EPCC: High Performance Computing, Computational & Data Science, Software Engineering PhD

EPCC (formerly the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre) offers the opportunity to study for a PhD in areas related to High Performance Computing, Computational & Data Science, Software Engineering & Sustainability, and Parallelism.

Founded in 1990, EPCC is one of the leading supercomputing centres in Europe and a major provider of training in high performance computing. EPCC’s expertise includes advanced research, technology transfer, commercial consultancy and the provision of supercomputing and data services to academia and business.

EPCC hosts an exceptional collection of high-performance and novel computing facilities including, on behalf of UKRI, 'ARCHER2', the UK’s Tier-1 research supercomputer. Other systems include the Arm-based 'Fulhame' system as part of the Catalyst UK programme and the heterogeneous (CPU/GPU) 'Cirrus' system, a national Tier-2 HPC service. EPCC will also host, as part of the Edinburgh International Data Facility (EIDF), host the first European deployment of a Cerebras CS-1 High Performance AI Computer.

• ARCHER2
• Fulhame
• Cirrus
• EIDF

EPCC has a team of experienced researchers with a wealth of expertise in the latest technologies. We have active research interests in various and varied areas including:

• Computational modelling, including computational fluid dynamics
• Programming models and software for future HPC systems
• Performance characterisation and benchmarking
• HPC at the Exascale level
• Big Data and Data Science at scale
• Software Sustainability
• Quantum Computing for HPC
• FPGAs and novel hardware

Our software specialists have an impressive portfolio of projects, including many industrial applications. We work at the forefront of the field, for example through our leadership of the UK’s Software Sustainability Institute, ensuring that today’s new software continues to be improved and supported in the future.

At any time EPCC may be working on dozens or more nationally and/or internationally significant projects often in collaboration with academia, industry, or both. For up to date examples please visit our website.

Learn more about our current projects

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 a subject relevant to your project, typically one of: computational science (physics, biology, chemistry), cognitive science, artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, informatics, data science, engineering, or geosciences.

We may also consider a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in fields such as linguistics, philosophy, or psychology if a relevant project is available.

You should be a competent to strong programmer in a language (or languages) relevant to your chosen project, typically at least one of C, C++, Java, Fortran, or Python. Individual projects may contain specific requirements relating to their topic.

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

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

• Academic Technology Approval Scheme

Graduates from EPCC have found rewarding employment across an immensely wide range of areas including:

• EPCC and University of Edinburgh
• other major supercomputing centres in the US and Europe
• defence industry
• medical imaging sector
• gaming industry