After you apply
Your Research Student Administrator (RSA) will assess your application to make sure you meet our entry requirements and you have provided all of the required documentation.
The complete application will be reviewed by the appropriate Director of Postgraduate Studies who will assess if we can offer supervision. If we can identify potential supervisors, your application will be sent to them for consideration. If we are not able to supervise you we will notify you of this as soon as possible.
It normally takes around four–six weeks to reach a decision on postgraduate research applications. However, this can be delayed if your application is incomplete and we require additional information from you. If you have not had a decision on your application within eight weeks please contact your RSA via the application portal.
If we have supervisors who are interested in supervising your project, you will be invited to attend an admissions interview. This can be held via Skype if you are not in the UK.
Types of offer
Conditional
If we have made you a conditional offer, the conditions will be stated in your offer letter. When you have met these conditions you should provide this to your RSA. When you have met all the conditions of your offer, we will provide you with a new offer letter.
Except where indicated in the offer letter, there are no specific deadlines for meeting the conditions of your offer. However make sure you leave enough time after meeting the conditions to make arrangements to start your course, for example if you need to arrange accommodation or a visa.
Unconditional offers
An unconditional offer has no conditions. You just need to let us know whether or not you wish to accept or decline our offer of a study place and you do this by accepting/rejecting the offer via the new applicant area.
Deferring your offer
If you have been made an offer of study, and for unforeseen circumstances you cannot attend at the start of your course, you may ask to defer your place to the next admission point.
To request a deferral you should contact your RSA via the new applicant area. Please note that a change of start date is at the discretion of your supervisors and Director of Postgraduate Studies. It is not automatically given and you may be asked to apply again.
Normally applicants are only permitted to defer their start date a maximum of two times.
Withdrawing your application
If you wish to withdraw your application please notify your research student administrator via the new applicant area and they will update your application for you.
Post offer
CAS number
International students who require a Tier 4 to study in the UK will need to apply for a CAS number. A CAS is a unique reference number that is 14 digits long that is given to you by the University of Brighton. It confirms to the Home Office that you have accepted an unconditional offer and met with the Home Office requirements regarding length of study in the UK and academic progression.
As part of your unconditional offer you will be asked to complete a visa questionnaire. Our visa compliance team will then review your eligibility and issue a CAS number as appropriate.
More information is available on our international pages.
Tuition fee deposit
If you are self-funded we cannot issue you with a CAS until you have paid your tuition fee deposit. We would advise that you pay this as soon as possible so that you are able to make your visa application in plenty of time.
More information about the tuition fee deposit and how to pay it is available international student fees page.
If you are a funded student you will need to provide proof of your sponsorship before the tuition fee deposit can be waived.
See more information on visa applications.
ATAS statement
You will need to obtain an ATAS certificate every time you make a Tier 4 Student application if you are studying or going to study one of the following research degree programmes:
- Pharmacy
- Biomedical Sciences
- Healthcare Professions
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Engineering
- Environment
- Civil Engineering
- Built Environment
- Computing
- Mathematical and Information Sciences
- Information Technology.
Where an ATAS statement is required, the process of how to apply for this will be provided in your offer letter so do read your offer letter carefully.
For details about the scheme and how to apply for your ATAS certificate visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office information about ATAS.
ATAS Certificates can take up to two months to be issued so you must apply for your certificate in plenty of time. The process of applying for an ATAS statement will be detailed in your offer letter.