Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we strongly recommend that you contact the lead supervisor before submitting your application.  This helps you to understand the project fully and allows the supervisor to get to know you as a potential candidate. 

Email is the best way first step. You will find the lead supervisor's contact details at the bottom of the project description. Introduce yourself, explain your interest in the project, and attach your academic CV.  

Supervisors receive many enquiries, especially close to the deadline. If you don’t hear back after a week, you can send a polite follow-up. If you still don’t get a response, you may go ahead and submit your application — your application will still be considered.

To find a supervisor: 

• Browse the list of supervisor led projects on our website to find potential supervisors (supervisors can support one student led project in addition to their own supervisor led project)
• Check the academic staff pages of the School you are interested in. For example, here is the list of teaching and research staff in the School of GeoSciences. If you are an undergraduate student, you could also ask your current supervisor or colleagues if they can recommend someone. The E5 DTP covers all seven schools of the College of Science and Engineering and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, so you may contact supervisors across these areas. 

Important note: 

• The project supervisor must agree to support your application throughout the recruitment process
• The supervisor will submit your project on our portal for approval before you can apply. The deadline for student-led projects is 21st November 2025. 

You'll be notified after the internal review process is complete - typically within seven days. 

Please remind the supervisor that they must email the E5 Admissions team to confirm submission of the student led project, as they are not automatically notified. Once approved, you will be emailed a direct link to apply via the online system. 

You should then apply by the application deadline of 14th December 2025, 23:59pm GMT.  

No. Student-led and supervisor-led applications are assessed equally using the same selection criteria.

Yes. International students are eligible to apply for an E5 DTP studentship, provided they meet the University of Edinburgh's PhD entry requirements. 

This includes: 

• A minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent)
• Proof of English language proficiency, if required

Please note that UKRI limits the number of international students to 30% of our annual intake, so competition is high. 

No. We do not need to see proof of immigration from international applicants. (If your fee status in the application form falls into “category 5” – I do not fall into any of the above categories.)

If you are successful in your application and are given an offer of a place as an international student, the Student Immigration team will provide you with a CAS, to enable you to apply for a student visa.

We only required evidence of immigration status from EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with a valid settled or a pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, and I will have been ordinarily resident in the UK, EEA, Gibraltar or Switzerland for at least the last 3 years prior to 1 Augustin the year of entry. 

No, there is no upper age limit. 

No, all PhD students, whether full or part-time, are expected to be based in Edinburgh for the duration of their PhD.  This ensures full participation in training, supervision and engagement with the academic community, in line with University of Edinburgh regulations.

Short term visits to partner institutions may be possible if your project is jointly supervised, but the primary expectation is that students reside within a commutable distance of Edinburgh. 

For international students, visa requirements also mean that you must reside in Edinburgh throughout your PhD.  

We recommend contacting your referees as early as possible to give them plenty of time to complete their reference. Once you enter their details in the application portal, they will automatically receive an email with a link to submit the reference form.

A copy of the reference form can also be downloaded from our website and sent to your referee in advance, so they can prepare their reference before receiving the official link.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that references are submitted before the application deadline. If a referee is unable to submit on time, you can update or change your referee details in the application portal at any point up until the applicant deadline of 14 December 2025, 23:59pm GMT.

An academic CV highlights your education, research experience, technical skills and relevant employment.  It should be concise (no more than 2 pages) and tailored to your PhD application.

If you are still studying or have completed your degree but do not have your final certificate or transcript, you can obtain a statement of marks or an interim / provisional transcript from your university.  

Please note: It can take up to four weeks for universities to process requests for interim transcripts, so it is important that you request these well in advance of the application deadline to ensure you receive them on time.  

Interim transcripts are particularly useful for the shortlisting panel, as they give an indication of your likely final grade. 

Any offer made would be conditional on completion of your degree with a certain classification, and production of your final certificate and transcripts. 

Yes, you must provide copies of all your degree certificates and transcripts, unless a qualification is entirely unrelated to your application and you hold other degrees that are more relevant and meet the minimum entry requirement (a 2.1 undergraduate degree or equivalent).

If you do not hold an undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.1 (or equivalent), but you have a Master’s degree (or equivalent) or significant relevant professional experience, we may still consider your application for assessment.

If your transcript, degree certificate, or any required academic document is not in English, you must upload both the original document and an official English translation. The translation allows us to assess your qualifications accurately, while the original document is needed to verify the authenticity and accuracy of that translation. Providing both ensures fairness and consistency for all applicants.

