Before you apply

Before you apply

If you require more information about the University before submitting an application, our Prospectus is a good place to start.

Use our programme listing to view the full range of taught and research programmes that we offer.

Taught degrees

Students applying for postgraduate taught programmes should normally have obtained at least a second class honours degree (or equivalent). You should be aware that some programmes require a higher academic entry requirement so please refer to specific programme listings and check the individual programmes.  

Research degrees

Students applying for postgraduate research programmes should normally have obtained an upper second class honours degree or equivalent. For research degree applications, please ensure you have consulted the departmental research pages so you can identify research areas of interest and relevant academic supervisors.

This is to ensure a proper match between you and your prospective supervisor.

Policies

• Postgraduate Admissions Policy (PDF , 208kb)
  
• Equality and Diversity Policy

Applying

Applying

Applications for taught and research programmes are made via our Online Postgraduate Applications Service (OPAS). Your application can completed in stages as our online system allows you to save your progress and come back later to finish it.

Once you have chosen a programme of study we will tell you which supporting documents that you need to provide alongside your application.

If your first language is not English you will need to show evidence that you meet our English Language requirements.

If you are unable to apply online, you can apply by submitting a paper application form. Please note that by making a paper application, decision and response times are significantly longer, so we would encourage you to apply online where possible.

When to apply

Applications can normally be submitted throughout the year, however competition for some programmes is high so you should apply as early as possible.

Programmes with earlier submission deadlines will be annotated on our programme listing page.

In general, you should aim to apply early enough to allow time for successful applicants to provide evidence that they have met any conditions of their offer and to apply for accommodation and visas if travelling from overseas.

Overseas candidates and candidates in their final year of undergraduate study should apply as early as possible before the start of the academic year in which they wish to gain admission.

You should also refer to relevant deadlines for any funding bodies to which you are applying.

Applications for entry in 2012/13 will be open from 24 October 2011.

Applications for entry in 2013/14 will be open from 22 October 2012.

After you apply

After you apply

Once we have received your application, you will be given access to our application portal where you will be able to track the progress of your application, upload additional supporting information, and update your contact details.

Acknowledgement

Once you have submitted your application via OPAS, you will normally receive an acknowledgement by email the next working day. Your acknowledgement email will confirm your application number that you should quote in all correspondence with us, and also full details of how to access our application portal (e:Vision).

Assessment of your application

Once your application has been received, it will be assessed by the appropriate Department. For some programmes, you might be asked to attend an interview, or take part in a telephone interview.

After assessment, you will be notified whether or not your application has been successful. If you are successful, an offer letter will be sent to the correspondence address provided on your application form. If you do not provide a correspondence address then it will be sent to your home address.

If you change your address, please remember to update your details via e:Vision.

Response times

We will aim to respond to your application within six weeks of submission, normally sooner.

For some programmes and at busy times, you might have to wait longer for a response.

The following Departments operate multiple recruitment rounds for Overseas applicants.

Economics and Related Studies

Education (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages only)

The York Management School

As we receive many applications to these programmes, in order to ensure a fair assessment of all applicants these Departments operate a gathered field policy. Your application will be considered on receipt, but the majority of decisions will not be finalised until after the closure of the recruitment round in which you submitted your application.

Please do not worry if you do not hear from us straight away; we aim to confirm all decisions by the dates shown in the table below.

 

		Round 1 Decision Date	Round 2 Decision Date
Economics and Related Studies	MSc in Development Economics and Emerging Markets MSc in Economics MSc in Economics and Finance MSc in Finance MSc in Finance and Econometrics MSc in Health Economics MSc in Project Analysis, Finance and Investment MSc in Public Economics	27th Jan 2012	11th May 2012
Education	MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages	13th Jan 2012	20th April 2012
The York Management School	MA in Human Resource Management MA in Management MSc in Accounting and Financial Management MSc in International Business and Strategic Resource Management MSc in Management with Business Finance	20th Feb 2012	27th April 2012

 To ensure that your application can be processed as quickly as possible, please do not enquire until this time has elapsed.

Offers

Accepting or declining an offer

If you are offered a place, you will be asked to accept or decline the offer. This can be done via e:Vision.

Please ensure that you notify us of your decision at the earliest possible opportunity.

Some programmes apply response deadlines. Where these are applicable, full details will be included in your offer letter.

Conditional offers

If your offer is conditional, these conditions will be included in your offer letter. You will be able to upload further supporting documents via e:Vision in order to meet the conditions of your offer. We will acknowledge receipt of these documents by email and let you know of any outstanding conditions on your offer.

Unconditional offers (and what happens when you have met all the conditions on your conditional offer)

Once you have met all of the conditions (or if your offer is unconditional) we will send you an unconditional offer letter.

International

International students

Visas:

International students requiring a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK will be issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number which is required as part of their visa application.

You will be able to request a CAS once you have accepted your offer. To do so, please log-in to your application tracker and consult the section 'Your Tier 4 Visa'. You will need to upload a copy of your passport at this stage.

Please note: your CAS will not be issued until you have accepted an unconditional offer with the University. If you have any conditions outstanding, you will be able to view details of these in your application tracker.

As your CAS is only valid for six months from the date of issue, we will begin to process CAS requests for applicants who have an offer that is unconditional and firmly accepted, and whose programmes are due to start in October in April of each year. For applicants who are due to start in 2012, we will start processing CAS requests from 25th April 2012.

Please see the following advice from the UK Border Agency with regards to applying for your visa in 2012:

"Students are strongly advised to read the information on the UK Border Agency website, apply for their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from their chosen place of studies, and apply for a visa in good time. Students can apply for a visa up to three months in advance of their intended date of travel to the UK. The busy student season coincides with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, so be prepared and apply early!"

For further information on visas please see the Immigration Advice Service. 

Accommodation:

To be eligible for University accommodation you must hold an unconditional offer and have accepted your place. Applications for accommodation can be made from 1st May 2012, and the accommodation guarantee deadline is 1:00 pm (GMT) on Friday 10th August 2012.

If you still need to provide evidence of any outstanding academic or other conditions, you must do so by the 3rd August 2012, to allow the Postgraduate Admissions team sufficient time to process your remaining conditions.

For further information visit Accommodation.

Orientation:

Nearer the start of the academic year you will be sent a copy of the International Student Handbook which contains lots of useful information for students preparing to come to York. For further information visit international student support.

Enrolment

Enrolment

All students are required to enrol each academic year. Full details will be provided in your enrolment pack.

For international students, the enrolment packs will be sent to your academic department to collect at the start of your programme.

For home and part-time students the pack will be sent to the home address that you provided on your application, from August onwards.

Enrolment packs cannot be sent out until you have an unconditional offer and have also accepted your offer.

Further information about enrolment and the materials you will receive and need to return is available on our New Student website.