university of edinburgh phd deadline

• Schools & departments

• What happens next?
• Life as a PhD Student
• School of Mathematics
• Studying Here
• Postgraduate Research Studies

How to apply for a PhD

PhD Student Applications

PhD Applications

The postgraduate research degree offered at the School of Mathematics is the PhD.  The PhD programme is three years in length with an additional year to write up and submit your thesis should it be needed. However, please note if you are offered a fully funded place, you will receive four years of funding (stipend and all fees). The students admitted typically have an MSc degree, or 1 st  class honours degree (or its international equivalent). From the start of their studies, they are assigned a main supervisor with whom they work closely throughout their degree programme and a second supervisor who provides additional help and pastoral support. Applications are invited for PhD studies for September each year. Occasionally students are admitted at other times of the year by special arrangement.  To request the possibility of admission at another time of the year, please  email  the Graduate School with further details of your request. 

All applications received by  22 January 2024 will receive full consideration for funding.  Later applications will be considered until all positions are filled.

If you are applying for EDCS or the China Scholarship, please ensure you check the relevant application deadline. These scholarships do require a separate application.  The deadline for EDCS applications is 19 February 2024.

We accept applications from students who have secured external funding at all times of the year - Please make this clear on your application, and if you are in contact with a potential supervisor.

How to Apply

Step 1: meet our entry requirements.

Our minimum entry requirements are a 1 st  class Honours degree (or its international equivalent) OR a 2:1 Honours degree (or its international equivalent) plus a Masters degree (or its international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Typically, candidates have a good understanding of the field they propose to study, and some research experience.

Students applying for a research degree should identify their research interests and determine in which  research group  they wish to carry out their work. They are encouraged to contact staff members prior to their application in order to identify possible research projects and supervisors. However, it is not essential for you to have secured a supervisor before submitting your application. You can note proposed supervisor(s) on your appliction form.

Non-UK candidates may be required to provide a evidence of proficiency in the English language. For full details on English language requirements, please see this page . Applicants must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of their English language ability:

an undergraduate or masters degree, that was taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI list of majority English speaking countries ) 

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT : total 92 with at least 20 in each section
• PTE(A) : total 61 with at least 56 in each of the Communicative Skills scores
• CAE and CPE : total 176 with at least 169 in each paper
• Trinity ISE : ISE II with distinctions in all four components

Degrees taught and assessed in English must be no more than 3.5 years old at the date of the beginning of your degree programme. English language test certificates must be no more than 2 years old at the beginning of your degree programme, or 3.5 years for CAE & CPE.

Step 2: Apply online

Make an online application to the appropriate PhD programme(s) (see below) . You will be asked to upload documents at the start of the application process. 

The documentation that we require you to upload to your application is:

• Interim or final transcript(s)  - (depending on what stage you are at in your studies) of your Undergraduate Degree, and Masters Degree, if applicable.
• Final degree certificate(s) - for your Undergraduate Degree, and Masters Degree, if applicable.
• Two academic references to be provided directly by referees. Enter their names and email addresses in the required areas, and an automated email will be forwarded to them requesting a reference upload. We will not accept references uploaded by applicants.
• A CV - You can upload this in the place of a research proposal, which is not required for your application.
• English Language Test Certificate (where applicable) - please see here . 

Where you are asked for your project proposal, you may ignore that request, the School of Mathematics does not require a research proposal . Although the EUCLID application system will request that you upload one, you can just ignore this request. The reason that you will be asked for one is that the system applies to all Schools throughout the University and some Schools do require a research proposal. In the place of a research proposal, please upload an up to date CV. There is no need to upload any certificates for the degree you are currently studying (if you have not been issued one) - instead, official interim transcripts will be required.

Official translations of any documents not in written English are required. 

On the application form, where it asks for funding information - please enter 'School of Mathematics'. Each application will automatically be considered for one of our scholarships. Please indicate any other potential source of funding you have, have applied for or are intending to apply for (see Step 3).  If you have secured external funding, please provide evidence of the funding along with your application.

Step 3: Funding

Please review and apply for all applicable sources of funding noted on the What funding is available for your PhD  page.

Please apply via the research pages below:

• Algebra PhD
• Analysis PhD
• Applied and Computational Mathematics PhD
• Geometry and Topology PhD
• Mathematical Physics PhD
• Optimization and Operational Research PhD
• Probability & Stochastic Analysis PhD
• Statistics PhD
• Mathematics Education

• Schools & departments

Applications and Entry Requirements

Prior to making a formal application, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact, and gain the support of a prospective supervisor whose research is aligned with the applicant's own interests.

