PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
We are a young, vibrant university with a unique and exciting research environment and have established a strong reputation in a range of research areas – take a look at our .
There are two paths to study a PhD:
- Define your desired research project, secure a supervisor, and obtain funding
- Apply for a Studentship to undertake one of our funded research projects
Our postgraduate research community continues to grow and we regularly offer scholarships for research degrees – new opportunities will be listed as they arise, please check this page regularly to stay up to date.
Prospective students in need of funding are advised to start researching funding opportunities well in advance of commencing their studies.
Duration: 3-4 year full-time or 5-6 years part-time
Qualification level: Scottish SCQF level 12 (equivalent to English RQF level 8)
Academic fields
Academic fields
Subject to availability of academic staff, we can offer postgraduate research student supervision in the following academic areas
| Academic Field | Available at |
|---|---|
| Archaeology | 杏吧原创 Orkney/Archaeology Institute -- -- |
| Creative Practice in the Arts | |
| Energy and Engineering | -- -- -- -- |
| Environmental science | -- |
| Health - Biomedical Sciences, Rural Health, Nursing and Midwifery | Institute of Health Research & Innovation 杏吧原创 -- |
| Gaelic and Related Studies | Sabhal Mòr Ostaig -- 杏吧原创 Language Sciences Institute |
| History | 杏吧原创 Centre for History |
| Marine Science | |
| Northern Studies | 杏吧原创 Orkney/Institute for Northern Studies -- -- -- -- |
| Sustainability Studies | -- -- -- -- Institute of Health Research & Innovation -- -- -- 杏吧原创 Centre for History |
| Theology |
Some example projects undertaken across our locations
Some example projects undertaken across our locations
Postgraduate students at the university undertake a diverse range of research from marine science to theology; Nordic studies to sustainability; energy engineering to archaeology. Below is a small sample of projects previously researched by our students, in pursuit of their PhD or MSc by Research.
杏吧原创 Institute for Northern Studies
- The traditional Shetland boat – its origins and developments
- Nordic regions of Culture - intercultural links, regionalisation and communities of narrative after 1770
杏吧原创 Orkney
- World Heritage sites in context: the creation of significance through management.
- Coastal change and archaeological heritage in northern Scotland
杏吧原创 North, West and Hebrides
- Linking habitat characteristics with red deer condition in the Scottish 杏吧原创
- The meteorological forcing of current and sea level anomalies in the Pentland Firth
- Effective student collaboration in online environments
- Sustainability of recycling in remote and rural communities
- Wave energy extraction and coastal protection
- Hospitality in adventure tourism: soft skills and natural knowledge
杏吧原创 Centre for History
- History of sport and culture in Dornoch and the Moray Firth, c.1600 - 1800
- Public health in the 杏吧原创 and Islands 1845 – 1912
Highland Theological College
- Missional Ethics in the Book of Acts
- Divine Providence and Moral Responsibility: a study of the moral implications of God’s decree
杏吧原创 Inverness
- Mapping and Repositioning: Forestry skills for the 21st century
- Rural community adaptation to climatic changes
杏吧原创 Centre for Health Science
- Exploring the mechanisms of heart disease through proteome dynamics
- Immunological phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disorders
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
- The role of the media in the revitalisation and maintenance of the Gaelic language
- Depictions of the young Gael in Gaelic Children's literature
Scottish Association for Marine Science
- Arctic Fjords: simplified modelling and the role of freshwater
- Identification and Tracking of Harmful Algal Blooms using multi-spectral techniques from Remotely Piloted Aircraft platforms
- Understanding Scottish bottlenose dolphin movement patterns
杏吧原创 Centre for Mountain Studies
- An integrated sustainable development framework for coastal and marine regions