How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate research degree with the School of Computer Science, follow the steps outlined below on this page.
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If you are considering starting a postgraduate research programme in the School, please contact the postgraduate administration team at pg-admin-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk. The School's staff will work with applicants to identify appropriate potential supervisors, and provide guidance on the application process.
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Once you identify a potential supervisor, you should contact the academic directly. Please copy pg-admin-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk in any communication so that any queries are logged. If necessary, the School's administrative staff can make an email introduction.
You should agree a suitable research proposal with a potential supervisor before you submit an application.
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The research proposal for your application is, together with the result of the interview, the most important document in your application. The purpose of the proposal document is to assess the candidate's:
- ability to communicate their ideas and write a coherent document
- ability to identify and describe a research-worthy topic
- ability to compile (a non-comprehensive list) of relevant background material (for example, existing work in the area)
- ability to pose specific research questions that need to be addressed
- ability to propose a preliminary, but appropriate, course of action for research (for example, mentioning possible methodologies)
- genuine interest in the topic of study.
A good proposal document does not have to be lengthy (between three and six pages is acceptable). The structure and order of the document is up to the candidate, but the School expects to see at least:
- a motivation for the research or research problems
- a list of one or more research questions or hypotheses
- a discussion of possible solutions for the research problems
- a discussion of methods to address the creation of the solution or the research questions or hypotheses.
For those who feel confident to do so, the School would encourage you to also provide:
- an outline table of contents for your dissertation
- a proposed timeline for the work (assuming a 42-month study period).
If you are granted admission, you and your supervisor will work on a refined version of the proposal that does not have to adhere completely to what is in your admission proposal (there is flexibility during the first year to reorient the study topic).
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Once you have agreed on a supervisor and have completed your research proposal, you can apply at University's central postgraduate application page.
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Applications are typically processed within a few weeks. Applicants that are to be interviewed will receive an appointment request from their potential supervisor. Interviews can be conducted in person, via video call or by telephone.
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After an interview, the School recommends that the University either make an offer or to decline the application. Official notice of the application outcome will be issued within a month of the interview. To track the state of an application earlier, email pg-admin-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk.