PhD opportunities

Research opportunities allow individuals wishing to explore their own chosen subject area or project to self-fund their own studies at the School of Textiles.

Sponsored or self-funding applicants

Applicants must ensure that they can self-fund the annual tuition fees and their personal expenses (we recommend the EPSRC stipend rate as an indication of how much you will require). It is worth noting that these fees will increase annually and that you may also be responsible for other research costs (e.g. travel). You must ensure that any sponsor is aware of these costs and is committed to paying them, before applying.

Once you are confident you can fund your studies, or secure a sponsor, you may contact a member of the school to discuss prospective project options.

Research proposals and applying

All applications for self-funded research opportunities should be submitted via the Heriot-Watt website and must include a short research proposal (3-5 pages) for your proposed project. Your original proposal should clearly state your research questions or objectives, a short, cited context or literature review for your proposed project, and a brief description of your anticipated research methods and reference list.

All viable candidates are interviewed before being offered a place and you may be advised to improve your proposal before a place is offered.