PhD and Research Masters Projects

Funded research projects

Abertay offers a range of funded PhD and Masters projects for enthusiastic and ambitious candidates who are interested in pursuing a research degree at Abertay University.

Funded PhD and Research Masters projects are available to students who hold (or expect to gain) either a First Class Honours degree, an Upper Second Class Honours degree or a Masters qualification.

The studentships described below are divided into three categories:

Open – Applications are currently open for these studentships. You can find further details on the Abertay jobs page and FindAPhD.com.

Due to open – These studentships will be advertised shortly.

Closed – These studentships are now closed for applications, however, you may be interested in seeing the topics we have funded previously.

Open

Fully Funded PhD Research Studentship

Project Title: Investigating the potential of Extended Reality for alternative understandings of forced migration and devastated Middle Eastern Cultural Heritage Sites.

Applications are open until 24 June 2021. Visit the job profile to see the full details including how to apply.

Due to open

A list of upcoming studentships will be displayed below when available.

Closed

PhD Research Studentship: Using avatars in investigative interviews with children.
PhD Research Studentship: How do we best teach our children to be cyber secure?
PhD Research Studentship: Machine learning to determine soil properties: a smartphone-based solution for stakeholders
RLINCS PhD studentship: The effect of different types of omega-3 fatty acids on exercise capacity in the elderly
RLINCS PhD studentship:Using Affective Computing to Create an Emotional Bond between Users and Virtual Agents for Enhanced Social Interaction
R-LINCS PhD Studentship: Using VR to Investigate the Visual Features that Determine the Effectiveness of Disruptive Camouflage
R-LINCS PhD Studentship: Eco-grief and community experiences of changing water practices in Malawi
PhD Studentship: Seals as sentinels of antimicrobial resistance: mapping antimicrobial resistance genes in UK waters
PhD Studentships: A 4D Virtual Tumour for Cancer Ecology.
RLINCS PhD Research Studentships: Investigating the Chemistry of a Cold Smoking Process and its Impacts on Food Safety and Quality; Deep Learning Intrusion Detection System for the Internet of Things; Characterising fat tissue structure and function in grey seals, an animal model of extreme fat deposition and mobilisation, using novel in vivo and in vitro approaches; Applying the self-reference effect to improve children’s mathematical problem solving; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in female athletes.
Master by Research Studentships in Mental Health Nursing: Various areas of research focus will be considered.
Master by Research Studentship: Developing a successful food new product development tool linking effective testing (using facial electromyography) with sensory attribute selection
PhD Research Studentship: Exploiting yeast diversity in whisky fermentations for biocatalysis of desirable flavour compounds.
PhD Research Studentship: Evaluating the effect of plant species on soil carbonation flux
PhD Research Studentship: Fluid-aerosol modelling of cloud evolution in substellar atmospheres (R-LINCS)
Master by Research Studentship: Developing a successful food new product development tool linking effective testing (using facial electromyography) with sensory attribute selection
MSc Research Studentship: Utilising crushed dolerite columns to stabilise unstable substrates using microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP): coupling ground improvement and climate mitigation - laboratory approach
Games and Media Facilitated e-Learning
Developing a successful new food product development, tool linking effective testing (using facial electromyography) with sensory attribute selection
A generic framework for atmospheric fluid-aerosol modelling with applications in astrophysics, computer games and environment
Utilising crushed dolerite columns to stabilise unstable substrates using microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP): coupling ground improvement and climate mitigation – numerical modelling approach
Exploring self-reference effects in children with ADHD
Application of focused 'omics' approaches to the study of biological phenomena implicated in musculoskeletal ageing. (R-LINCS)
CLOSED - Modelling of multiphase flow in deformable agricultural soils (Hosted at Abertay University for Tayside Centre for Geotechnical Engineering in Natural Environments)
Development of Effective Guidelines and Communication Tools for the Protection of Rural Private Water Supplies from Sources of Pollution