Such prospective supervisors are likely to be able to provide up-to-date information on the availability of funding/scholarships to support your postgraduate degree.

• You can find our list of current studentships and details of bursary and scholarships available in our Studentships section
• After contacting a potential supervisor you can apply on the University of Edinburgh website

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have a good honours degree (1 st class or upper 2 nd class) or its equivalent if outside the UK, in Chemistry or a closely related discipline.

Our International Applicants pages have details of which qualifications are acceptable for international students.

If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of good written and spoken English skills. Accepted qualifications are available at the International Applicants language requirements page .

Graduate Degrees

Students may undertake full-time supervised research leading to the following degrees:

• Doctor of Philosophy ( Ph.D. )
• Master of Science by Research ( MSc by Research )

It is also possible to register for research degrees as an external student on a part time basis. This arrangement allows the student to carry out some of their research work in their employer's laboratories.

Please do not hesitate to contact us using the information to the right if you have any questions, or would like more information.

You can also contact us using the details below if you prefer:

The Secretary of the Graduate School University of Edinburgh Joseph Black Building David Brewster Road Edinburgh EH9 3FJ

This article was published on 2023-10-13

How to apply

• How to apply for a PhD
• How to apply for the LLM by Research

Edinburgh Law School welcomes outstanding applications from individuals wishing to join the PhD programme. You may apply to commence the PhD programme in September or January.

The PhD programme is available to study full time over three years or part time over six years. For further information please contact the PhD office at [email protected]

Before applying you should ensure that you meet our entry requirements and have all the relevant documentation ready to submit in support of your application. Please note that missing documentation will delay the application process.

The minimum admission requirement for the PhD programme is a UK 2:1 honours degree in law, arts or social sciences, and a UK Masters degree with at least 60% in the taught section and 65% or more in the dissertation, or their international equivalents.

Entry to this programmes is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.

If you have a non-UK degree, please check whether your degree qualification is equivalent to the minimum standard before applying.

Check your degree

The majority of our applicants have studied law, but we are a comprehensive Law School covering a range of approaches to legal topics including social science, historical and philosophical enquiry; applications from non-law students with relevant studies and experience will be considered and if you require further guidance please contact us.

[email protected]

Postgraduate study in the field of law requires a thorough, complex and demanding knowledge of English, so we ask that the communication skills of all students are at the same minimum standard.

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic and IELTS Academic Online : total 7.0 (at least 7.0 in the writing component and 6.5 in each other module)
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 25 in writing and 23 in each other module)
• CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 185 in writing and 176 in each other module)
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
• PTE Academic: 70 overall with at least 70 in the writing component and 62 in each other component
• Oxford ELLT (Global and Digital): 9 overall with at least 9 in the writing component and 8 in each other component

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, that was taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The UK Government's website provides a list of majority English speaking countries.

View the UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or equivalent, that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about the University's English language requirements

Your application may not be successful if you do not currently satisfy any of these requirements; alternatively, you may be offered a place conditional on your reaching the satisfactory standard by the time you start the degree.

English language support

The University runs a series of programmes for English Language Education, including a pre-sessional English Language Programme intended to strengthen your English Language skills before you start your programme of study.

Find out more about English language support offered by the University

• The deadline for applying to commence a PhD in September 2024 is 31 May 2024 (4pm UK time).
• The deadline for applying to commence a PhD in January 2025 is 29 September 2024 (4pm UK time).

Our applications are dealt with in a two-step process. Once all your documents are correctly submitted we aim to make a decision within 6 - 8 weeks.

Once you have submitted your application with all your supporting documentation, your application will be reviewed by an academic within the field in which you wish to study. Your written application will be evaluated against our rigorous admissions standards, and with a view to matching you to a suitable supervisor.

If we feel that your application is strong and if there is supervisory capacity in the field to which you have applied, your potential supervisor may arrange to discuss your application and your research proposal with you further by Skype. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about studying for a PhD at Edinburgh Law School.

It is usually only after this stage that you will be made an offer.

