PhD Science and Technology Studies
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Introduction
The deadline to apply for September 2025 entry is Monday 30 June 2025.
We warmly invite you to apply for a PhD in Science and Technology Studies (STS)
Our PhD in STS offers you the chance to join one of the UK’s largest interdisciplinary centres for the study of the history, philosophy, and sociology of science, data, technology and innovation.
As a doctoral student you’ll be part of a community of over 30 PhD students and play a key role in the intellectual life of the subject area and beyond.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Studies subject group (STIS), together with Sociology, was rated first in the UK for quality and breadth of research by Research Professional, based on the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF).
With over 80% of our research rated as either world-leading or internationally excellent you can be confident you will be beginning your research career in a leading centre of research excellence.
All potential applicants are strongly encouraged to get in touch with the programme advisor – Dr Ben Collier – to discuss their applications in advance of any funding or submission deadlines.
- Programme overview
Undertaken in three or four years full-time or six years part-time, our PhD in STS involves pursuing an extended and focused piece of independent research, which makes a significant original contribution to knowledge.
Our PhD programme offers you:
Supervision from a team of experts from across the University of Edinburgh, helping support you to produce rigorous interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research
Training in a broad range of research methods, transferable skills and professional development
Access to a lively, international community of scholars, including visiting scholars
Research and professional training
Most PhD students will follow our MSc by Research course in their first year (our 1+3 mode of study). This includes advanced training in a broad range of approaches to research, as well as a number of specialist courses. The specific training you undertake will be decided in consultation with your supervisor based on a training needs assessment. By the end of this year, you will have completed a full research proposal.
Postgraduate researchers also have access to the University and College-wide programme of training in transferable skills and other aspects of professional development, such as specialist careers advice.
- Supervisors and topics
As a PhD student, you will usually have two supervisors for your project, who will advise you throughout your research journey. Together your supervisors will offer advice on planning your research, developing your ideas, securing ethical approval, conducting fieldwork, and your approaches to data analysis and theory development. They will support you through annual reviews and the writing up of your thesis so you are fully prepared to defend your work at a final examination (viva).
Your first supervisor will normally be based in the Science, Technology, and Innovation Studies subject area. The second and/or third supervisor may be from another discipline in the School or wider University, depending on the nature of your topic and the availability of suitable supervisors.
You are encouraged to contact staff with similar interests to yours to discuss your ideas before submitting your application. You can identify who might be a potential supervisor by looking through our areas of research and staff lists. The Programme Advisor is also available to provide advice and help you identify suitable supervisors for your project.
- Life as a STIS PhD Student
You will join a lively and active research community which offers:
Regular research seminars
Work-in-progress workshops for staff and research students
Reading groups, including the AI Ethics and Society reading group
Informal seminars on research and career development organised by our PhD student representatives
An annual PhD Showcase event, where students across all years present on their ongoing work
Our academic community has strong ties to many other subject areas and schools within the university, including those based in EFI, Sociology, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Informatics, Business and Law. Allowing you to be part of a rich interdisciplinary research community.
- Applying and funding
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the programme advisor to discuss their research proposals and the availability of appropriate research supervision, using the email address on the right-hand side of the page.
This contact should be made well in advance of the University deadline, especially if you are applying for funding (programme applications do not come with funding and are independent from funding applications).
Students who will need to apply for a visa to study in the UK should plan to apply at least three to four months prior to 1 September.
When contacting the programme advisor, please provide a CV and an informal one-to-three-page written outline of your research interests to help us identify potential supervisors, who can then advise on developing the research proposal that must accompany your application.
Questions about eligibility, conditions of entrance, and other aspects of the application and scholarship process should be addressed to futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Funding
There are a number of ESRC-funded places for students pursuing either a PhD (three years of funding) or an MSc by Research and a PhD programme (four years of funding).
Students may also be funded through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) via the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities.
Applying for this PhD
- Identify potential supervisors suited to your research interests
- Write a draft research proposal
- Contact the Postgraduate Advisor with your research proposal and list of potential supervisors
- Once discussed with the Postgraduate Advisor, formally submit your application on EUCLID
Postgraduate Advisor
Scholarships
Funding opportunities available for postgraduate study in the School of Social and Political Science.