Apply for Research (PhD, MPhil, MSc by Research)

About the project

Learn more about submitting a research proposal, research opportunities, entry requirements, English language requirements, and applying for a visa.

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How to apply for Postgraduate Research

Research degrees at Abertay span computing, cybersecurity, games, social sciences, life sciences, business, design, psychology and more. Whatever route you take, the application process has two parts: securing academic interest in your research and submitting a formal application.

Two routes

Route 1: Apply to a funded project

We advertise specific funded projects and priority research projects with fixed topics, named supervisors and, in some cases, full fees and stipend. You apply to the project as advertised.

Route 2: Propose your own research

We also welcome enquiries and applications for Research Degrees in a range of subjects or interdisciplinary areas, and on topics across different Academic Departments . If you have your own research idea, you'll write a proposal, secure self-funding or a scholarship and apply to us directly. This takes more time but gives you more control over the topic.

You can also search our A-Z of Research Opportunities .

1. Meet the academic entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement for all our research degrees is an Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) at undergraduate level in an appropriate discipline and/or a Master’s degree. Degree studies must include an independent research component evidenced in the degree transcript, such as dissertation, project or thesis.

• 1. Meet the academic entry requirements: Show Hide

2. Meet the visa and English language requirements

• 2. Meet the visa and English language requirements: Show Hide

Visa requirements

If you're not a UK national, you can check our visa information page to find out whether you need a Student Visa to study in the UK. You can also check out the Student Visa overview on the government website .

English language requirements

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

For candidates whose first language is not English or your undergraduate/Master’s degree was not awarded from a University from a UKVI designated English Speaking country, you are required to show evidence of one of the following qualifications:

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

To identify whether or not you need to apply for a student visa, please see here or visit the UKVI website.

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries
• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 95 with at least 21 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL “My Best Score” to meet our English language requirements.
• CAE and CPE: total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with merit in all four components.
• PTE Academic: 67 overall with at least 61 in each component.
• NECO English at B (4)
• WAEC English at B (4)

3. Check Abertay researcher expertise

You can view academic researcher profiles by searching keywords, names or publications in the Staff Explorer , to ensure that we have appropriate expertise within Abertay to support your research proposal. You will also gain an understanding of the prior work and interests of our researchers. Please do not contact potential supervisors directly.

If you are interested in undertaking a research degree in this area and wish to speak to a member of staff ahead of applying, please get in touch .

When getting in touch please remember to check, and state in your initial email that you meet the Academic and English Language requirements (see points 1 and 2 above) and also let us know how you intend to fund your studies.

Please note: Should you think your research proposal is at the required standard then you should formally apply, where it will be considered in due process.

Once registered, research degree students will refine their research proposals with feedback from their supervisory team.

• 3. Check Abertay researcher expertise: Show Hide

4. Secure funding

There are two different routes to studying a research degree at Abertay – you can apply for one of our funded studentships or propose your own area of research. Find out more about our funded studentships .

If you are proposing your own area of research, you will need to consider how you will fund your studies – either through self-support or by securing a scholarship or some other form of external funding. See what scholarships are available to Abertay research students .

• 4. Secure funding: Show Hide

5. Write your research proposal

This is your opportunity to state your research objectives, to grab the reader’s attention and highlight your suitability for research degree study.

The proposal should be around 6-8 pages in length (including references) and follow the section headings below.

Some good practice tips:

Please note: all Research Proposals are checked for evidence of academic deceit including the inappropriate use of Generative AI. Research Proposals that do not comply with the above guidance or evidencing academic deceit will be automatically rejected on such grounds, applications will be cancelled, and applicants will be disqualified from reapplying.

• 5. Write your research proposal: Show Hide
• Title.
• Abstract (summary).
• Introduction/background.
• Hypotheses, objectives or research question.
• Proposed methodology.
• How will you disseminate your findings (pathways to impact).
• Ethical considerations.
• Summary and conclusions.
• References.
• Include details of any envisaged consumable or resource requirements (e.g. specialist materials, software licences, travel costs, lab consumables or other costs). Explain how these will be sourced or funded, and ensure they are realistic within the scope of your proposed research.
• About you: briefly describe your relevant experience and how it will help you achieve your objectives, explain why you are an excellent candidate for a research degree, and identify your additional professional development and training needs.
• Be clear and concise.
• Outline how you will ensure the work is feasible
• Structure your proposal by breaking up blocks of text into smaller paragraphs (with headings).
• Use a Gantt chart to show timelines and key stages.
• Reference you work.
• Justify your objectives.

6. Apply online by the relevant deadline

You can start a research degree at Abertay in February, June or October of each year. You can apply to defer from one entry point to another on one occasion. However, subsequent requests must be supported by an additional full application.

Please note: we are not accepting international applications to Masters by Research/MPhil due to the number of CAS available to support international students.

Unless otherwise stated, the deadlines for submitting a full application are:

You will need to include the following documentation when you apply online:

Please note: all Research Proposals are checked for evidence of academic deceit including the inappropriate use of Generative AI. Research Proposals evidencing academic deceit will be automatically rejected on such grounds, applications will be cancelled, and applicants will be disqualified from reapplying.

A-Z of Research Areas ➟

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• 6. Apply online by the relevant deadline: Show Hide
• Applications for February entry by 15 December (if you need a Student Visa then the deadline is 30 November).
• Applications for June entry by 30 April (if you need a Student Visa then the deadline is 31 March).
• Applications for October entry by 31 August (if you need a Student Visa then the deadline is 31 July).
• Copies of your academic transcripts
• References
• Your research proposal

Research areas