Frequently Asked Questions
On this page we hope you will find answers to most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us if you have any doubts.
- How do I apply?
- How much will it cost?
- Are there any scholarships?
- How does distance-learning work?
- What is the difference between taught and research?
- What is required in a Personal Statement (Taught applicants)?
- Can I start at any time?
- Do you have accommodation for postgraduate students?
- Do you provide any support for students?
- How many references do I have to supply and what type of references should they be?
- How can I find a supervisor who works in my area of research interest?
- Can international students apply for advertised PhD Studentships?
- Do I have to provide a research proposal when applying for MSc by Research, MPhil or PhD?
- What is the difference between PhD (Degree of Doctor of Philosophy) and EngD (Degree of Doctor of Engineering)?
- Who can I contact for more information?
- How do I apply?
First, check to see if you are eligible by looking at the entry requirements for the programme you are interested in. If you are in any doubt, the Graduate School team will be happy to help.
If you wish to apply for any postgraduate study please visit How to Apply - Postgraduate, and click Apply Online.
Research Students Only: If you are applying for a specific PhD studentship we would ask that you make informal contact with the named supervisor before applying and carefully follow the instructions on the relevant Studentship page.
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- How much will it cost?
Tuition Fees are updated around March each year and vary from programme to programme. For details of the latest tuition fees please see our Fees & Funding pages for Taught Students and Research Students.
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- Are there any scholarships?
The University has a range of funding opportunities which you may be eligible for. All relevant scholarships and bursaries will be posted on the College of Physical Sciences Funding Page as they are confirmed, so keep checking back! If you hold an offer, the Graduate School team will also be in touch in the summer to highlight the opportunities available to you.
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- How does distance-learning work?
The College of Physical Sciences offers a range of taught programmes with distance-learning options. Course material is usually uploaded to our Virtual Learning Environment (MyAberdeen) and you work through it in your own time, for around 10-15 hours per week per module. Assignments are submitted electronically and examinations can be taken at your local British Council office or University if you are not local to Aberdeen.
Please also see our Introduction to Distance-Learning.
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- What is the difference between taught and research?
Taught programmes involve a relatively short period of study (usually 1 year full-time and 2 or 3 years part-time if available) where you undertake a syllabus of prescribed courses, often followed by a dissertation. Research degrees are usually at least 3 years in duration and involve independent research of an agreed topic with supervision from an academic in that field. The Postgraduate Prospectus has a useful guide on degree types.
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- What is required in a Personal Statement (Taught applicants)?
The personal statement section of the application form is your opportunity to sell yourself to the Academic Selector. In general, we want to know about your understanding of the programme you are applying for, why you feel you are suitable, and what your motivation for the programme is.
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- Can I start at any time?
Most Taught Master’s programmes start in late September. Some of these have a January start. These dates apply even if you only want to study a single module.
Research students can theoretically start at any time of year, however we have organised Inductions for new students each February and October so these are the best times to start.
Advertised Studentships may require you to start at any point throughout the year.
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- Do you have accommodation for postgraduate students?
Yes. The University has designated postgraduate accommodation (where possible) and there is a variety of other accommodation available in close proximity to the University, which is only a 20 minute walk from Aberdeen city centre. Sorry but we do not offer family accommodation on campus.
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- Do you provide any support for students?
Our Student Support Services consists of the Student Advice & Support Office, the Counselling Service and the University Chaplaincy; all are based in and around the King's College campus. Their aim is to help you achieve a successful and fulfilling experience at the University of Aberdeen. Please do take advantage of these services while you are here and be sure to let your course leader know if you are having any difficulties.
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- How many references do I have to supply and what type of letter should they be?
This depends on the type and title of the degree you are applying for as well as your own educational/employment background. Please get in touch with us via the Enquiry Form or Twitter to confirm what we need from you. Remember to include a few details about your qualifications/experience so that we can advise you properly.
In all cases, once your application is received in the Graduate School Admissions Unit, we will be in touch by email to request any further documentation we might need so don’t worry too much if your application is not complete when submitted.
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- How can I find a supervisor who works in my area of research interest?
We would recommend that you visit the web pages of the specific discipline you are interested in. There you will find details of all current members of academic staff and the research areas they are working in. You are welcome to contact supervisors directly to discuss potential topics before providing a research proposal. If supervision has been agreed and you choose to make an application, be sure to include the name of the supervisor you have been in discussion with to facilitate the admissions process.
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- Can international students apply for advertised PhD Studentships?
Some advertised studentships for research projects say they will “accept applications from International students providing they can meet the difference between UK/EU and International Tuition Fees”. This means that the funding for the specified project covers the Home Tuition Fee and Stipend only (if applicable) – if you are classified as an Overseas student for fees purposes, you would have to pay the difference between the Overseas fee and the Home fee yourself.
If you cannot meet the difference in fees, you could apply to be considered for an unfunded place i.e. a PhD topic of your own choice which does not have advertised funding attached to it. If your application is successful then you could use the offer letter to try and secure funding yourself.
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- Do I have to provide a research proposal when applying for MSc by Research, MPhil or PhD?
This depends on the Discipline to which you are applying. Once your application has been received in the Graduate School Admissions Unit, one of our team will email you to advise exactly what is required to allow us to process your application. It is therefore a good idea to apply as early as possible to allow time to provide extra documentation.
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- What is the difference between PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and EngD (Doctor of Engineering)?
A Doctor of Engineering is similar to PhD study, but is usually developed in conjunction with the applicant's employer and requires completion of a choice of modules from our Taught Programmes alongside industrially-relevant research. EngD students are therefore normally practicing industry professionals.
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- Who can I ask for more information?
Feel free to use the Enquiry Form on these pages to get in touch with us, or tweet us @uoacpsgrad. We will be pleased to help!
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