How to apply for research study at St Andrews

Typically, you can apply anytime for research study, but some Schools and funding bodies have specific deadlines.

You should apply early for your research programme if you are applying for a scholarship. Many scholarships have an early closing date between December and February and require you to have a University offer.

Finding a supervisor

You will work with an individual supervisor or supervisory team within a School, Centre or Institute. This applies to all PhD applications and the majority of research degrees, excluding the following:

  • Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
  • Masters in Research (MRes)
  • Masters in Philosophy (MPhil)

Find out more about the different types of research degrees.

Before you apply

Before applying, you should look at the research interests of University staff so that your project matches an existing area of research. 

If you can't find a possible supervisor, you can contact the School to ask for advice on a suitable supervisor for your research area.

Applicants with special needs or disabilities

Applicants should disclose the details of any special needs or disabilities in their application form. This information will be passed on to the Advice and Support Centre's disability team.

Applicants with a special need or disability are encouraged to email theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk as early as possible to ensure that their needs will be met by the University.

If you are a student with a special need or disability, and the University has not been made fully aware of your disability requirements before an offer is made, we cannot guarantee that suitable resources will be available on your arrival in St Andrews.

All applications are assessed purely on academic merit, and the impact of a disability will be considered only after a final decision has been made.

See more information on declaring a disability.

Programme start dates

You and your supervisor will decide your start date, but you can include a preferred start date on your application.

We strongly encourage students to start their studies in September, but the start date for research study can be any of the following: 

  • 27 August
  • 27 September
  • 27 October
  • 27 January
  • 27 May