Application FAQs

To start your application, please begin by clicking here and clicking the ‘apply now’ button at the top of the page.

In the ‘find a programme’ search bar, please search for ‘Robotics and Autonomous Systems (FARSCOPE CDT) (PhD)’

Please ignore the options of applying for January 2023 and 2024 start dates. Each new cohort starts the programme in September.

If you are given a mandatory field asking for proposed supervisors and research topic, for proposed supervisor please put Helmut Hauser and Manuel Guiliani, and for research topic please put ‘FARSCOPE CDT’.

If you need to upload a research statement, please simply upload a blank document.

Please do not worry if you have already completed this section with other information.

Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of an upper second-class honours degree in an engineering, physics, mathematics or related subject. Other disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students who have completed the University of Bristol MSc Robotics programme may be considered for direct entry into the second year of the FARSCOPE programme. Admission is subject to interview, including a qualifying presentation on research.

For information on international equivalent qualifications, please refer to the UoB International Office website.

There is no need to contact potential supervisors or have a research proposal ready in advance of applying for or joining the FARSCOPE programme. You will have the opportunity to come up with your own research topic and find a supervisor in your first year on the programme, as the first year is a taught year.

If the application portal requires you to upload a research statement, please simply upload a blank document.

If you are given a mandatory field asking for proposed supervisors and research topic, for proposed supervisor please put Helmut Hauser and Manuel Guiliani, and for research topic please put ‘FARSCOPE CDT’.

For applicants whose first language is not English, and whose full undergraduate degree was not taught in an English-speaking country, it is necessary to hold/achieve a minimum score in an approved English language test as specified in Profile E of the University's English Language Requirements Policy.

Applicants do not need to have reached the required level of English language before applying. If necessary, English language will be included as a condition of offer.

Applicants have the option to undertake one of the University’s Pre-sessional English courses. You can find information about the University of Bristol's Pre-Sessional English courses at the Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies website.

The application deadline is Monday 12th December 2022 to be considered in the first round of interviews which will take place between 23rd to 27th January 2023. 

The application deadline to be considered for the second round of interviews is Wednesday 1st March 2023. These interviews will take place between 3rd to 7th April 2023.

Please note that these interview dates may be subject to minor changes depending upon applicant and staff availability.

If you have submitted an application through the UoB application system and have a question about it please get in touch with us through farscope-cdt@bristol.ac.uk

If you have additional information or supporting documents that you wish to add to a submitted applciation it is possible to add these by logging into the application web portal. Guidance on uploading additional documents can be found here - http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/supporting-documents/

If you have any issues adding additional information contact farscope-cdt@bristol.ac.uk

The personal statement should include details of your academic background and any relevant experience and/or skills. You should also demonstrate your motivation for undertaking robotics and multidisciplinary research, as well as breadth of interest within the field of robotics and autonomous systems.

The documents required for your application to be considered are:

Two academic references (minimum)
Degree Certificates (from first and subsequent degrees)
Academic Transcripts (from first and subsequent degrees)
Personal Statement
English Language Certificates (for applicants for whom English is not the native language)

Optional Documents:

CV
Additional References (E.g. industrial/placement)
Research Training Statement

Additional information on the document requirements can be found in the "Documents Required" section of the Admissions Statement

We welcome applications from those with non-standard qualifications who can demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills developed in the workplace, or elsewhere, relevant to the programme of study. Please use your personal statement to provide further details.

Non-standard applications will be considered by the Admissions Tutor(s) for the programme on a case by case basis.

For UoB, UWE and EPSRC funded places tuition fees are paid in full and there is a tax free stipend which is set by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). For the 2022/23 intake this is £16,062. In addition students are given a PhD research budget to help with travel and equipment costs.

Industrially funded students may receive a top-up on their stipend which will be listed on the advertisement.

For students joining in September 2021 and beyond FARSCOPE is able to offer a limited number (up to 30%) of funded places to international students. The funding for these will cover fees, stipend and a budget for research costs (equipment/conferences etc).

In addition to this there are some University of Bristol linked scholarships that international students may be eligible for. Details of these can be found -

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fees-funding/search/

Industry funded FARSCOPE places will be advertised separately when these become available.

For funded FARSCOPE places the tuition fees are covered.

More details can be found - http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/

There are no bench fees for the FARSCOPE programme.