Yes, you can still apply.  

You do not need to provide a valid English Language Test certificate at the initial application stage. However, if we don't have your certificate by the interview stage and you are successful in being offered a place, we will only be able to issue a conditional funding offer. You will then be given a few weeks from the offer letter date to provide a suitable English Language Test certificate.

If you already hold a valid English Language Test certificate, please include it with your application. If you don’t, we recommend waiting until you know if you have been invited to interview (in early February) before booking a test. 

Your application will be full considered without the certificate, since English Language is not assessed by the shortlisting panels at the initial application stage.  

For full details, please read the English Language requirement section which lists the accepted tests and minimum scores required for PhD entry at the University of Edinburgh.  

This depends on where and when the degree was awarded, as well as the language of instruction at your university. 

• If your degree was completed in a country where English is the primary language of instruction, you may not need to provide an English Language Test Certificate
• If your degree was awarded in an non-English-speaking country, even if the programme was in English, you may still be asked to provide a certificate to verify proficiency.
• Certain cases may require additional evidence, such as transcripts, showing that all teaching and assessments were conducted in English. 

Please refer The Edinburgh University requirements for full details on exemptions and accepted documentation.

Yes, we do need to see proof of your settled or pre-settled status, as it is required to assess your fee status (Home Vs International fees), particularly if you meet the 3 year UK/EEA residency requirement.  

You can provide your UKVI share code, which allows us to verify your immigration status online.  Alternatively, you can submit a screenshot of the UKVI online account as evidence. 

For more information, you can access your immigration status through the View and prove your immigration status page on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

All our advertised projects are feasible part-time, but this option is only available to students who do not require a visa to study in the UK.  

This includes: 

• UK citizens
• EU citizens with UK settled status or pre settled status
• Non-EU citizens who have Indefinite Leave to Enter/Remain in the UK

The University of Edinburgh cannot sponsor student visas for part time study. 

Part time study is set at 50% of full time study (17.5 hours per week)- no more, no less - and you must have the full approval of the lead supervisor. If you are considering this route, please discuss it with your potential supervisor before submitting your application. 

A part time PhD takes around seven years to complete (compared to four years full time).  Funding is spread over this longer period, so the monthly stipend is paid pro-rata.  

Please also note that part time students are not exempt from Council Tax, unlike full time students. You should consider this carefully before applying. 

It may be possible to switch to part-time study during your PhD if your personal circumstances change.  Such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Yes. Each word count has been set deliberately to ensure fairness and consistency across all applications. Review panels read a large number of applications, so sticking to the limits helps them assess each candidate on an equal basis. Staying within the word count also demonstrates your ability to communicate concisely and follow application instructions. If you exceed the limit, your answer may be cut off or not read in full, so we strongly recommend keeping your responses within the stated limits.

Interviews are held in person in Edinburgh over a two-day period at the end of February. An additional day of online interviews is provided for applicants who are based outside the UK.

For 2026 entry:

• In-person interviews: 23rd–24th February
• Online interviews: 25th February

In-person interview days include:

• a welcome session from the E5 Director at lunchtime
• lunch provided
• opportunities to meet other applicants
• time to speak with current students about their experience
• interviews with a panel of 3-4 staff members, consisting of academics in relevant research areas. 

Many applicants comment that the day helps them get a feel for the programme, the University, and the city.

Online interviews follow the same interview format but do not include the campus elements.

Interview dates and times are set in advance, and are published on our website (for 2026 entry: In person interviews: 23rd & 24th February, online interview for candidates not based in the UK 25th February).  

We work to a very tight schedule and panels interview throughout the day, so changes are not usually possible. When scheduling interviews, we try to take applicants' locations into account and aim to allow sufficient travel time where possible, but this cannot always be guaranteed.  

Applicants who are unable to attend on a particular day are advised to email the admissions team before 30th January 2026, so this can be taken into account when scheduling.  

We can contribute up to a maximum of £100 towards interview expenses for applicants travelling from outside the Edinburgh area. This support can be used for:  

• Travel costs - these should be incurred using the cheapest option available, and public transport should be used where possible.
• Subsistence - reasonable food and drink costs while travelling
• Accommodation  - only where is is not possible to travel to and from Edinburgh on the same day (please check with the E5 admissions team before booking)

Applicants will be provided with a claim form when they are invited to interview and spare forms will be available on interview days. Completed forms, along with all receipts, must be submitted to the E5 Admissions team within one months of the interview date.