All applicants should supply the following supporting documentation:

• Previous academic transcripts for all past degree programmes (please upload the full transcript showing results from all years of study). If you are currently studying and awaiting a result, please ensure that your current interim transcript is included.
• Degree certificates (for all awards to date) showing award of undergraduate degree at a level equivalent to 2:1 or higher
• Degree certificate and transcript from your postgraduate study
• Two academic references which need to be signed, dated (within the last two years) and on institutional letter headed paper. We cannot accept references from personal email addresses.
• An English language proficiency test (if required - see below)
• A research proposal – this should be no more than 2,000 (see below for further guidance)

Please note that applications (with all relevant undergraduate and postgraduate documentation uploaded) must be received by the deadline in order to be considered for entry.   If you have not completed your postgraduate degree, you should provide interim transcripts at this stage.

Your research proposal should include:

Working title What title, or title and subtitle, succinctly encapsulates your whole research topic?

Research questions What are the key questions that you will ask that will enable your writing (or practice and writing) to be appropriately reflexive and interrogative?

Critical Framework and Theoretical Model What is the context of your research proposal? What are your key concepts? How will you theorise, and position yourself in relation to, your primary sources? What secondary literature are you already aware of? Provide references to books, articles, websites, etc. 

Methodology How do you intend to go about your research? Is your research predominantly doctrinal, theoretical, empirical? Do you need to engage initially in some form of field research, such as observing and interviewing practitioners or conducting practical experiments? What, if any, critical and expositional methods do you then intend to employ for the development, documentation and production of your written work and in the exploration of your research questions?

Research training Above and beyond training that we will provide in generic research methods, do you need specialised training in practical and/or theoretical skills in order to carry out your research? For instance, do you need training in methods of qualitative analysis, or in the use of digital technologies? Also, will you need to travel to receive this training? For instance, will you need to intermittently attend workshops elsewhere?

Resources and implications Do you need access to specialist literature? Do you need to engage in archival research or field work, and if so where, for how long and at what cost? If you cannot study without a scholarship or bursary, what sources of funding have you identified where you might be successful?

Bibliography What, in alphabetical order, are the full bibliographical details of any references you have made above? 

We have a downloadable model form which you will find helpful.

• Download the PhD proposal form

If your supporting information is not in English, you need to provide a certified translated version of all documentation.

We aim to have a response for you within eight weeks of complete submission of evidence.

We expect our doctoral candidates to be living in Edinburgh during their studies, in order to fully participate in our dynamic training programme and to reap as much benefit as you can from our thriving research culture. 

The University’s terms and conditions form part of your contract with the University, and you should read them, and our data protection policy, carefully before applying.

University of Edinburgh admissions terms and conditions

Please contact us if you have any questions about applying to study a PhD at Edinburgh Law School.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. This is particularly important for students holding conditional offers (for example, you may need to allow sufficient time to take an English language test) and for overseas students who may need time to satisfy necessary visa requirements (for further, country-specific information, please consult the website of the University's Edinburgh Global) and/or to apply for University accommodation.

The LLM by Research is available to study full time over one year or part time over two years. For further information please contact the PhD office at [email protected]

The minimum basic admission requirement for the LLM by research degrees is UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, in law or a social sciences subject.

Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.

Click here to check your degree You may not always need a prior qualification in law to apply for this programme.

• The application deadline for September 2024 is 31 May 2024 (4pm UK time).
• The application deadline for January 2025 is 29 September 2024 (4pm UK time).

We aim to review applications and make selection decisions throughout the cycle and we monitor application numbers carefully to ensure we are able to accommodate all those who receive offers. It may therefore be necessary to close a programme earlier than the published deadline and if this is the case we will place a four-week warning notice on the relevant programme page.

Applications are made online via the University Application Service, EUCLID.

Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have included the following with your application:

• You must submit a reference with your application.
• A research proposal Find out how to write a good research proposal
• Previous academic transcripts for all past degree programmes (please upload the full transcript showing results from all years of study)
• Degree certificates showing award of degree
• An English language proficiency test (if required).
• Download the LLM by Research proposal form

We expect our LLM by Research candidates to be living in Edinburgh during their studies, in order to fully participate in our dynamic training programme and to reap as much benefit as you can from our thriving research culture. 

Once your completed application form has been received, together with supporting statements from your academic referees and other relevant documentation (including where relevant proof of proficiency in English), the School is committed to processing and considering your application speedily and efficiently.

