How to apply: guidelines for completing your application

Searching our job vacancies 

Your search 

Refine your search by using the search criteria fields. In the job category/type option, you can choose academic/research (covering all academic, research and clinical roles) or professional/support services (which includes all administrative, professional and manual roles). 

You’ll then see a list of vacancies that match your search criteria. View the full details for each vacancy by selecting 'more details' or by clicking on the job title. At the bottom of each job profile page, you’ll find a link to the job description and person specification.

Applying for a vacancy

Click the 'apply online' button. You’ll be asked to enter your username and password, or to register if you’re a new user.

Registering for job alerts

Register for job alert emails to notify you when suitable vacancies are advertised that meet your criteria. To use this service, you must register with the online application service. To set up a job alert email, search for a job using your search criteria. You'll then be given the option to 'click here to save this search as a job alert'.

Completing your application form

Moving through the pages

Once you’ve registered, found a suitable vacancy and selected the 'apply online' button, you’ll be taken to the summary page. Complete the application form by working through each of the pages as detailed here. The icons will tell you whether a page is complete or not, helping you track your progress.

Navigate through the application pages by using the 'save and summary' button to take you back to the summary page. You can select the 'previous' button to return to the previous page, or the 'next' button to save the details entered and move on.

Tip: Avoid using the 'back' button on your web browser whilst completing your application as you may lose information you've entered.

Part-completed applications

During the application process you can pause at any time, but you must save your data before logging out. If you leave your application open while taking a break, the system will eventually time out.

To access your application again, you’ll need to close down your web browser, open it up again and log back in. Part-completed applications are saved under the 'my applications' section. Remember to take note of the closing date and submit the fully completed application before the deadline. Any incomplete applications will automatically be deleted from the system at midnight on the closing date.

Mandatory fields

Fields marked with a red asterisk are mandatory fields. You must complete them in order to submit your application.

Closing date

All University of Plymouth vacancies close at midnight (GMT/BST) on their specified closing date.

Reviewing your application information

Review your application information at any time by selecting the 'print preview' button on the summary page. Note that this gives you the option to print the application form, so you may wish to print off a PDF version. This option is also available in 'my applications' once you have submitted the application.

If you experience problems online

If you have any problems using the online application system or don’t have internet access and need a hard copy of the form, contact jobs@plymouth.ac.uk.

Page guidance and submitting your application

Our guidance notes provide useful information to help you complete and submit your application accurately. Read our guidance notes.

Further information for professorial appointments

The University of Plymouth strives for the highest quality in everything it does in terms of entry standards, teaching quality and student experience, graduate prospects, research volume and quality and our process for recruiting Professors reflects this. The guidelines here provide an overview:

• Applicant guidance
• Template for Academic CVs
  
• Academic Reference Guidance for Applicants

Technical information

We recommend the following operating systems and web browsers when making your online application:

Operating systems web browsers (latest versions):

• Microsoft Windows 7 (SP1) – IE11*, Firefox 54+, Google Chrome 60+
  
• Microsoft Windows 10 – IE11*, Microsoft Edge, Firefox 54+, Google Chrome 60+
  
• Apple Mac 10.10 (Yosemite) – Firefox 54+, Google Chrome 60+, Apple Safari 9/10/11
  

• Apple Mac 10.11 (El Capitan) – Firefox 54+, Google Chrome 60+, Apple Safari 9/10/11
  
• Apple Mac 10.12 (Sierra) – Firefox 54+, Google Chrome 60+, Apple Safari 9/10/11
  
• Apple Mac 10.13 (High Sierra) - Firefox 54+, Google Chrome 60+, Apple Safari 9/10/11
  

*Please note 'Compatibility' mode needs to be activated for Internet Explorer 11. Navigate to Tools (cog icon) in the top right-hand corner and select Compatibility View Settings and click 'Add' to add the website to compatibility view.

Right to work in the UK 

The University of Plymouth welcomes all applicants and values the diversity they bring. All appointments are subject to applicants demonstrating their right to work in the UK. The Government introduced strict regulations and limits in April 2011 and only posts which are deemed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to be at graduate level and meet the Resident Labour Market Test, including minimum salary levels, can be considered for a certificate of sponsorship. 

With a few exceptions, we will not be able to sponsor an overseas applicant where there are suitable applicants who are settled workers or from within the European Economic Area (EEA). More information on other requirements to be sponsored under Tier 2 can be found on the UKVI website. 

Subject to meeting requirements, the University of Plymouth may issue (though there is no automatic guarantee) an ‘unrestricted’ certificate of sponsorship from an annual amount granted to us by UKVI, for in-country applicants, with a current valid right to work. For overseas applicants we must put in a request to UKVI for permission to issue a ‘restricted’ certificate of sponsorship, subject to a national quota.

Important legal information

This section sets out your rights and obligations, and those of the University of Plymouth, in terms of your use of the site, our online application system and our use of your data. Please make sure that you read and understand these details before using the site.

The information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence, and won't be used in the selection process. It will only be used for the purposes of monitoring.  Please note that if you have advised us that we will need to make reasonable adjustments on the grounds of disability to support you at interview, our recruitment team will contact you in confidence to discuss this.

• Using the site

When you register to use this site, you must provide accurate and up-to-date information about yourself. You’ll be required to provide a login user name and password. You must keep these details safe as you’ll need them to log in to the system in the future. These details must be kept confidential and must not be disclosed to any third party.

A confirmation of registration email will be sent by the Recruitment Services team in the Human Resources department, to the email address you supply on registration. The University of Plymouth reserves the right to suspend or terminate members’ use of the site, or parts of it. You are responsible for everything which is done on and / or through the site while your membership account is logged with the site, or which is done on and/ or through your email address.

• Operation of the site

We work to ensure that all information provided on the site is accurate and virus-free, and we reserve the right to withdraw or modify aspects of the site and its terms and conditions of use, or the entirety of it. There may also be times when the site becomes inaccessible as a result of technical difficulties. The University of Plymouth cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage due to the failure or termination of the service, although reasonable efforts will be made to let you know in advance of planned service interruptions. The University’s online application system is sometimes unavailable on a Tuesday evening after 5.00pm for a short period, due to routine maintenance.

• Data protection and privacy

The information you provide will be used to assess your application against the requirements for the post, to confirm references, verify educational background and qualifications, and for any other purpose relevant to your application and our recruitment processes. It will also be used for statistical purposes.

We appoint staff on the basis of merit, regardless of ethnic origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality (within current legislation), marital status, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs on matters such as religion and politics. Monitoring equality and diversity information enables us to see what's happening in practice, to assess the impact of our Equality and Diversity Policy and its implementation, to set any targets for improvements and to measure progress.

On submission, the equality and diversity information you provide will be stored separately from your application. The information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence, and won't be used in the selection process. It'll only be used for the purposes of monitoring.

• Accuracy of data

Please note that when you submit your application, you confirm that the information you provide is accurate. Any false statement or failure to disclose information where required to do so may be considered sufficient cause for rejection or, if appointed, render you liable to disciplinary action which may include dismissal.

University of Plymouth Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure Policy 

We employ staff who work in various positions of trust in a variety of settings, ranging from academic and research staff who have significant contact with children and/or vulnerable adults and staff working on summer schools.

The University of Plymouth is a registered user of the CRB and will use the Disclosure Service as an additional pre-employment check for certain posts. As a registered body, the University complies with the CRB Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly and consistently. It will not discriminate unfairly against any applicant on the basis of conviction or other information revealed in a criminal records disclosure.