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School of
To be accepted on our PhD programme, you will need a Bachelor's degree of at least 2:1 level (or equivalent), or a master's degree, in a subject related to your proposed PhD research topic.
If you are from outside the UK, you will also need an IELTS score of 6.5, or above, with at least 5.5 in the four sub-sections, or equivalent.
For more information on entry requirements, visit our Graduate School website.
Consult our PhD opportunities if you're interested in a broad area of research or advertised projects covering specific research topics.
Before applying, we recommend that you contact the School to check whether your project is suitable. It must be feasible within the resources and time frame available to you and should address a perceived "gap" in the literature. Most importantly, it should be of interest to you.
To find out more about our areas of expertise, please view our staff profiles in the School of Architecture or the School of Construction Management and Engineering.
If you already have a potential supervisor in mind then you are welcome to contact them directly in order to discuss your proposed PhD project.
If you would like assistance with identifying potential supervisors then please contact the School's Director of Postgraduate Research Studies by emailing z.luo@reading.ac.uk or calling +44 (0) 118 378 5219.
It is not essential to communicate directly with the School before submitting your application, but many candidates find it helpful.
Once you have identified a research area of interest with a potential supervisor, please apply using the PhD and professional doctorate online application programme. This allows you to complete the necessary information and attach copies of relevant documents, including the details of two appropriate referees.
If you are not applying for an advertised project, it is essential that you submit a proposal: proposals should be around 4,000 words and should cover your study rationale, literature review, objectives, work programme and references.
Although you will be working with a specific School or supervisor, all PhD applications have to be made centrally. The University will acknowledge your application and then pass it on to our School.
Although most new students join the PhD programme in October, it is possible to start your studies at any point during the academic year.
