Qualifications, experience and achievements

These sections replace a CV.  It provides a structured format through a series of short questions, to tell us about your qualifications, experiences and achievements.

Further guidance is provided next to each question within the online application form.

About you

This section replaces a personal statement.  It provides a structured format through a series of shorter questions, to help guide you with your responses.

You will be asked about

• why you have decided to apply for a PhD
• why you have chosen this PhD project
• what skills you think you can bring to the PhD project

You can touch on your skills and experiences both within and outside of an academic environment. Please use it to communicate your knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to the research area, to demonstrate to us that you are equipped to study at PhD level.  Further guidance is provided next to each question within the online application form.

The documents required include:

• if you are currently studying:
  provide university degree transcripts to date (transcripts are official documents showing your grades for individual units or essays and exams throughout your degree).  If possible please provide us with the weightings your university will use to calculate your final degree score. Exception: if you are studying for a Masters and you will not have any university transcripts to date when you submit your application, please upload a document stating the reason why you are unable to provide a university degree transcript. 
• if you have completed your degree(s):
  provide colour scans of university degree certificate(s) and final transcripts confirming completion. In exceptional circumstances, an official letter from your university confirming completion of your award and final grade may be accepted in place of a certificate.
• English language certificate – only if an English certificate is required to meet the English language requirement and you already have a certificate.

International applicants should submit scans of original documentation in the language of the country it was received in. They must include a certified translation of all documents to English. Translations must be signed or stamped by an official translation service or education provider.

Application checks

Information submitted as part of an application will be scrutinised and we may request additional information to verify specific details including verification of results with third parties such as other universities, test providers, schools and other external parties assisting with admissions. Please see the registered university's Fraudulent Applications Policy for further details.

• Bath
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Exeter
• Plymouth
• Swansea
• UWE

Certified copies of documents

We accept certified copies of documents for interim degree documentation only. For completed degrees, you should submit a colour scan of the original official documentation.

If you are an international student and are required to post your documentation to the University, you may keep your original documents to be used for a visa application and submit certified copies to us.

A certified copy has been approved as a true copy by a relevant authority. You can ask your university, your local British Council, a solicitor or another professional person to certify documents for you.

Missing degree certificate or transcripts

We need your degree certificate(s) and transcripts in order to make a decision on your application. If you do not have these documents, you must ask your university to provide another copy. They may charge you for this service. In exceptional circumstances, you may be allowed to ask your university for a letter confirming your award and final grade instead of a degree certificate.

Providing documents if you haven’t graduated

If you’re waiting to graduate and can’t provide a degree certificate, please apply as usual. Include your transcripts to date (e.g. if you are a third-year student, please include transcripts from your first and second years). Please ensure your transcript shows details for every year of your programme.

If an offer of study is made, it may be conditional on obtaining the required final grade in your degree. You will then be asked to provide evidence that you have met the condition.

Expectations:

• You will need at least 2 referees for your application.
• If 1 of the referees is part of the PhD main supervisory team, you will need a 3rd referee for your application.
• At least 1 referee should be familiar with your academic work. If you graduated more than two years ago, or if professional experience is relevant to the application, professional references will be accepted in lieu of 1 academic reference.

Deciding your referee:

When identifying a referee you should approach someone who has understanding and knowledge about you as an individual.

Example academic reference:

• Your dissertation supervisor
• Other members of academic staff – for example someone who may have taught you or you have worked alongside as part of a research group.
• Your personal tutor.

Example professional reference:

• A current/former employer where you have undertaken work that is relevant to the PhD/project.
• Someone you have undertaken work experience with that is relevant to the PhD/project.

Please ensure permissions has been sought from the referee prior to providing their details.

The SWBio DTP/Partner university administration teams will only contact the referee for a reference if you are invited to a DTP interview day (stage 2 of the selection process). 

Documents: If you have already submitted your application, additional supporting documents to be considered for your application need to be sent to swbio-dtp@bristol.ac.uk by the deadline listed in the application form.

However, please make every effort to ensure these are provided by the application deadline, as sending documents separately may cause a delay in your application being assessed.