How to Apply
FUSE CDT accepts open entry and pre-aligned applications to our programme.
Open entry applicants apply to the general programme, and start their first year training in September 2023. They choose their research project and supervisors in Semester 2 2024 of the programme.
Pre-aligned applicants apply for a doctoral project advertised up-front under Projects Available, citing the specific supervisor and project title in their application. See our FAQs below for more information. They start their first year training in September 2023 with a partner confirmed.
Applicants need to upload the following documentation:
- a cover letter (include evidence of your interest in ultrasonics and your future aspirations)
- a CV (please ensure to include details of activities – work, study, etc. – over the last three years)
- evidence of grades (official transcript preferred)
- certificates of completed qualifications
- two references (at least one reference should be submitted before interview)
- for non-UK citizens, evidence of your residency status in the UK (if any: e.g., visa or permit)
Submit your application by the final deadline of Monday 31st July 2023 using the University of Glasgow online application system:
Interviews
All shortlisted candidates will be invited to take part in an online interview (e.g. Zoom or Skype) with a panel of three interviewers. The panel will be comprised of one FUSE academic from the University of Strathclyde, a FUSE academic from the University of Glasgow, and usually the FUSE CDT coordinator.
The interview will last around 30 minutes, and all candidates will be asked the same EDI-vetted list of interview questions. If any candidate needs reasonable adjustments, please contact us at fuse-cdt@glasgow.ac.uk in advance.
FUSE will host opportunities for prospective candidates and offer-holders to talk with fellow incoming cohort members, current FUSE students and staff. These will be arranged as virtual or hybrid Open Days to introduce our programme, research projects, facilities and campuses.
We are advertising a select number of EngD and PhD projects up-front for September entry:
Funding and eligibility
Fully-funded studentships are available at the UK Home rate:
- UK Home studentship – To be eligible for a fully-funded UK Home studentship, you must meet the following criteria:
• be a UK citizen (meeting residency requirements), or
• have EU settled status, or
• have EU pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have ‘indefinite leave to remain/enter’
If you have any questions about funding eligibility and residency criteria, please email fuse-cdt@glasgow.ac.uk.
All applicants must have or expect to obtain a first-class degree (2.1 or equivalent) in an appropriate engineering or science discipline.
International candidates whose first language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language with IELTS certification or equivalent. ATAS clearance is also required following acceptance of an offer for certain nationalities. Information on visa requirements can be found here.
Funding for Talent Scholarships may be available to successful candidates, please contact us for more details.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
FUSE has placed EDI at the heart of its activities, in order to achieve excellence in research and enhance the societal and economic impact of our work. In this way we ensure that we build teams of researchers from diverse backgrounds, all working in an inclusive environment. Likewise, the universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, and our external partners are fully committed to EDI principles.
We offer part-time studentships, funding to champion applications from under-represented backgrounds, SIMD bursaries, childcare support for conference attendance, flexible working for carers, as well as promoting a work-life balance.
In addition, students will be supported to become Chartered Engineers with iMechE and STEM ambassadors.
Glasgow, Strathclyde and our external partners are fully committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
CDT stands for Centre for Doctoral Training and it is a group combining research institutes (e.g. universities) and industry partners that aims to train PhD or EngD students. CDTs focus on cohort-based learning experiences and skills training to develop a future academic or industry career. They are funded by research councils which fall under the umbrella of UK Research and Innovation. FUSE CDT is funded by EPSRC and is a partnership across the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde with over 40 industrial partners.
EPSRC-funded students receive a yearly stipend of £18,022 and each student is supplied with a laptop and accessories to use during their studies. Students also have access to a consumables budget for their project managed via their supervisor, which is approximately £6,000 in total over the entirety of the programme. They also have £2,500 allocated for attending international research events.
Some EngD students may receive a top-up to their stipend, dependent on the agreement in place with their industrial partner. Beyond the funding outlined above, students can draw on additional funds, such as childcare costs, and request flexible working and part-time options to balance research and caring responsibilities. Finally, there are Talent Scholarships available intended to widen participation, applicants that identify with the highlighted areas are welcome to contact us on applying to be considered for the award.
We have two applications routes to FUSE: open entry and pre-aligned.
Open Entry: All FUSE students complete a common first year of taught courses in ultrasonic engineering, and therefore applicants to the programme are not required to declare a supervisor or project. A list of research projects, and their associated supervisors, are shared with students in Semester 2 for them to rank their interests. Students can choose between PhD and EngD pathways with their project choices, which will be hosted at either the University of Glasgow or the University of Strathclyde for the remaining three years. For Open Entry online applications, please write “Prof Sandy Cochran” as your default supervisor, and write “FUSE CDT” as your thesis title/description.
Pre-Aligned: We are advertising a select number of EngD and PhD projects up-front for September entry under Projects Available. If you would like to apply to these specific projects, just like open entry you will submit your online application to the University of Glasgow, but you will cite the specific supervisor and thesis title as advertised in the up-front project. Like open entry applicants, you will follow the same first year training programme, however, your contact with your supervisors and external partners will begin in September of your first year.
EU students who have pre-settled status (three years residency in the UK/EEA/Gibraltar/Switzerland) or settled status (five years residency in the UK) by 31st December 2020 are considered Home students, and are eligible for full funding in 2023/24 (as long as their UK residency continues to the commencement of the studentship).
EU students that do not have pre-settled or settled status in the UK, or are entering the UK in 2023 to begin their doctoral studies will have to apply as International students with the appropriate visa.
Applicants with passports outside the UK/EU/EEA/Switzerland can still be classed as Home students if they are residents in the UK with “indefinite leave to enter/remain”.
Applicants that do not fit these residency requirements are classed as International students. There is one highly competitive studentship available to international candidates in 2023/24 at the University of Glasgow. This international studentship provides a monthly stipend and covers the annual international tuition fees. International applicants with external funding (e.g. self-funded or other scholarships) can apply for a place with FUSE CDT, if they can cover their living expenses and tuition fees (approx. £23,950 p.a.). We would encourage applicants to check scholarships available at the University of Glasgow or the University of Strathclyde.
For open entry applications, FUSE CDT applicants do not need to choose a supervisor or write up a thesis project as part of their application because they will choose a research project in Semester 2. For these questions, you can use these default answers:
Supervisor: Sandy Cochran (FUSE CDT Director at the University of Glasgow)
Thesis title: “FUSE CDT”
Thesis description: “N/A”
For pre-aligned applications for specific doctoral project listed on Projects Available, please cite the supervisor and exact title of the project in your application. Please include a project description taken from the advertised position.
During your online application, you will be asked to supply the name and email addresses of two referees. They will receive an automated email asking them to follow online instructions to submit their references directly to the University of Glasgow’s online admissions system.
If the referees fail to respond to this email, you can follow the steps below.
There are two ways that references can be submitted to your application:
- Uploaded by the applicant as a PDF
- By email from the referee directly
Now that your online application has been submitted, you have the following options to ensure your references are included:
- Contact your referee for the reference and upload it yourself as a PDF by logging into the Applicant Self Service Area
- Contact your referee and encourage them to respond to the link in the email sent to them by UofG Admissions in order to submit a reference confidentially
- If your referee has not received the email from UofG Admissions but would like to submit confidentially, please ask them to forward the reference to fuse-cdt@glasgow.ac.uk with your name and application number clearly stated
After the application deadline, all applications to FUSE will be downloaded and prepared for the review panel who will assess the applications and choose which candidates will be invited to interview. Interview invitations will be sent by email and the interviews will take place online via Zoom or telephone call. Successful applicants will be informed via email after the interviews if they have been offered a funded position at FUSE CDT.