edinburgh university phd cost

• Schools & departments

PhD fee structure

How fees are charged for full-time and part-time PhD programmes, as well as PhDs by publication.

Full-time study

For full-time study, you will pay a total of three or four full-time annual fees (as appropriate) for the period of prescribed study under supervision.

Part-time study

For part-time study, you will pay a total of  six or eight part-time annual fees (as appropriate) for the period of prescribed study under supervision. 

Part-time tuition fees are 50% of the full-time fee applicable for the programme of study in each academic session. 

Submitting your thesis early

If you submit your thesis early, you must pay the remaining years’ fees on submission.

PhD by publication

If you submit for a  PhD  by publication, you will need to pay an examination fee on submission.

PhD programme fees

PhD programme fees for each year of study can be found on our postgraduate research fees page.

Postgraduate research fees

This article was published on 2024-07-29

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Fees and living expenses

When budgeting for your doctoral studies you will need to consider not only tuition fees but other costs such as administration fees and general living expenses, and any available financial support options.

The current annual tuition fees for Business School postgraduate research programmes are shown below. Please note that programme fees may change each year.

Programme fees 2024/25

* The Part-time PhD is not available to overseas students.

Please note: The amount you pay is dependent on your fee status. For more information please refer to the University's fee status pages .

About postgraduate research fees

Other costs

A PhD has other associated costs, such as administration fees, living expenses, and additional programme costs which you will need to budget for.

Additional costs

Additional Programme Costs (APC)

To cover stationery, photocopying, printing, telephone, and inter-library loans throughout the year you will be charged:

• An estimated £200 for full-time students
• An estimated £100 for part-time students

Student administration fees

If you take 4 or more years to complete your studies, there will be additional administration fees . We advise you to contact the PGR Support Office to understand what admin fees you will be liable for, as it depends on a number of factors.

Living expenses

The University provides information on estimated living expenses so you can start budgeting to live in Edinburgh.

Other studying and living costs advice

Financial support

The Business School is dedicated to supporting our research community, and offers a variety of dedicated funding on a regular basis to support PhD students.

Conference expenses

Students are encouraged to participate in academic conferences, discussing their research with experts across the globe. Expenses can vary widely depending on size, reputation, and location of the conference. PhD students will be allocated funds to use throughout their studies to support them with conference expenses.

Boost your academic profile

To develop your academic network, our doctoral students are offered a professional photoshoot along with a profile on the Business School website to enhance their online presence.

Academic memberships

Each year the PhD programme offers a limited fund to our students to cover the cost of Professional Membership.

Recognition awards

To encourage our students to reach their full potential and celebrate successes within publishing, community engagement, and academic achievement, the School offer Recognition Awards worth up to £100.

Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant opportunities

During your doctoral studies you will have the opportunity to take on paid Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant work. Opportunities for Teaching Assistants are advertised annually and all doctoral students can apply to start in their second year. Training is provided.

Research Assistant opportunities are advertised as they become available and are open to all doctoral students.

• Schools & departments

Undergraduate fees

2025-2026 undergraduate fees

2024-2025 undergraduate fees

Postgraduate taught fees

2025-2026 postgraduate taught fees

2024-2025 postgraduate taught fees 

Postgraduate research fees

2025-2026 postgraduate research fees

2024-2025 postgraduate research fees

Your fee status helps to work out how much your tuition fees will cost. We can help you find out your fee status.

Paying your tuition fees

Find out whether you are a self-funded or externally-funded student so you know when and how to pay your tuition fees.

Find your tuition fees

Find tuition fees for your programme in current, past and future academic years. 

Our fee policy explains fee rates and changes to your fees if you interrupt your studies or withdraw.

Undergraduate fee policy

Postgraduate taught fee policy

Postgraduate research fee policy

The Fees and Student Support team are part of the University's Scholarships and Student Funding department. We are dedicated to helping you with tuition fees and fee status.

Sponsorship

If your tuition fees are being paid on your behalf by a sponsor, you need to provide the Fees and Student Support Team with evidence of the award.

UK Government Funding

Find out whether you are eligible for UK Government Funding.

Undergraduate Student Loans and Grants

Postgraduate Loans (SAAS)

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) (England)

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) (Northern Ireland)

Postgraduate Masters Finance (Wales)

This article was published on 2024-07-29

• Schools & departments

Engineering PhD, MPhil

Awards: PhD, MPhil

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Engineering

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

Join us online on 12 to 14 November where you can learn more about postgraduate study through webinars, live panel sessions, and one-to-one chat.