You will be informed as soon as possible of the decision taken. Three outcomes are possible:

• You may be offered a place unconditionally
• You may be offered a conditional place, which means that you must fulfill certain conditions that will be specified in the offer letter. Where a conditional offer is made, it is your responsibility to inform the College Postgraduate Office when you have fulfilled the requirements set out.
• Your application may be unsuccessful.

Candidates who do not fulfill the conditions specified, including our language requirements, cannot be admitted.

Please contact us if you have any questions about applying to study an LLM by Research at Edinburgh Law School.

Key information

School of Social and Political Science

Application process.

Applications are now open for September 2024 entry. The deadline to apply for most of our on-campus postgraduate (taught and research) programmes is 1 July 2024. There are some exceptions, so please check each programme page carefully. The deadline for our Online Learning programmes is 15 July 2024. 

Applications for our programmes are made via the University's online system.

To find out more about the postgraduate programmes of study available in the School of Social and Political Science, see our programmes page.  The apply button at the top of each programme page which will take you to the University's degree finder page for your preferred programme.

Postgraduate taught programmes

After you've applied you will be able to track the progress of your application then accept or decline any offers through the Applicant Hub.

Access the Applicant Hub (Log-in required)

Please note: It is important to log in regularly to the  Applicant Hub to ensure that important messages regarding your application’s progress and supporting document requests are not missed.

All minimum entry requirements are listed in the Degree Finder  against each programme.

Additional information on requirements such as references and research proposals for our postgraduate programmes are listed below:

MSc/PGCert (Taught Masters/Postgraduate Certificate)

No references required apart from the  MSc International Relations of the Middle East with Arabic & Advanced Arabic programmes.

MSc by Research (Masters by Research)

Applicants will also need to provide a research proposal, and one academic reference at the point of application.

PhD (Doctoral research)

Applicants will also need to provide a research proposal, and two academic references at the point of application.

Please note: We do not accept hard copies or emailed supporting documents unless specifically requested. All supporting documents should be uploaded directly to your Applicant Hub .

An application is not 'complete' until all supporting documents are present.  The following documents must be uploaded:

All applications:

• Degree certificate(s) – for all previous degrees. Please note that this can be provided after assessment in most cases.
• Final/interim transcript(s) – for all previous and current degrees. Interim transcripts with current cumulative averages are acceptable for those still studying, though the final average is required if the degree has been completed.
• Grading scale(s) – for each university transcript is submitted.

Where work experience is taken into consideration, an up–to–date CV and work reference is required.

Evidence of English may also be required. Please see English language requirements

Research programmes (additional documents):

• Research proposal – Proposals should be no more than two to three A4 pages for MScR and three to four A4 pages for PhD applications in 12pt Times New Roman font (this does not include references). See the University's Research Proposal information page for help with this.
• Academic references – Referee email address must be institutional (i.e not a public email account). Uploaded references must be dated within one year of submission, on institutional letterhead, signed in pen (not a signature image) and in a non–editable format. Further information about what should be included in a reference can be found on the references page.

Your application - references

Please note: Personal statements not entered in the appropriate section of the application may not be considered.

Important: If your original documents, which must be submitted, are not in English you must also submit certified, official translations .

If you are having problems uploading your documents please see Document Upload Issues , noting that there is a 2MB limit on uploads. If there is still a problem, please contact the EUCLID support team ( [email protected] ).

It is your responsibility to ensure all the required documents are uploaded. Please check your EUCLID portal regularly to determine if there is further action you must take to make your application complete.

After you submit your application, it joins a queue to be screened by the Admissions Team who check your documentation.  If they have any questions or require any additional document, They will contact you directly (via the Applicant Hub ).  Once screening is complete, a decision will then be made. You will be informed of all decisions via the Applicant Hub.

If you are concerned about meeting funding deadlines, please contact us at [email protected] as soon as possible, and we will do our best to speed up the process for you.

• Schools & departments

PhD in Data Science

Information about the PhD in Data Science.

Progression to the PhD in Data Science

Progression from the first year MSc by Research to your PhD is contingent on making satisfactory academic progress during the first year. In general, if you have a mark of 65% or above on both your coursework and dissertation, we will consider this evidence of satisfactory progress. If your marks are below this, you may still be allowed to progress, but only if we can be otherwise satisfied that you have the ability to successfully complete a PhD. These decisions will be taken by the CDT in Data Science Executive Committee, most likely towards the end of August.

