Funding your MPhil/PhD
The Department of Informatics currently has 50 PhD students, 31 of whom are sponsored or have scholarships or grants of one kind or another.
We know that funding is one of the biggest contributing factors in the decision to embark on a research degree. However, competition is tough. It is very important to bear in mind that all scholarships, bursaries or other awards are offered on a competitive basis, many have strict criteria and most are overrun with applicants.
This is why we have created this page to help potential MPhil/PhD students start the process of funding their degree and get them on the road to their doctorate.
College-wide Funding Schemes
You can find information on the College postgraduate webpages.
EPSRC DTA Studentships
The Department usually allocates 2-4 EPSRC Doctoral Training Account studentships per academic year. These studentships cover the standard period of completion of our research programmes (i.e. 3 years) and start on 1 October of each year.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a full studentship (stipend plus fees), applicants must be a UK resident for a period of 3 years immediately prior to the date of application for an award. Residents of other member states of the European Union are eligible for fees-only awards. Applicants from outside the European Union are not eligible for support from the EPSRC DTA grant.
Note that these are the basic criteria imposed by the EPSRC. We will check all applicants for eligibility.
Application process
The Department has now awarded all EPSRC DTA studentships for the academic year 2012/2013 and successful candidates have been contacted.
The next competition for EPSRC DTA will be held in Spring 2013.
The Department will consider all eligible applicants who applied for entry to our PhD programme, and whose application has been processed and accepted, before 1 May 2013.
Note that a separate application must be made to apply for the MPhil/PhD programme: click here for further details on how to apply for the programme.
Once you have received an unconditional or conditional offer to start in autumn 2013, please email your name, surname and Student ID number (to be found at the top-left corner of the offer letter) to the Senior Programmes Administrator, Claudia Mazzoncini (claudia.mazzoncini@kcl.ac.uk), stating your intention to be considered for EPSRC DTA funding.
Only successful candidates will be contacted before 1 July 2013. TO NOTE: due to delays, this date has now been amended to 1 August 2013.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) scheme
The Department usually allocates 2-4 GTAs per academic year. As GTAs combine research studies with a limited amount of practical teaching, their length is of up to 4 years, starting from the date of enrolment.
These posts provide an exciting opportunity to both study an MPhil/PhD programme and gain valuable experience as a teaching assistant, as well as taking advantage of training and development opportunities along the way.
Eligibility
For 2013/14, the Department of Informatics is offering two Home/EU and two international GTA posts.
Applicants should meet the standard MPhil/PhD entry requirements and have an interest in degree-level teaching.
The post holder will need to be registered as an MPhil/PhD student within the Department of Informatics. Note that a separate application must be made to apply for the MPhil/PhD programme: click here for further details on how to apply for the programme.
Application process
The post holder will need to be registered as an MPhil/PhD student within the Department of Informatics. Note that a separate application must be made to apply for the MPhil/PhD programme: click here for further details on how to apply for the programme.
Please ensure that you have already applied for the MPhil/PhD programme when applying for a Graduate Teaching Assistant post, or we will not be able to guarantee that you will be taken into consideration.
Post advertisement:
Jobs at King's
www.jobs.ac.uk - not advertised as yet
The closing date for receipt of applications is 21 June 2013 - interviews will be held on 11 July 2013.
Equality of opportunity is College policy.
Further details
Training and mentoring in teaching and learning in higher education will be provided, and successful candidates will be required to undertake the King’s Learning Institute’s Preparing to Teach course and Enhancing Academic Practice module. There is also the opportunity to complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Higher Education.
Stipend & Salary
As a GTA, you will receive a total combined stipend and salary award of £15,726 per annum. Note that this split into two parts: a stipend of £10,000 per year and a salary of £5,726 per year. Your tuition fees (EU/Home or Overseas), will be paid by the School for up to four years from enrolment on your MPhil/PhD programme.
In return, you will be expected to undertake an average of six hours of teaching-related activity per week throughout the year, as well as completing the required training and development opportunities outlined above. Receipt of this stipend and salary is subject to you undertaking teaching duties for the duration of your MPhil/PhD studies.