Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Informatics

Why study in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is one of the best informatics research centres in the world. The breadth of research in the School means that we can accommodate a vast range of research projects.

We are currently looking for candidates for these PhD projects.

We also encourage our applicants to propose research topics, so if you have an idea, please approach us. It would help if you identified an appropriate supervisor. Please consult our research directory, which will give you brief introduction to staff research interests and research groupings in the School. You may also find inspiration for a research topic in our list of PhD Thesis awarded with distinction.

Programme Structure

The period of study is 36 months if studying full-time, or between 48 and 72 months if studying part-time.

In the first year, you will be registered as a supervised postgraduate student. Your supervisor will identify your training needs, if any, and invite you to attend lectures relevant to your research topic. These lectures may be selected from those offered to MSc students, or may be specialist courses and seminars organised by the School's various research groupings.

At the beginning of the second year you will be expected to submit a thesis proposal, which you will present in an oral examination, held towards the end of the third year. You will be awarded a doctorate if your thesis is judged to represent an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area.

The programme is structured to train you as a researcher with a well-developed all-round knowledge of your discipline, in-depth knowledge of a specialist area, research and communication skills.

As one of our students, you will be part of a small and specialised research community in your immediate area, as well as a member of the wider Informatics community. The Informatics Graduate School provides opportunities to work and play with around 300 MSc and PhD students, from all over the world.

You might also be interested in our 4-year combined MSc/PhD in Neuroinformatics.

Entry Requirements

You should have a first or upper second class honours degree or its equivalent, and in an area of Informatics, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science or Computer Science. You should also have experience in computer programming.

Applicants with degrees in these disciplines will also be considered: Education, Electrical Engineering, Psychology, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Physics.

Course Costs

Annual costs include a tuition fee, additional programme costs and living expenses. Tuition fees and additional programme costs are payable for each year of active study, which is typically 3 years for this programme. 

Fee type	Home/EU	Overseas
Tuition Fee	£3,235	£12,500
Additional Programme Costs	£1,000

Fees are subject to annual revision. For the latest information on fees, please visit Registry Office web site.

Living expenses are estimated at around £190 per week. More...

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Around 40 research scholarships are available each year to new students. Many of these are full scholarships, paying tuition fees, research costs, and living expenses. The rest are partial scholarships, paying tuition fees and research costs and/or a contribution towards living expenses.

Please indicate when you apply that you wish to be considered for a sponsorship.

Also visit our funding page for further details and possible sources of funding.

Careers

Almost a third of the UK's IT industry and research activity in Informatics is concentrated in the area around Edinburgh. In addition, Scotland is actively encouraging talented graduates to settle and work within its borders. Our reputation means that our graduates are well regarded by potential employers, both at home and abroad. Our students make direct vocational use of their degree and are employed as researchers, software developers and engineers, in academia and in industry. See our careers page for possible career routes and alumni destinations.