise that the tic has to offer and the tic can learn more about you, both in terms of academic qualifications, prior experience and why you wish to undertake a Research Degree. Starting a Research Degree is a very significant commitment and it is important that you understand fully what is involved and the likely commitment in terms of time and money that you will be required to make.
A Research Degree involves significant further study, both a widening and deepening of your knowledge of a particular subject area and is an academic award, in this case from Birmingham City University, that demonstrates you have an ability to undertake research and to develop new knowledge. At the completion of your research you will prepare a thesis and defend this to a panel of examiners, so the tic must be confident that it would be possible to develop a coherent research proposal which would sufficiently sustain your interest, is likely to satisfy the academic requirements of a research degree, that the tic can supervise the programme and that is is "do-able". The tic must therefore ensure that it could provide any facilities or equipment that would be required and that there are suitably qualified, experienced and willing academic staff who could supervise your studies.
You should bring appropriate proof of academic qualifications to the Initial Interview and any other documents or materials that may assist the tic in assessing your qualifications and professional experience.
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STEP 3: Offer to Study at Birmingham City University
Following a successful Initial Interview and satisfactory consideration of other relevant factors, the tic will request that Birmingham City University makes you an offer to study for MPhil or PhD by full-time, part-time or distance study.
Birmingham City University will then assess the registration fees payable based on student status and Mode of Study and send you an Offer to Study letter which outlines the fees payable, the anticipated area of research, likely date of commencement and identifies the anticipated Director of Studies.
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STEP 4: Accepting Your Offer to Study
When you receive your Offer to Study letter from Birmingham City University you should check this carefully to ensure that your personal details are correct and that you are being offered what you expected. The fees payable are calculated pro-rata on the number of months remaining of the academic year and payment by installments is possible - please contact Birmingham City University Academic Registry for further advice.
You should accept this offer fairly quickly, even if you do not plan to enroll immediately. If you plan to enroll at a later date please indicate your anticipated commencement date. Note that you cannot commence your research before you have both accepted the Offer to Study and Enrolled as a Research Student and that the tic cannot supervise non-enrolled Research Degree candidates.
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STEP 5: Enrolling as a Research Student
Enrolling as a Research Student of Birmingham City University is the start of your Research Degree programme and is carried out by the Academic Registry of Birmingham City University on the main Perry Barr campus. When you enroll you will need to take your offer letter and two recent passport-sized photographs. (Note that you CANNOT enrol for a Research Degree at the tic registry in Millennium Point). You will also need to pay personally or provide evidence of the agreement of a third party (e.g. your employer) to pay the Research Degree enrolment fees.
After enrolling, you will be a bona fide student of Birmingham City University and will be entitled to use the library facilities of Birmingham City University, any special facilities at the tic designated for Research Students and be entitled to an NUS Student Card and other student benefits. You will also need to obtain a tic Student Identity Card which will provide access to the tic facilities at Millennium Point.
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Registering your Reseach Proposal