Find out more and register

Research profile

A research degree from Edinburgh is your chance to connect with internationally renowned researchers and innovators and to experience one of Europe's leading universities in one of the world’s most iconic cities. We carry out world-class research and provide high quality training in research skills.

We ranked 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for the quality and breadth of our research for Engineering in the UK-wide Research Excellence Framework exercise in 2021, as part of a joint submission with Heriot-Watt University. The exercise also classified 96% of our research activity as world-leading and international-level.

Our world-leading research is conducted through our Research Institutes. This enables us to span across and connect between our core disciplines of Chemical Engineering , Mechanical Engineering , Civil & Environmental Engineering , and Electronics & Electrical Engineering .

Our seven research institutes are:

Institute of Bioengineering (IBioE)

Institute for Digital Communications (IDCOM)

Institute for Energy Systems (IES)

Institute for Infrastructure & the Environment (IIE)

Institute for Integrated Micro & Nano Systems (IMNS)

Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP)

Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids (IMT)

Training and support

You will carry out independent research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area, guided by your supervisor. You will submit a thesis and defend it in an assessed oral exam.

Alongside this research, all our researchers are offered training that is an integral part of our research degrees. You will gain skills that will serve you for the rest of your life, making you a more confident and knowledgeable person, and equipping you in both technical and soft skills.

This training includes our induction days, annual research conference, and a residential training in the Scottish Highlands. These are combined with a range of targeted training on topics such as research methods, analytical skills, technical writing, communication, project management, and networking. Our PhD researchers are expected to present their research at conferences and in international journal papers during the course of their programme.

We have an active research community. PhD, MPhil and MScR students present at and attend research seminars in their research institutes, alongside talks by visiting speakers. Our Engineering Graduate Society organises networking and training events across the School.

You can find additional information on our training and support below. This includes a link to the current handbook for postgraduate research students in the School of Engineering.

• Additional Information for postgraduate research students

We have a very wide range of high-quality engineering facilities, including specialised test laboratories, fabrication workshops, and computing resources. Information on these facilities can be found on our research web pages.

• Research at the School of Engineering

Career opportunities

Our graduates are amongst the most highly sought-after candidates for academic, commercial or consulting positions, entering careers around the world.

The majority of our research graduates enter the engineering profession in a wide range of fields, including automotive, bioengineering, communications, medical imaging, engineering consultancy, fire safety, renewable energy, chemical processing, oil and gas, fast moving consumable goods, high-technology and the semiconductor industry.

Other graduates from our PhD programme continue to further research including postdoctoral fellowships, lecturing roles and research contracts in universities and research institutes.

Additional information for postgraduate research students

Please read our additional information on a research degree in Engineering:

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in an appropriate subject, or relevant qualifications and experience.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT : 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU , EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Fees and costs

Additional programme costs.

In addition to tuition fees, your programme may be subject to additional programme costs. These are typically:

• £1200 per annum for a full-time desk-based PhD research project
• £600 per annum for a part-time desk-based PhD research project
• £1000 for a full-time MPhil project
• £500 for part-time MPhil project

However, for lab-based projects or those that require specialised equipment or software, these costs may be higher.

This should be discussed with the Engineering Graduate School on application.

Tuition fees

Scholarships and funding.

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• taking out a loan
• family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

• Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship
• China Scholarships Council/University of Edinburgh Scholarships
• Carnegie PhD Scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Graduate School Administrator.
• Phone: +44 (0)131 651 7213/9023
• Contact: [email protected]
• Graduate School of Engineering
• Sanderson Building
• The King's Buildings Campus
• Programme: Engineering
• School: Engineering
• College: Science & Engineering

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Engineering - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd engineering - 6 years (part-time), mphil engineering - 2 years (full-time), mphil engineering - 4 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

References must be dated within the last year, signed and on letterheaded paper.

• Reference guidance

Before you apply

We strongly recommend applicants find an academic that they are interested in working with before applying and contact them to discuss their research ideas. This initial contact can help when writing a research proposal and the application process.

See our website for a list of School research academics. Please be sure to include the name of your proposed supervisor in your online application.

• Academic Staff at the School of Engineering

Research proposal

When applying, applicants must provide a research proposal, even if for an advertised project. This helps evaluate your writing skills and research ideas and can help with both assessing your suitability for a research degree and whether we can offer supervision.

It should be no more than 2 x A4 pages and should indicate what areas of research interest you and the nature of the work you wish to undertake (experimental/theoretical/simulation).

• Research proposal guidance

CV and publications

When applying please provide a curriculum vitae and, if applicable, a list of your publications. If you have publications please provide your Researcher ID, ORCID ID, SCOPUS or Google Scholar address.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes: