Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for doctoral students

About the project

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions on more than four million people every year.

The DBS is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office. The DBS check process has replaced the previous Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and is now primarily based online.

The Doctoral Research Office now has responsibility for managing the process for all PhD students at the University of Reading who require a DBS check for the purposes of research or fieldwork involving young people or vulnerable adults.

We ask that you check with your School or Department whether you need a DBS check, and whether you require a "basic" or "enhanced" level of clearance.

If you require a DBS check, please download the DBS request form , which should be completed by your supervisor and returned to the Doctoral Research Office ( dro@reading.ac.uk ) as soon as possible.

You will then need to bring your relevant original identity documents to the Doctoral Research Office in the Doctoral and Researcher College as soon as possible. Staff in the Doctoral Research Office will verify the documents and return them immediately to you (copies will not be taken). Please note that:

For any queries regarding the DBS or the application process, please contact dro@reading.ac.uk .

Download the DBS request form

• one document must list your date of birth
• one document must list your address.

Take the next step

• Email us
• Visit us
• Get a prospectus
• How to apply

Research areas