Funded PhD Studentships

The context 

Are you considering pursuing a PhD to help create a better world? Look no further than Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), the top modern university for research power in Scotland and among the first 500 universities in the world according to the prestigious 2023 Times World University Rankings. 

The School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (SCEBE) is the largest of the five schools at Edinburgh Napier University. With a practical focus on adding value to the social, cultural, and economic capital of the communities it serves, recently the School has invested heavily in research staff and facilities, making it an excellent environment for those seeking to embark on a PhD journey.  

Located in the heart of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland and one of the most liveable cities in the world, SCEBE offers not only world-class academic opportunities but also an exceptional quality of life. The medieval Old Town and the elegant Georgian New Town, the beauty of Arthur’s seat and the fascinating Calton Hill; the vibrancy of the life, and the large and international student population; cultural events like the Fringe festival make the city one of the best place to live in the world. In 2022, Edinburgh was the top city in the world according to the Time Out Index. 

The studentships and the research projects 

The School is now continuing to invest in research with a large number of fully funded 3-year PhD studentships. The studentships will cover full UK or international tuition fees and will include a standard living allowance at the RCUK rate (currently £17,668 pa). 

We are looking for students to work on one of the following projects in the following areas:

Projects are expected to start on 1 October 2023. 

The students we are looking for 

Successful applicants will 

  • Be brilliant and motivated, keen on advancing knowledge and developing applications to improve the world in which we live. 
  • Have, or expect to achieve by the time of start of the studentship, a first-class honours degree, or a distinction at master level, or equivalent achievements. Only degrees in a subject relevant to the PhD project will be considered. Practical experience in research or industry will be considered an advantage. 
  • If your first language is not English, comply with the University requirements for research degree programmes in terms of English language. 

Furthermore, the applicants must comply with all the requirements of the University in terms of postgraduate research degrees. 

The application process 

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact supervisors to discuss the content of the project and the fit with their qualifications and skills before preparing an application. 

The application must include 

  • Research project outline of 2 pages (list of references excluded) with the details about 
  • Background and motivation of the project. The motivation must be supported by relevant literature. You can discuss also the applications you expect for the project results. 
  • Research questions or objectives 
  • Methodology: types of data to be used, approach to data collection, and data analysis methods 
  • List of references 
  • Statement no longer than 1 page describing your motivations and fit with the project, 
  • Recent and complete curriculum vitae. 
  • Two academic references (but if you have been out of education for more than three years, you may submit one academic and one professional reference), on the form can be downloaded here. 
  • Documents proving your qualifications and your skills. 

Applications can be submitted here. To be considered, the application must use 

  • “SCEBE0523” as project code. 
  • the advertised title as project title  

All applications must be received by deadline. Applicants who have not been contacted by 1 month later should assume that they have been unsuccessful. 

Contact details 

Should you need more information, please email SCEBERDL@napier.ac.uk.