PhD study

We welcome applications from students to come to study for a research degree in Security, Privacy and Trust at University of Edinburgh. Application early in the academic year (starting in August) is strongly advised.

Research topics and supervisors

Suggested PhD projects are given on the PhD topics page. If you are interested in one of these topics, contact the named supervisor. Read the sections below first.

We also welcome suggestions of topics from candidates. You should first identify a potential supervisor, then send some information about yourself and your desired area of research, and why you've chosen the particular person. To find a potential supervisor, try:

  • The list of people associated with the Security and Privacy research programme in Informatics.
  • Other researchers in the Informatics directory may supervise PhDs topics that connect their area to Security, Privacy and Trust.
  • If your topic overlaps with another discipline such as Engineering, Maths, Law, Politics, Business, try people in the Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust Institute.

Please don't spam lots of people!  A carefully written, relevant message is much more likely to get a response or be passed on.

Virtual open days

We hold a webinar session for the Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust PhD programme in November each year. 

Funding

Some funding is available for specific PhD projects.  For topics without funding, strong candidates may be able to win scholarships.  Early application is strongly encouraged as scholarship deadlines begin from December each year.  Discuss plans with your potential supervisor; for details see the

For topics that connect to our UKRI funded Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), you may wish to apply to one of them directly.  See:

Note that the CDTs have different application procedures and have a 4-year programme which includes a Masters year of training (or similar).

Application

PhD applications require an identified supervisor, CV, previous degree transcript(s), names of referees and a research proposal. The research proposal can be a statement of your own ideas, or an elaborated version of an idea from us. 

A good research proposal demonstrates basic understanding of an area from a research point of view.  It should suggest some avenues to investigate and a methodology to follow, and include some scholarly references which you have studied. We don't give more explicit instructions on writing the research proposal, since it is used as part of the assessment process; however, time permitting, your potential supervisor should be willing to review a draft before you submit and give you some feedback.   The length of your research proposal is flexible, but we prefer longer proposals (6-8 pages or more) which give you space to set out your idea and plan, as well as give references.

Please note that PhD scholarships are competitive and admission is highly selective even for students with their own funding. As a guide, at a minimum you should have obtained a 2:1 class undergraduate degree or an MSc with distinction from a UK University, or an equivalent level from outside the UK.

For full details of how to apply please:

You will need to select a PhD degree programme to apply to. This is usually our dedicated PhD in Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust, but may be another degree programme to match funding source or research institute for your project.  Please check with your nominated supervisor. 

You will also need to say how you will fund your studies.

Deadlines: applications are accepted at any time but there are deadlines for funding depending on the scheme(s) you are applying to.  In general early applications stand the best chance of being awarded funding.   The first deadlines are usually in November.  Please check links for the schemes for which you want to be considered.

 

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