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Prospective research engineers

How does it work?

Currently you can only apply for admission onto the EngD programme with an Industry Sponsor in place.

Normally, a Research Engineer (RE) will spend the majority of their time on the Individual Research Component (IRC) at the site of the Industry Sponsor. The Industry Sponsor will provide the funding for the RE, as well as an Industrial Supervisor who will act as mentor and contact person at the Industry Sponsor’s site.

The RE must complete the following components of the programme in order to be considered for the award of an EngD:

What qualifications do I need?

For admission, we would normally expect at least a Bachelors degree in a relevant subject from Computing, Informatics, Mathematics or Engineering. We would expect an applicant for the EngD to have achieved a First Class honours degree at Bachelors level, or a Distinction at MSc level.

However, we recognise that some applicants, for example employees of Industry Sponsors, may have other suitable experience and qualifications. So, we are keen to work with Industry Sponsors to recognise other qualifications as well as practical experience, and explore routes for entry onto the EngD programme. This may involve an interview and any other assessment needed to determine an applicant’s suitability, on a case-by-case basis. We will enter into discussion with the applicant, the Industry Sponsor, as well as taking advice from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø admissions team on qualifications, as required.

How do I apply?

Before you start, you will need:

  1. a working email address
  2. a curriculum vitae (CV) as a PDF document
  3. a research proposal as a PDF document
  4. a sample of academic writing as a PDF document
  5. a copy of any certificates for qualifications as a PDF document
  6. the names and contact details of two referees

The application process has two parts:

  1. make an application to the University, as a postgraduate research student
  2. provide additional information for the EngD to the School of Computer Science

1. Make a University application

To make an application to the University, you will need:

  • an up-to-date CV
  • a research proposal
    • If applying with a Prospective Industry Sponsor, then this is a document that you have agreed with the Sponsor.
    • If applying for a specific vacancy you have seen on our web site, then this is a document that presents your statement of what you think the research challenges are for that vacancy and how you might address them.
  • a sample of academic writing. This could be a report you have prepared, a paper or technical article you have written, or a previous dissertation, for example, your undergraduate or Masters dissertation or project.
  • a copy of any certificates – please scan your certificates ready for upload
  • the names and contact details of two referees – these should be two people who we can contact, in confidence, in order to get their opinion of your ability and your suitability for the EngD programme

When you have that information, you can go to the University website and start the application process.

Please note that you must submit your application by the end of January to start in August of that year. 

2. Provide additional information

After you have filled out the University application you will need to provide some additional information for the EngD, which the School needs.

This is very simple. Please send by email your CV, information about any specific vacancy you are applying for, with a covering letter/email to engd-admin-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Both the University application and the additional information for the School must be completed.

I want to find out more or talk to someone – how do I do that?

If you have any queries, please send an email to engd-admin-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk.

You can also phone the School on +44 (0)1334 46 3253 during normal office hours, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00 UK time. Please note that there is no voicemail service on this line.