Data Science Executive Committee

In addition to the successful completion of the MSc by Research programme (Year 1), progression to the PhD in Data Science is contingent on the approval of an outline PhD project proposal proposal within the first few months of Year 2. Guidelines and deadline dates can be found here:

Preparing & submitting your outline PhD project proposal

Actions to take once your outline PhD project proposal has been approved

PhD Guidelines & Milestones

After the approval of their PhD projects, CDT in Data Science students are governed by the same procedures as any other PhD student, as described in the Informatics Graduate School (IGS) webpages, and should ensure they meet the guidelines as outlined in the Monitoring links below:

• Information for Informatics PhD students
• PhD yearly timelines
• Formal student monitoring
• Researcher's handbook
• Archived PhD theses
• Submitting your thesis
• Finally, when you leave...

It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements and milestones for PhD students and should discuss any questions you have with your supervisor(s).

Pastoral Care: Your supervisors, and/or your 3rd panel member, can also provide you with pastoral support should you need it at any point during your research.  In addition the deputy director of the CDT has the primary role of representing student interests and providing a one-to-one point of contact for any CDT student who has any issue they wish to talk about. You also have access to any member of staff in the Graduate School, in particular the Head of Student Services, the Deputy Head of Graduate School and CDT Administrator.

Student Counselling: https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling

Resolving Problems: http://web.inf.ed.ac.uk/infweb/student-services/igs/phd/student-support/resolving-problems

PhD with Integrated Study in Finance

Our Accounting and Finance subject group is one of the largest in the Business School, with approximately 50 academic colleagues providing high quality teaching and research, and a range of research centres and networks which create real-world influence in business, government, and the public sector.

This programme is currently undergoing the final approval process. We anticipate applications will open in January 2024.

The programme offers credited research training for those researching a financial topic, such as behavioural finance, asset pricing, corporate finance and governance, and aspects affecting financial markets and institutions. Supported by experts within the field, you will have the opportunity to develop a doctoral thesis based on original and relevant research.

PhD with Integrated Study in Finance at a glance

• Study over four years full time, with an additional 'writing-up' year available to all
• During your first year, undertake 180 credits of taught courses designed to train you in the theory and methods necessary to conduct high-quality research
• Access numerous database subscriptions to support your research, such as Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Datastream, Eikon, Morningstar Direct, SNL Financial, and Wharton Research Data Service (WRDS) which features, among others, access to Boardex, Compustat, CRSP, and Sustainalytics data
• Support and access to a wide range of professional and personal development opportunities during your studies
• We encourage our students to aim higher, presenting papers at prestigious conferences and submit articles for publication

Entry requirements

Find out our academic, English language, and application requirements for the PhD in Finance.

Programme overview

View the learning outcomes and a typical training course schedule for a first-year student.

Fees and living expenses

When budgeting please consider associated administration fees and expenses as well as our funding support.

Ready to apply?

Review our application checklist and make your application to the PhD in Finance.

This site uses cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our sites work. We'd also like to set additional cookies to analyse how our sites are performing, to improve the relevance of our ads and to optimise your experience. These will be set only if you accept. To learn more, view our privacy policy .

Privacy Preferences

Necessary cookies.

These cookies are necessary for the website to function normally and cannot be turned off. They are usually set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can block or delete them in your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytics cookies

These cookies allow us to monitor how our websites and services are performing by collecting data about how visitors interact with our sites. The data is collected in a way that does not directly identify anyone.

Marketing cookies

These cookies are set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other sites. If you disable this setting, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Functionality cookies

These cookies enable us to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

• Schools & departments

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Condensed matter & complex systems, particle physics experiment, particle physics theory, nuclear physics.

• Physics & Astronomy
• Study with us
• Postgraduate research study

PhD research opportunities

Research projects available in the School

A list of potential PhD projects can be found under each of the following research areas.  Our projects are advertised in the autumn, with a deadline the following January  (for 2024 the Astronomy deadline is 8th January, 2024 and for Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Condensed Matter applications the deadline is 19th January, 2024). 

School of Engineering

> schools & departments, search form.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

PhD Opportunities in Mechanical Engineering

PhD Research Project opportunities in Mechanical Engineering

THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Notice
• Privacy & Cookies
• Website Accessibility
• Freedom of information publication scheme
• Website Issue Reporting

• Social Media
•              

• Schools & departments

Thinking of studying with us? Find out why our students love studying at the School of Divinity and what makes Edinburgh such a special place. Take a virtual tour and explore our beautiful buildings located in the heart of Edinburgh. 

