NTU–Leeds 2+2: Advanced Entry to a PhD at the University of Leeds

Students pursuing a Master of Arts (postgraduate by research degree) at NTU’s School of Humanities (SoH) — admitted from 2025 onwards — are eligible to be considered for Advanced Entry to a PhD programme in the University of Leeds’ Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (UoL).

Upon completion of the MA by Research degree at SoH, successful applicants who have been granted Advanced Entry will be admitted to Year 2 of the PhD programme at UoL. The University of Leeds offers opportunities for PhD study across a broad range of arts and humanities disciplines, with comprehensive support for International research postgraduates.

For students/postgraduate researchers granted Advanced Entry, UoL will offer a scholarship scheme at the rate of 10% per full year of study. The scholarship will be paid as a deduction from fees.

Minimum Entry Requirements for UoL Admission

To be considered for Advanced Entry, SoH MA by Research students must meet UoL’s minimum entry requirements:

  1. A relevant degree of at least equivalent to a UK upper second class honours degree (i.e., at least an Honours degree with Distinction at NTU);
  2. Successful completion of NTU’s MA by Research programme, having completed at least 2 years of full-time study, with the attainment of an average Term Grade Point Average (TGPA) in excess of 4.0 out of 5;
  3. IELTS 6.5 (with no lower than 6.0 in any individual component) – or equivalent under UoL’s Admissions Policy; and
  4. Successful completion of an enhanced selection process defined by UoL.

Please note that the admission of SoH MA by Research students into UoL’s PhD programme is at UoL’s discretion.

Please follow this 2-step process to apply.

  1. Expression of Interest

i. To be considered for Advanced Standing, SoH MA by Research students will need to express an interest in applying for Advanced Entry to UoL within 12 months of commencing their MA studies at SoH.

ii. The Expression of Interest form will be sent to students during the call for progress report submission, which is approximately 7 months from the MA programme’s commencement. Students who are interested in applying for Advanced Entry to UoL can complete this form and submit it along with their progress report directly to the UoL Head of the Graduate School, Professor Jamie Stark: [email protected]

iii. To be considered for Advanced Entry, the progress report should include an overview of the current MA project and its potential for developing into a more comprehensive PhD project. Please also include the names of 2 to 3 prospective faculty supervisors at UoL’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures. (You may refer to this website for a list of faculty profiles: https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/stafflist).

iv. Upon receipt of an Expression of Interest, UoL staff will contact the student to provide preliminary information regarding:

  • UoL’s minimum entry requirements;
  • the admissions process for Advanced Standing;
  • suitability of the SoH student’s work for a UoL PhD; and
  • the availability of supervisors with appropriate experience and expertise at UoL.

v. UoL will respond to the Expression of Interest in 14 business days.

vi. Please note that Expressions of Interest are considered on a case-by-case basis and do not constitute an offer of admission.

2. Formal Application for PhD Study at the University of Leeds

i. Students shall apply for Advanced Standing by using standard UoL online postgraduate research admissions forms. Please observe UoL’s application deadlines.

ii. It is expected that SoH applicants will use some or all of the MA research completed at NTU as the basis for their Leeds PhD thesis. Applicants will be required to state their wish to do so at the time of application for acceptance as a PhD candidate, by submitting a statement indicating how earlier work will be extended as the foundation for their eventual PhD thesis. Although it can include references to previous work, please note that the proposed PhD thesis must include a substantial new body of research.

iii. The candidate will be formally interviewed by the UoL supervisor and a second interviewer in accordance with UoL’s Admissions Policy.

iv. Leeds will complete the application process within 30 business days, at which point applicants will be advised whether they have successfully been granted Advanced Standing.

v. Following a successful application, the potential Leeds Supervisor will become an advisor to the NTU MA by Research project, taking part in at least three supervisory meetings per year, in order to ensure that the research will support the transfer to the Leeds PhD.

I secured a conditional offer, what’s next?

The UoL advisor will be added to the NTU supervisory record and progress reports will be copied to the UoL advisor.

  1. The candidate will submit their final Thesis for the NTU MA by Research. The UoL advisor will be provided with a copy of the Thesis and copied into relevant information regarding the assessment and outcome.
  2. The candidate will submit a report on their research to date and a project plan, in accordance with the normal Leeds Transfer arrangement (please see below).
  3. This will be followed by an oral assessment aligned to the normal Leeds Transfer, carried out by an academic staff member from each institution, both of whom are independent of the project. This assessment will generally take place within a month of the completion of the NTU MA thesis assessment.

The Transfer Panel may make the following decisions:

  1. recommend acceptance on the PhD programme,
  2. defer the decision to allow resubmission and re-examination, or
  3. recommend that the candidate not be offered a place on the PhD programme.

Subject to meeting all admissions requirements, the successful candidate will be admitted to Year 2 of the Leeds PhD programme, with bespoke induction and onboarding to support their transition to doctoral study.

There may be a break of normally no more than 6 months between the completion of the NTU MA and starting the Leeds PhD. The maximum break allowed between completion of the NTU MA and Leeds PhD registration is 12 months.

Note: The universities retain the right to terminate this Advanced Entry arrangement under the Memorandum of Agreement.