How to Apply

Applications for September 2027 entry are now open.

Please review our FAQs and guidance on completing the application form before starting your application.

TechFirst - £30,000 stipend

We are pleased to announce that SPADS is part of the UK Government's TechFirst scheme, an initiative designed to support research in key frontier technology area. This uplifts the stipend to £30,000 for students with home-fee status. 

Students with international-fee status will receive a tax-free stipend, which for 2026-7 was £24,245. 

Fee Status Information

 
Guidance on how to apply (46.99 KB / PDF)
 
We look forward to receiving your application for 2027. 
 
If you have any queries about the application process please get in touch on spads@ed.ac.uk.
 
 
a man completing an application form

SPADS aims to provide additional support to applicants from underrepresented groups, in line with promoting ED&I.

View our ED&I Statement

If you are a member of groups typically under-represented in the STEM research community, you can apply for a pre-application mentoring support. 

To this aim, you should submit by email to spads@ed.ac.uk:

  • a short statement (max 200 words) explaining how your application supports Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in STEM 
  • a 1 page CV .

If you wish, you can also add a short paragraph (150 words) explaining the type of support that would be beneficial for you.

  • Pre-application mentoring support is optional
  • Early submission to the mentoring scheme are encouraged
  • If you require any reasonable adjustment to the application process, please contact spads@ed.ac.uk

The deadline for submitting a pre-application mentoring support application is 9th January 2026.


There are some restrictions on who can apply to this programme so please check your eligibility carefully. 

 

Important note on eligibility

Al SPADS projects fall under the remit of the UK Government's Academic Technology Approval Scheme. If you require an ATAS certificate to work and/or study in the UK you will not be eligible for this programme. 

Please check the UK government website for a list of nationalities that do not require ATAS certification. If your nationality is not on this list you are not eligible to apply for SPADS. 

 

Entry requirements  

  • A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering, or in an appropriate subject or a related discipline.

  • Students with significant industrial experience, or with relevant professional qualifications, who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject will be given due consideration on a case-by-case basis.

     

English Language Requirements

  • All applicants must also meet English language requirements, as per UoE guidelines, namely:
    • either 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;
    • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake.
    • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
    • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
    • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
    • PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component. Note that PTE Academic Online is not accepted.
    • Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.
  • Please see the section on English Language Requirements.

 

International Students 

We have a limited number of places available to international students each year. If you do not require ATAS clearance and are made an offer to study on the programme you will receive a studentship to cover fees and living costs.

 

View our applicant FAQs


Below is a list of the documents you will need to have before completing your application to the SPADS CDT.

A cover letter

This should illustrate your motivation for joining SPADS. The document should be no longer than 1x A4 page at font size 11 Calibri or similar size (“standard conditions”). Your cover letter should include:

  • What you think SPADS can offer you/how it aligns with your aspirations.
  • What you wish to offer to SPADS.
  • What areas of research interest you are looking to research, which can be as broad or narrow as appropriate for your personal aspirations and interests.
  • Please indicate in your application cover letter which research theme/s you are interested in, and list any specific projects you are interested in. The project list on the web will be updated regularly with new projects, so you will be given an opportunity to revise your choices if you are invited to interview.
  • Any other information you believe would strengthen your case.

A CV

Please provide information on your qualifications and relevant experience. This should not be longer than 2x A4 pages at standard conditions. CVs should include:

  • History of your education and/or employment.
  • Overall marks and framework, for example 3.75/5, 9/10 or A.
  • Any other information evidencing your ability to pursue a PhD within SPADS’ remit.

Transcripts and certificates

Please provide transcripts and certificates for each of your degrees. If they are in another language, please prepare both the originals and English translations.

If you are currently studying and don't have a final transcript yet, please provide an interim transcript. 

If you have issues uploading additional transcripts and certificates to the application portal, please email them to spads@ed.ac.uk 

Proof you meet the English Language requirement

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

Full information on our English Language Requirements

Statement of funding

If you are an overseas student applying with your own funding please fill in all the details required in the application form, otherwise simply state “No” or “N/A”.

References (2x)

Please provide official institutional email addresses for referees of your choice. References should be from academic referees and/or employers and uploaded directly by the referees. Please check that all references are:

  • Signed and dated, less than 12 months old by the application deadline
  • Mentioning the name and position of referee
  • On letter-headed paper
  • Submitted as a Word documment or pdf
  • In agreement with the additional guidelines provided in the automatic email sent to the referees

Tuition fees and stipend

All students on this programme will be awarded a studentship that covers the cost of tuition fees and provides an annual tax free stipend. A limited number of international studentships are available.

We are pleased to announce that we will be part of the TechFirst programme offering tax free stipends of £30,000 for students entering in session 2027/8 eligible for home fee status. 

You will also be awarded a generous Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG) over the four year period. 

You do not have to apply separately for funding.

On submitting your application you may be asked to complete a Fee Status Questionnaire. If your fee status changes as a result of completing this questionnaire please let us know via spads@ed.ac.uk. 


One of the conditions of funding is for all those who have accepted offers to undergo basic recruitment checks in keeping with the core principles of the UK government’s Research Worker Personal Particulars screening (RWPP). 

The SPADS Administration team can guide you through this process, you do not need to organise this yourself. 

You will only need to complete RWPP if you receive and accept an offer. 

For further information on RWPP please see our FAQs or email spads@ed.ac.uk.


On submission of your application to EUCLID you will receive a confirmation email from EUCLID.

Please make sure to upload all the requested documents to ensure that your application can be processed smoothly. If we need any further information from you in order to process your application we will be in touch.

Invitation to interview

Short-listed candidates will be invited to an online interview. 

If you are invited to interview, we will ask you to identify minimum three projects you are interested in, including at least one partnered project (i.e., with an industrial or government collaborators). You may rank your choices if you wish. Partnered projects are prioritised in the project allocation process. 

If your interests are broad and you are interested in more than three projects (or in a research theme in general), please tell us.

If a project requires a very specific skill set that does not readily transfer to other projects, you may choose to list only that project. Specialist projects are clearly indicated in the project listings.

Post-interview

If your interview is successful, we will work with you to identify a PhD project that aligns with your research aims. This will involve informal follow‑up meeting(s) with potential supervisors to confirm that both student and supervisor are confident that the project is suitable and expectations are aligned.  For partnered projects a meeting with the partner may also be required. 

Please note that we cannot guarantee you will be allocated your first‑choice project. However, we will make every effort to ensure you are allocated a project that supports your research aims. 

Offers

Once a suitable project has been agreed and allocated, formal offers of admission will be made.

 


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