PhD research projects

PhD projects and studentships are defined pieces of research that an organisation wishes to explore. A research council may have provided funding for the project to ensure its successful outcome, although not all defined PhD projects have funding associated with them.

The availability of funded research projects varies significantly by subject area. They are usually offered in medical, scientific and technical disciplines, where the cost of research is high and where defined projects may be used to contribute to a wider area of research.

However, it is still worth checking to see if any funded research projects are available in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

The selection process for a funded project often works in the same way as applying for a job: there is usually only one place available, so it can be competitive. You also need to demonstrate your suitability to work alongside others in a research team.

Here are some things to remember:

• Funded projects tend to have early academic year deadlines, so be prepared to apply before January in the year before you plan to start your studies.
• Projects and studentships can be advertised in different places. The majority will be listed on FindaPhd.com and displayed below, but you should also check school and research centre/institute websites.
• Check the funding status and eligibility criteria of the project you are interested in. If there is no funding attached to it, then you will need to research other funding opportunities in order to finance your research.
• Some projects may require you to submit a research proposal as part of your application, or to contact a supervisor before you apply, but others won’t, so make sure you check the application requirements for what you need to submit.
• Application for PhD projects are usually made through the University of Edinburgh’s degree finder; however, there may be some exceptions. If you are in doubt, ask the project’s lead contact.

Find a PhD research project

If there aren’t any projects in your area

If there are no PhD research projects available in your area of interest then you could try:

• Developing your own research idea
• School websites (especially those in the College of Science and Engineering), which may be advertising projects separately
• Applying for a PhD through a doctoral training centre or partnership