Research Entry Criteria

Outlined below are the University's standard entry requirements as defined within Section 4 of the University’s Academic Regulations. All applications will follow the requirements as defined by the University’s Postgraduate Research Application and Admissions Procedure.

All applicants must have evidence of academic attainment as indicated. However, some subject areas will additionally require further evidence of specified attainment.

Entry criteria for applicants to MSc/MA by Research

Minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.

Entry criteria for applicants to Doctoral Study (including PhD and Professional Doctorates)

A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.

In the event of a first degree classification of less than 2:1, a Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent.

The Masters must have been attained with minimum overall marks at merit level (60%)*. In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a minimum mark of merit level (60%).

*Or higher where stipulated against a specific opportunity.

English Language Proficiency required for Research Degrees

At the point of application, international applicants are required to demonstrate their English language proficiency through the attainment of or booking of an approved English language test. The tests accepted for admission to a research degree at Coventry University are:

• IELTS Academic / IELTS for UKVI (Academic) demonstrating an overall score of 7.0 or above with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the four sections.
• TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition (Online) demonstrating an overall score of 95 or higher with no section below 21.

Please note that English language qualifications must have been awarded in the two years immediately preceding the proposed programme start date (e.g. for programmes starting in September 2022 the qualification must have been awarded in or after October 2020).

Please visit the UK Visa Immigration Service website for further guidance on recognised test centres.

The only exception to this requirement is for students educated to UK degree level standard in the medium of English in a UKVI-defined majority English speaking country within the two years immediately preceding your proposed start date (e.g. for programmes starting in September 2022 the qualification must have been awarded in or after October 2020).

Offer holders who have achieved an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in all components may be eligible to enrol on a Pre-sessional English (PSE) programme subject to availability as outlined in the Postgraduate Research Pre-Sessional English Guidance (doc). Please note that only a valid IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test is accepted for entry onto a Pre-sessional English (PSE) programme where a student route visa is required

In such cases a joint CAS will be issued for entry to both the pre-sessional English programme and the research degree.

Progression to the research degree programme will be subject to meeting the required level of English. Candidates not meeting the requirements will not be permitted to register for the research degree and under UKVI requirements will only be able to re-enrol on a further PSE course at a later date, having left the University to improve their level of English, in order to comply with student route visa regulations.