Funded PhD Studentship:
The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) PhD Studentships initiative represents a major investment by the University of Stirling in doctoral education and developing the next generation of academic researchers. We have a number of full 3 year full-time equivalent PhD studentships (fees and stipend), fee waivers and cash bursaries available for students from the UK and overseas. IAS Studentship holders will work in collaborative, inter-disciplinary clusters of Postgraduate Researchers working on complementary doctoral projects within one of our ten Research Clusters.
We welcome expressions of interest from all candidates who meet the University’s entry criteria for Postgraduate Research degrees and in addition have or are due to complete a masters degree or have equivalent professional experience. We especially welcome expressions of interest from people from groups that have been under-represented in the UK Postgraduate Research community in the past, including people from ethnic minorities, women, disabled people, people from care-experienced or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and candidates from the Global South.
Recommendations for the offer of a studentship will be made by a panel of senior members of the University that will consider all applications from qualified candidates, supported by an adviser on equality, diversity and inclusion. The panel will consider a range of criteria, focusing on candidates’ academic excellence, relevant professional experience, evidence of advanced methodological skills and capacity to undertake a major piece of independent research at doctoral level.
Funding Arrangements:
The studentship awards offered by the IAS are funded by the University of Stirling. Studentship funding awards provide full fees and a stipend set at the UKRI minimum annual award for 2024/25 (which for 2023 is £4,712 and £18,622 respectively), a number of fee waivers are available for International students, in addition there is funding available to support research training requirements.
Length of Studentship Award:
The funded period for all awards is 3 years FTE (36 months), students may undertake their PhD on a part-time basis (50%). It is possible to enrol for a further 12 months to a maximum completion period of 48 months FTE. There is an additional fee for this period which is not funded under the terms of this studentship award.
Application:
The application process involves the following stages:
Expression of interest
You can submit your expressions of interest for a Research Cluster on the relevant Research Cluster page.
The expression of interest form asks questions about your academic and professional qualifications and details of your nationality, in order to assess eligibility.
You are required to add a supporting statement detailing why you are a suitable candidate for doctoral research and provide a summary of your research proposal as requested.
We have provided example projects to inspire thought and provide context, these are not actual projects, you are expected to submit an original project proposal that aligns with the themes and aims of the Research Cluster.
You may make multiple expressions of interest, but each expression of interest requires a separate form.
Use of AI
We understand that AI may be used in the development of your proposal, for example to find material on a topic that you will then consider and explore in more depth. This may include learning to support your expression and use of the English language. Guidance and expectations in relation to the use of generative AI in the development of your research proposal are noted below.
Referencing use of AI
If you use AI to locate sources and then use those in your proposal, you do not need to cite the use of AI, just the sources you include.
If you use AI in the process of producing your research proposal, for example to create an outline, you should acknowledge this in the declaration in the expression of interest form.
If you use information gathered from an AI source, such as ChatGPT or Bing, or quote material sourced in this way, you should cite this using normal referencing conventions, for example, OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT response to A.N. Other, 25 January.
Unacceptable uses of AI
- While AI may be used to support the development of your research proposal, it must not be used to create the assessed product which should be your own work.
- The inclusion of work produced in whole or part by Artificial Intelligence without referencing.
- Copying or paraphrasing AI-generated content without referencing.
- Using AI as noted without acknowledgement via the declaration in the expression of interest form.
Selection Process:
Once the deadline for expression of interest has passed, expressions of interest will be assessed by clusters and nominations for an award made to the award panel. It is expected that offers will be made by 1 June 2024.
Following the offer of an award a formal application for a PhD programme should be made, the process for applying for a PhD programme at Stirling can be found here. It is the responsibility of the applicant to follow this process by the deadline noted in the timeline.
