The PhD by Distance mode allows students who are unable to or do not wish to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh to study for a PhD in one of ECA’s subject areas from their home country or city.
What’s involved?
The PhD by Distance mode is available to all applicants for eligible ECA PhD programmes, who will apply via the Postgraduate Degree Finder. Applicants will select between on-campus and distance options, as well as between part-time and full-time options.
Students enrolled on the PhD by Distance mode will not be expected to come to Edinburgh to study but visits for particular activities (tutorials, annual reviews, research training courses, workshops, etc) can be considered on a case-by-case basis and within UKVI visa regulations.
It is however expected that PhD by Distance students will come to Edinburgh for their oral (viva voce) examination, although options for online vivas may be considered on a case-by-case basis. For practice-based students, how practical work will be shared with supervisors will be explored in detail at the point of application by both subject area PGR Director and potential supervisor(s); in-person presentation of work (such as a musical performance) may occasionally be necessary. Access to studios and workshops for PhD by Distance students will be limited, as these require to be prioritised for on-campus students.
PhD by Distance students will receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students but with supervisory sessions taking place via Teams, Zoom, or another video conferencing platform, rather than on-campus and in-person. The frequency with which students will meet with their supervisors will be provisionally agreed at the point of application and confirmed during induction. Supervisors (and examiners) will not make site visits to PhD by Distance students.
There are no mandatory courses for ECA PhD students. A range of generic and specific research methods and skills training courses are available online from university.
PhD by Distance students will have access to all University of Edinburgh support services and will be able to access online library resources/support and home use software through University site licenses in the same way that all students can.
Please be aware that some scholarships and funding are not open to PhD by Distance applicants, for example AHRC regulations currently state that students must live within a reasonable distance from their University so are only eligible for applicants to on-campus PhD programmes.
What programmes are available by Distance?
All PhD programmes at ECA have the PhD by Distance option, with full-time or part-time study.
The programmes are:
Potential New Programme
We would like to hear your views on a potential new postgraduate opportunity in ‘Post Digital Craft’. Please fill out our short survey.
