UHI PhD Studentships

Available Projects

The application of machine-learning to establish baselines and short- and long-term change in sensitive marine habitats 

Lead Academic: Dr Tom Wilding - tom.wilding@uhi.ac.uk

Project location: Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), Oban, Scotland (main location). The successful candidate will also be based at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) in Nuuk, Greenland, and will attend at least one offshore research cruise on the Greenland shelf.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should normally have, or expect to have by 30 September 2024:

• A postgraduate master's degree from a degree-awarding body recognised by the UK government, or equivalent, or
• A first or upper second-class honours degree from a degree awarding body recognised by the UK government, or equivalent, or
• Other qualifications or experience that affords sufficient evidence of an applicant’s ability to work at the academic level associated with doctoral study.
• If English is not your first language, and you do not have a prior UK degree, you will need IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum, with a minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent. This must have been gained no more than two years prior to the proposed project start date. For more information see Entry requirements and visa advice - English language requirements (uhi.ac.uk)

Please note:

• Current UHI research degree students are not eligible to apply.
• Awards are for full-time study only.
• You will be expected to live within a reasonable travel time of the project’s main campus location; distance learning study cannot be supported for this award.

Award Deadlines

Deadline for application: Thursday 16 May 2024, midday GMT

Interview to take place: by Friday 7 June 2024 - online interview will be available through Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom or similar – actual date to be confirmed by the Lead Supervisor.

Formal academic offer to be made: by Tuesday 2 July 2024.

Documents and How to Apply

Please provide the required documents in a single file, ensuring they are submitted electronically by email by the deadline of 16 May 2024, midday GMT to gradresearch@uhi.ac.uk

Application documents:

• UHI Part 1 application form- see form below.
• Copies of all official qualification certificates and transcripts. If your official certificates/transcripts are not in English, they must be accompanied by a fully certified translation provided by a professional translator/translation company. 
• If English is not your native language, and you have not gained a prior UK degree, an English language test certificate (IELTS or equivalent with overall score of 6.5 and no element below 6.0) gained within the two years prior to the planned start date.
• If you are not a UK national, a copy of the photo page of your passport, also include any pages which indicate a right of abode in the UK. 
• References - see form below. Please ask your referee to complete the Reference Form; these are not required with the application but will be required for shortlisted applicants and must be provided by the applicant before their interview. References should be from professional or academic contacts and cannot be from family members or friends. At least one reference should be from someone who knows you from your most recent academic qualification.

Please note:

• Incomplete applications and/or applications received after the deadline cannot be considered.
• If references are not available by the time of application deadline, these can be sent through separately, however applicants are responsible for ensuring these are submitted to gradresearch@uhi.ac.uk by the above deadline, or as soon as possible thereafter.
• If you are selected for an award, you will be required to start in October 2024; the award cannot be held over to another academic year.

UHI Part 1 application form

UHI studentship reference form

Why study at UHI?

Spread across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, our distinctive partnership of independent colleges and research institutions is locally based and rooted in communities, but with national and international reach and significance.

Our innovative approach to learning and distinctive research are enriched and inspired by the people, natural environment, economy, culture and heritage of the Highlands and Islands and our students are exposed to cutting-edge thinking and work alongside world-class researchers. You will be part of a growing postgraduate research student community, guided by subject experts, building knowledge and skills, in a supportive and collaborative research environment.

Our results from the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 confirm our strong position in the research landscape of the UK, with nearly three quarters of the research publications we submitted for assessment were deemed to be world leading or internationally excellent.  Our impact ratings (a measure of our reach and influence in business and our communities) also show how strong our research influence is. 

Read more about our REF2021 results.

Contact Details

Project queries - tom.wilding@sams.ac.uk or joseph.marlow@sams.ac.uk

Application and administrative queries - gradresearch@uhi.ac.uk