Centre for Doctoral Training - Sensing, Processing, and AI for Defence and Security PhD with Integrated Study

The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University jointly host a Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) Programme focusing on generation after next technologies for information processing in defence & security, spanning the entire range from hardware development to algorithmic AI development.

The SPADS doctoral programme is designed to train the next generation of defence scientists. This includes engineers, computer scientists, and mathematicians. These professionals will lead the way in pioneering information and communication technologies. Such advancements are set to revolutionise not only defence and security but also wider society.

The programme will address the underpinning interconnected technology and sensing modalities working across multiple sensing domains, leveraging advances in autonomy, embedded systems, and AI across both software/algorithms and hardware.

SPADS graduates will leave with substantial knowledge and experience:

• a solid understanding of fundamental concepts from hardware and sensing and processing to software (provided via an intensive taught course)
• cutting-edge knowledge in a specialisation of their choosing
• practical experience of research
  • a solid understanding of the ethics of research & development
  • invaluable contacts with UK industry
  • connections with an entire cohort of future leaders in research & development

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering, or in an appropriate subject or a related discipline.

Students with significant industrial experience, or with relevant professional qualifications, who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject will be given due consideration on a case-by-case basis.

One of the conditions of funding is for all those who have accepted offers to undergo basic recruitment checks in keeping with the core principles of the UK government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard screening (BPSS). For further information about this process, please see the CDT SPADS website.

• School of Engineering CDT SPADS

Please note that if you require an ATAS certificate to work and/or study in the UK you will not be eligible for this programme. Please check the * UK government website for a list of nationalities that do not require ATAS certification.*

*(Revised 11/11/2024 to update information on eligibility.)

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

SPADS seeks to build a lasting and sustainable talent pipeline for supplying UK defence contractors and government institutions (Dstl, AWE) and academic research facilities with major defence activity.

It is co-designed with the defence and security industry to address the need for training graduates in a diverse range of engineering techniques and research, forging them into capable researchers and developers through training on industry, government, and academia-led defence projects.

Students will do placements and all students will have strong post-PhD employment opportunities.

SPADS will have a close relationship with the MoD and Dstl, who wish to maximise the benefit of the Centre through engagement with their Research Portfolio, and are invested in achieving our training aspirations in SPADS through placements in Dstl’s labs and wider, building research networks, developing training opportunities.