• About the School of Divinity
• Why study Theology or Religious Studies?
• Explore New College
• Virtual visit – University of Edinburgh

Talk to a current student

Chat to a student from the School of Divinity

Undergraduate study

Invest in your future and explore the many fascinating aspects of religion and theology at the School of Divinity.

Postgraduate study

Further your interests and develop your skills through the diverse programmes available at graduate level.

Graduate Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies

A programme for graduates that want to develop knowledge in Theology and Religious Studies.

News and events

News and events at the School of Divinity.

Latest news  |  Events  |  Seminars  | 

New College magazine  

What our students think

Find out what some of our current students and recent graduates have said about life here at New College.

Why study Theology and Religious Studies

If you are fascinated by big ideas, by the way people's beliefs influence the way they live then Theology and Religious Studies are the subjects for you.

Social media

Check out our official social media and video accounts to keep up to date with what's happening in New College.

Research and impact

Creative thought and world-class academic staff underpin our research. Explore our wide range of projects.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

The School of Divinity's EDI policies, initiatives, and relevant information.

This article was published on 2024-03-19

• Schools & departments

PhD Pregnancy Research

Details of the PhD programme in Pregnancy Research at the Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh

Application deadline: Thursday 6 th June 2024

Start date: Mid-September-1 st October 2024.

Fully-funded PhD scholarships are available for up to 3 candidates

This 3-and-a-half year PhD studentship programme aspires to train the next generation of scientists in tackling pain and distress during pregnancy, encompassing but not limited to the impacts of adverse pregnancy on the mother, fetus and subsequent generations, and how pregnancy is impacted by adverse maternal health. Students will receive cross-disciplinary training aimed at equipping graduates with skills to drive future developments in improving pregnancy outcome. At the end of 3 years of PhD study, 0.5 years of funding is available to support approved activities that enable student career progression.

The programme is based at the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) within the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR).

Projects on offer:, elucidating the relationship between the neonatal cerebral connectome and immune dysregulation in preterm infants, impact of maternal stress on offspring immune development and later life health and disease, defining the impact of endometriosis on immune-vascular remodelling in pregnancy, applicants are encouraged to contact group leaders whose projects they are interested in..

Students will benefit from the world-leading research at the CRH, which is led by a combination of non-clinical and clinician scientists. Students will be integrated into the broader CRH PhD programme, providing exposure to diverse aspects of Reproductive Health, and be embedded in the IRR’s Postgraduate Training Framework. Students will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities at IRR and the wider University, and benefit from a broad range of training opportunities which are available across The University of Edinburgh campus.

Training in Edinburgh : Edinburgh has a wide range of training opportunities, from those aimed at acquisition of general research skills and transferable skills ( Institute for Academic Development ) to advanced training courses in specific areas (e.g. image analysis, analysis of transcriptomic data sets).

Applications from UK and non-UK based students are welcomed. The deadline for applications is June 6th 2024 , and interviews will take place on June 26-28 th 2024 .

Full eligibility criteria and further details about the PhD studentships and application process as below,  but these studentships are only to support non-clinical students.  University of Edinburgh adheres to equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

This opportunity is open to UK and international students and provides funding to cover stipend (maintenance allowance at UKRI rate £19,237.00 for 2024-2025) and tuition fees. 

Applicants are expected to have a good honours degree in the sciences (biological, chemical or physical), at least UK level of 2.1 or the equivalent from non-UK universities and meet the English language entry requirements .  A Master’s degree in a relevant subject would be an advantage.

What is required:

Personal statement (1 page in total) covering why you want to apply for a specific project(s). In the case you wish to be considered for more than 1 project, please indicate clearly your order of preference. How your career to date has prepared you to do this PhD, and how gaining this PhD will meet your long-term career goals

Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages) 

Two academic references using this template , submitted by the referee by the deadline

Where applicable 0.5 extra pages can be used to explain any exceptional circumstances that may have affected academic performance to date, non-linear career paths, or any other information we may find useful in ensuring adherence to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion - This is optional and it is anticipated that the many applicants will not need to provide this additional document.

All application documents should be emailed to [email protected] by the deadline for applications,  6 June 2024 .  

Interviews will be in the format of a 7 min presentation by the applicant on a previous/on-going research project that showcases skills and knowledge.

This will then be followed by questions on the presentation and the application. The interview lasting about 45 minutes, taking place on Microsoft TEAMS.