Postgraduate Research

The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences is active in a wide range of research areas, supported by strong external funding.   We aim to support all postgraduate researchers to make the most of their opportunities and guide them towards a successful future career, whether inside or outside of academia.  We’re committed to supporting the personal and professional development of our postgraduate researchers and equip you with the skills, attributes and knowledge to thrive as independent researchers and professionals.

As a postgraduate researcher at Heriot Watt, you’ll become part of a research community, which includes postgraduate researchers, supervisors, administrators and external collaborators who all work together to improve the postgraduate research experience across the institution.

Research Institutes

Every Postgraduate Research student and their supervisors are part of a Research Institute within the School:

• Institute of Chemical Sciences
• Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering
• Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems
• Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering
• Institute of Photonic and Quantum Sciences

Current Postgraduate Research Project Vacancies

PhD projects and studentships are defined pieces of research that an organisation wishes to explore. Funding may have been provided by the University or from an external organisation.  The selection process for a funded project is usually competitive and there may be only one position available. 

Many of our School and externally funded scholarships can be found on our Scholarships page or on the Institute webpages.  Before applying for any of these positions please check the closing dates and specific eligibility criteria for the advertised project.

If you would like to be considered for admission for a different project, please identify a potential supervisor before beginning the application process.

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)

• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Photonics (Use-Inspired Photonic Sensing and Metrology)
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Green Industrial Futures
• EPSRC and MoD Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensing, Processing, and AI for Defence and Security