Postgraduate Research Study
Research study in the Graduate School provides you with the chance to work with one of our renowned researchers on a project which could define the future of your discipline.
All students are allocated at least two supervisors who have the expertise and training to help them achieve success.
Postgraduate Research Opportunities
- Aerospace Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Computing Science
- Earth Sciences
- Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
- Environmental Research
- Human Geography
- Infrastructure and Environment (Civil Engineering)
- Mathematics
- Physics and Astronomy
- Psychology
- Statistics
- Systems Power and Energy
How to apply for a research degree
Identify potential supervisors
All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.
Check the entry requirements
Entry requirements for postgraduate research vary.
All Postgraduate Research applicants should normally possess one or more of the following:
- First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent qualification (2:1 in the case of UK Research Council supported students).
- In some cases a Masters qualification or equivalent is required
Candidates whose first language is not English must show evidence of appropriate competence in English. You can find the specific requirements on our international students pages.
Search for funding and scholarships
As a commitment to supporting students and rewarding excellence, the University of Glasgow offers a wide range of scholarships
- Scholarships and funding database
- Find A PhD advertised Projects, Programs & Scholarships
- College of Arts Graduate School funding opportunities
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Science Graduate School funding opportunities
- College of Science and Engineering Graduate School funded opportunities
- College of Social Sciences funding opportunities
Gather Your Documents
Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:
- Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document
- Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document
- 2 references on headed paper (academic and/or professional).
- Research proposal, CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area. Please check the relevant entry in our A-Z of subjects for specific details.
Submitting References
To complete your application we will need 2 references (One must be academic the other can be academic or professional). Your references should be on official headed paper. These should also be signed by the referee. You can then upload these via the Applicant-Self-Service system with the rest your documents to complete the application process.
Please be aware that documents must not exceed 5MB in size and therefore you may have to upload your documents separately. The online system allow you to upload supporting documents only in PDF format.
If your referees would prefer to provide confidential references direct to the University then we can also accept the reference by email, from the referee’s official university or business email account to rio-researchadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk. We will then add these to your application.
Apply Online
Once you have all your supporting documentation you can apply online through our Online Application System.
Postgraduate Research Programmes
The College of Science and Engineering supports several types of research degree. To make it easier for you to choose the right degree for you, a brief explanation of the requirements and length of study for each degree is outlined below.
MSc by Research (MSc(Res))
The degree of MSc by Research is intended to be awarded for research done under supervision at a comparatively early stage in the candidate's career. An MSc by Research thesis should be a record of original research or a critical review of existing knowledge. Candidates should also demonstrate a thorough understanding of relevant research techniques. A viva examination for the MSc (Res) need only be held if the examiners deem it necessary.
Min period of study – 1/2 years FT/PT
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Students undertaking an MPhil are expected to make a distinct contribution to knowledge or understanding in a field of study. The MPhil culminates in a viva examination. The experience is likely to be similar to PhD study but with a more tightly defined project.
Max word count - 40,000.
Min period of study – 2/3 FT/PT
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
To qualify for the award of a PhD, a candidate must have demonstrated to a Committee of Examiners by the presentation of a thesis and by performance in an oral examination that he or she is capable of: a) pursuing original research in his or her specific field of study, and b) relating his or her results to the general body of knowledge in the field, and c) presenting his or her results in a critical and scholarly manner. In addition to the requirement for satisfactory completion of a thesis, the candidate will normally be required to attend training courses as specified by the College Graduate School. The PhD culminates in a viva examination.
Max word count - 80,000.
Min period of study – 3/6 years FT/PT
Doctor of Engineering (EngD)
Candidates present a thesis or a themed portfolio which embodies the results of the research. For a candidate permitted by the supervision team to submit a themed portfolio of a number of projects, they must be in the standard format and must include the following: i) a succinct bound summary which describes the contribution to knowledge and innovation demonstrated by the candidate; ii) clear evidence, either directly or indirectly, of the relationship between each project through demonstrable relevance to the doctoral programme.
Candidates must also pass a number of taught courses in order to obtain the award. These courses vary depending on the EngD programme of study.
Min period of study – 4/8 FT/PT (if latter is available)
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.