Practice-Based Design

project.

Additional information

The practice-based component of the MPhil / PhD is expected to conform to the stipulations attached to all forms of research. The Arts and Humanities Research Council, a major funder of postgraduate research students, defines a research project as meeting the following requirements:

• It must define a series of research questions that will be addressed, or problems that will be explored in the course of the research. It must also define its objectives in terms of answering these questions or reporting on the results of the research project.
• It must specify a research context for the questions to be addressed or problems to be explored, showing what particular contribution the research will make to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in the area concerned. It must specify why it is important that these particular questions should be answered or problems explored; what other research is being or has been conducted in this area; and what particular contribution this project will make to the advancement of creativity, insights, knowledge and understanding in this area.
• It must specify the research methods for addressing and answering the research questions or problems. It should also explain the rationale for the chosen methods and why they provide the most appropriate means by which to answer the research questions.

Programme Structure

We welcome applications that fit into the School’s research themes:

• Archive
• Colour Science and Technology
• Design Innovation
• Drawing
• Educational Innovation
• Fashion
• Knit Design and Manufacture
• Textile Design and Clothing Manufacture
• Textile Science And Technology

Admission requirements

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL® IBT — TOEFL iBT® is accepted by more than 13,000 universities and other institutions in over 160 countries. The test can be taken at a test center or at home. The test measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The score refers to the total score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading), each subject has a range of 0 - 30. OR 85

Other requirements

General requirements

• Academic transcript (if you haven't graduated yet, please include your transcript to date).
• A copy of the picture page of your passport if you are an international student.
• Your degree certificate.
• Evidence of English language if English is not your first language.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

• International — International tuition fees apply to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the study country. In some regions, like the EU/EEA, or under certain agreements, students from partner countries may also pay domestic fees. Non-residents: 37,259 AUD / year (≈ 19,816 GBP / year)
• Domestic — Tuition fee for the domestic students. Citizens or residents: 9,413 AUD / year (≈ 5,006 GBP / year)

Living costs

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

1,363-2,194 AUD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Practice-Based Design.

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

• Staff Scholarships — Grant, Various benefits, Deadline Not specified (Provided by university, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
• Funds For Women Graduates (FFWG) — Grant, Various benefits, Deadline Not specified (Provided by university, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
• Heriot-Watt Sport Scholarships — Grant, Various benefits, Deadline Not specified (Merit-based, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program — Grant, Various benefits, Deadline 07 Oct 2026 (Independent provider, U.S. government)
• ServiceScape Scholarship — Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 30 Nov 2026 (Independent provider, ServiceScape)
• ACES Scholarships — Grant, 3500 USD, Deadline 15 Nov 2026 (Independent provider, ACES Education Fund)
• Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility — Grant, Various benefits, Deadline Not specified (Independent provider, OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation)
• Scholarships for PhD Students — Grant, 19000 GBP, Deadline Not specified (Independent provider, Junhua Li)
• Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship — Grant, Various benefits, Deadline 28 Feb 2027 (Independent provider, Boustany Foundation)
• Amberscholar Scholarship — Grant, 6000 USD, Deadline 31 Jan 2027 (Independent provider, Amber Scholar)
• $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship — Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 31 Oct 2026 (Independent provider, IvyPanda)
• Voice Talent Online Scholarship — Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 01 Mar 2027 (Independent provider, Voice Talent Online)
• Dream Chaser Scholarship — Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 13 Jan 2027 (Independent provider, Salvado Law)
• Scholarship for students with disabilities — Grant, 3000 USD, Deadline 31 Dec 2026 (Independent provider, Anonymous Hope Fund)
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids — Grant, 22500 GBP, Deadline Not specified (Independent provider, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO))
• The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship — Grant, 1500 USD, Deadline Not specified (Independent provider, IELTS from 6 to 9)
• Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — Grant, 12000 USD, Deadline 11 Jan 2027 (Independent provider, The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme)