How to find a supervisor  

All MPhil and PhD students are assigned a supervisor who provide guidance and help plan study.  

Where possible, you should name your preferred supervisor in your course application.  

Please consult the staff list below. Availability depends on sabbatical leave, contractual arrangements, and the number of students they already supervise. 

Choose a staff member whose interests overlap with your own. You can find more detailed information by clicking the links to supervisors’ research profiles. 

MPhil applicants

• Please do not contact a prospective supervisor directly.  
• Indicate your preferred supervisor, and one alternative, on your application form.  
• If your nominated supervisor is unavailable or oversubscribed, we will forward your application to an alternative prospective supervisor for consideration.
• If you are offered a place, we will let you know if your assigned supervisor is different to the person nominated. 

PhD applicants

If you are confident your project fits well with your preferred supervisor’s research, you do not need to contact them. 
No preference is given to applicants who have made contact.  

Supervisors cannot give detailed feedback on your proposal or on your chances of admission. 


If you have questions about whether your topic aligns with their interests: 

• You may email your preferred supervisor
• When contacting a supervisor, attach your CV with details of the degrees you have taken and the marks you have obtained, and a one-page research proposal.
• There is no need to include references or transcripts. 
   

Once you are certain your preferred supervisor’s research interests are a good fit with yours, name them, and up to one alternative, on your application form. 

If your nominated supervisor is unavailable or oversubscribed, we will forward your application to an alternative prospective supervisor for consideration. 

If you are offered a place, the offer letter will include details of your supervisor.