Detection, analysis and clinical application of spermatozoa biochemical profile using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). (R-LINCS)
Multiple missing: an exploration of behavioural consistency in repeat missing adults. (R-LINCS)
Application of focused 'omics' approaches to the study of biological phenomena implicated in musculoskeletal ageing. (R-LINCS)
Connecting Performance and Play: interdisciplinary design methods for the development of games and performance – ARCS/ SGSAH studentship (Abertay University, National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)
Investigation into and Development of Processes for the Enhancement of Safety and Shelf Life of Fresh Produce. (R-LINCS and James Hutton Institute)
Ecology at play: An exploration of natural data through game design. (IW Stewart PhD Studentship)
Developing of 4D Imaging Methods to Quantify Soil Structural Dynamics with applications to Soil Science and Environmental Engineering. (R-LINCS)
Addressing the Fundamental Problems of Cyber-Security through Anti-Patterns. (R-LINCS)
Interaction between emotion and communication. (R-LINCS)
Investigating structural synaptic plasticity as a novel therapeutic target for functional recovery from spinal cord injury. (R-LINCS)
Securing cyberspace: Development and validation of a novel research and evaluation toolset. (R-LINCS)
The Social and Organisational Construction of Ethical Hacking. (R-LINCS)
A systematic study of the effect of ultrasound on food enzymes and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds (model and real food systems). (R-LINCS)
Assisting Digital Forensic Reconstruction via Exploratory Information Visualisation. (SICSCA)
Exploring the Role of Monitoring Agents and Affective Feedback in Enhancing Cyber Security for Average Users. (SICSCA)
Games Design, a new Approach for a New Industry. (ESRC)
Design and Action. (AHRC)
Exploring Interactive Design Engineering Methodologies. (AHRC)
Investigation of the performance of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) on the Scottish Trunk Road Network (STRN). (BEAR)
Factors controlling root growth in heterogeneous substrates: physical structures and root behaviour. (R-LINCS in partnership with James Hutton Institute)
When do dialects become languages? (Leverhulme)
Computer and Web Enabled Food Product Evaluation. (MacPhie of Glenbervie Ltd)
Customer Honesty in Self-Service Interactions. (R-LINCS)
Nano-and bio-technologies for food science and technology. (SORSAS)
Role of Second Generation Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor(s) and Adenosine-Triphosphate on Human Sperm Motility. (SORSAS)
Influence of soil structure on the spatial and temporal distribution of bacteria in soil. (SORSAS)
Ecosystem service goods and benefits accruing from sustainable approaches to urban water management (SORSAS)
Understanding Early Intervention: A Case Study of Dundee (SIPR)
MPhil Research Studentship, 2 years: Project Title: Games and Media Facilitated e-Learning
PhD Research Studentship: Mapping for Social Innovation
MPhil Studentship: Development and validation of sequencing and bioinformatics methodologies to identify pathogenic mutations in candidate male infertility genes.
PhD Studentship: Parental Involvement in Sport: Improving the Quality of Children’s Sport Experiences and Wellbeing
PhD Studentship: Co-Design Mapping for Social Innovation Project.

Further information

Eligibility

A related Masters-level qualification is desirable, but not essential. Otherwise you must have, or expect to obtain, a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree in a discipline relevant to the studentship you are applying for.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, or your undergraduate or Masters degree was not taught in English, you are required to hold a suitable English language certificate.

If you require a Student Visa, you must provide one of the following English language certificates:

West African at B(4)
NECO at B(4)
IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6.0*

If you do not need a Student Visa or are an EEA National, you are permitted to use one of the following:

TOEFL 80 with no band less than 18*
Pearson’s PTE 61 with no band less than 56*

*The University can only accept these qualifications if they were completed two years prior to the start of the programme.

How to apply

All available studentships are listed on the Abertay Jobs page, as well as FindAPhD.com. The individual listings will specify the steps you need to follow. We only accept online applications submitted via the Abertay Jobs portal.

Every single studentship will have its own specific requirements. Make sure you read them carefully.

Contact us

Please contact GraduateSchool@abertay.ac.uk for more information about how to apply for a studentship or for any other questions about our research degrees.