Cardiff University
Overseas Research Scholarships
Notes and Guidance for Applicants
Overview
1. Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to candidates of
the highest academic quality and who propose PhD projects that align with the research priorities of their
chosen School.

Applicants will normally be expected to have achieved the equivalent of a UK first class degree at
bachelor level, and, where required by their discipline, to hold a Master's level qualification of an
excellent standard.

Through their previous achievements and their research proposals, applicants must be able to
demonstrate that they have the potential to be outstanding researchers.

Applicants must be clear as to why they wish to undertake their PhD at Cardiff University and with
their proposed main supervisor and/or research group.
2. Applicants are advised to establish a dialogue with their intended supervisor to discuss their PhD proposal
before they submit their application for a Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarship.
3. Up to six Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarships will be awarded for academic year 2013-14, up
to two per College (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Biomedical and Life
Sciences; College of Physical Sciences).
Scholarship details and eligibility
4. Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarships are available to support three-year, full-time PhD
programmes only; they cannot be awarded to students undertaking research on a part-time or distancelearning basis, and are not available for other types of research degree.
5. Applicants must:

have made an application for full-time PhD study at Cardiff University before the Scholarship
application deadline of Friday 3 May 2013;

be applying for a PhD that commences on 1 October 2013 or, with the approval of the School in which
the PhD will be based, 1 January 2014;

be liable to pay tuition fees at the overseas rate;

be able to fulfil the academic entry requirements of Cardiff University.
6. Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarship awards will fund the difference between Cardiff
University's home (UK) and overseas tuition fee rate in Arts and Sciences. The Scholarships are not
available for PhD programmes for which the Clinical tuition fee rate is applied.
7. Students receiving a full scholarship (i.e. full fees and living costs) from their Government or another
sponsor will not be eligible for a Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarship.
8. An application for a Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarship does not replace an application to
Cardiff University for PhD study – which must be made before submission of the funding application.
Application process
9. An application form for the Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarships can be obtained from:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/international/funding/international-scholarshipfund/postgraduate-research-scholarships.html
10. THE COMPLETED FORM PLUS ONE REPORT FROM A REFEREE (SEE POINT 12 BELOW) MUST BE
SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL IN WHICH THE PROPOSED PHD WILL BE UNDERTAKEN.
11. THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS TO BE RECEIVED IN SCHOOLS IS FRIDAY 3 MAY 2013.
12. The referee should be someone with knowledge of the applicant's academic ability and achievement (e.g. a
university teacher). The report may be a copy of one of those supplied in support of the general application
for PhD study at Cardiff University if this is available to the applicant.
13. A list of Schools and their Postgraduate Research Contact email addresses is attached.
Selection process
14. The awards will be offered on a competitive basis to overseas students of outstanding merit and potential.
15. The proposed supervisor will be required to provide a statement to support the application. S/he will be
asked to provide an assessment of the quality of the application and the merits of the proposed project.
16. An initial assessment and short-listing of applications will be undertaken by each School against criteria
established for the Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarship competition.
17. Reviewers will look for evidence of:

an excellent academic record: as a minimum, applicants should normally hold, or be expected to hold,
at least the equivalent of a UK first-class honours degree; reviewers will also look for other relevant
academic achievements (e.g. prizes) and experience of undertaking research projects;

the applicant's preparedness for PhD study, their understanding of the particular context in which
they place their research question, and their motivation for researching the proposed topic;

good alignment with the research strengths or emerging priorities of the School in which the PhD will
be undertaken.
18. Each School will be invited to recommend a maximum of two applications for consideration by the Cardiff
University Overseas Research Scholarship Selection Panel.
19. The School will complete a nomination form for each application it short-lists, and must ensure that each
candidate holds an offer of admission to the University (conditional or unconditional) for their intended
PhD programme by this stage. The School will be required to notify short-listed candidates that their
applications will be considered by the Selection Panel.
20. The Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarship Selection Panel will meet in June 2013.
21. Short-listed applicants will be advised of the outcome of the Cardiff University Overseas Research
Scholarship Selection Panel by email from the University Registry.
Notes
22. Students must satisfy certain financial requirements as part of their visa application for study in the UK.
Students undertaking research in some subjects will also require an Academic Technology Approval
Scheme (ATAS) certificate as part of their visa application. Information on visa requirements can be found
at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/international/coming-to-cardiff/before-you-arrive/visas-andimmigration.html
23. Information on how to apply for Postgraduate Study at Cardiff can be found at:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/postgraduate/applying/how-to-apply.html
General admission queries can be emailed to admissions@cardiff.ac.uk
24. Information about Cardiff University Overseas Research Scholarships can be found at:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/international/funding/international-scholarshipfund/postgraduate-research-scholarships.html
Queries about the Scholarships can be emailed to: internationalscholarships@cardiff.ac.uk
SCHOOLS AND POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH ADMISSIONS CONTACT EMAILS
School
Email enquiries
Welsh School of Architecture
Lewisk2@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Biosciences
KhandavalliS@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff Business School
PhillipsE2@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Chemistry
ThompsonAF@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff Law School
Alldred@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Computer Science and Informatics
Helen.Williams@cs.cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Planning and Geography
MoseleySE@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Dentistry
dentaladmissions@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
WilliamsC4@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy
Encap-pg@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Engineering
CleaverJ@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of European Languages, Translation and Politics
europ-pg-admissions@Cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies
ParkerCB1@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Mathematics
ReynishV@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Medicine
Pgrmedic@Cardiff.ac.uk
School of Music
WoodbridgeB@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Optometry and Vision Sciences
HobbsS1@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
DaviesWP@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Physics and Astronomy
HuntNJ@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Psychology
Psych-PhD@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion
SzewczykHL1@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Social Sciences
Renton@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Healthcare Studies
HarmerL@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies
WilliamsRC@cardiff.ac.uk
School of Welsh
RobertsC1@cardiff.ac.uk
Application forms and one referee's report must be submitted to the School contact by 3 May 2013.
Applicants must have made an application for PhD study to Cardiff University by this date.