United Kingdom · Fully funded
Fully Funded PhD in Cyber Security at the University of Edinburgh 2027
Updated 8 October 2026
The University of Edinburgh in Scotland is home to one of the UK's leading computer science schools, the School of Informatics. Its PhD in Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust trains researchers to tackle problems like secure systems, privacy protection and trustworthy technology. According to the university, most PhD students in Informatics receive full scholarships covering tuition fees and living costs.
Good to know: there isn't one single "cyber security scholarship" at Edinburgh. PhD students are funded through School of Informatics scholarships and research scholarships for international students. Funding is competitive, and the 2027 funding deadlines haven't been announced yet. Applications for the PhD itself are open all year.
About the PhD
- Degree: PhD in Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust
- Length: 3 years full-time (part-time options also exist)
- Start dates: several during the year
- School: School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh
- No application fee
Funding available
The PhD programme page lists:
- School of Informatics scholarships for research students
- Research scholarships for international students
- Other University scholarships, some of which need a separate application through the University's scholarships portal
Full scholarships usually cover tuition fees and living costs. For reference, the university estimates living costs in Edinburgh at about £18,504 a year (around £1,542 a month).
Who can apply
- A UK 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent in computer science, mathematics, linguistics or a related subject
- A master's in information security, cyber security or a closely related field is recommended
- English: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in each component, or an equivalent accepted test. A degree taught in English may also be accepted, subject to conditions.
How to apply
- Find a supervisor or an advertised project. Edinburgh asks applicants to identify one before applying, so browse the School of Informatics research groups in security and privacy.
- Apply for the PhD on the official programme page. There's no fee.
- Apply for scholarships. Check the School of Informatics and University scholarship pages, and submit any separate scholarship applications on the portal.
Apply early. Scholarship decisions are usually made well before the start date, and you need an application in place to be considered.
Documents you'll usually need
- Research proposal
- CV
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- References
- English test result, if required
Tips for a strong application
- Contact a potential supervisor first with a short email, your CV and a one-page research idea.
- Make your research proposal specific to cyber security, privacy or trust, and connect it to your supervisor's work. Read our guide on how to write a research proposal.
- Show research experience: a master's thesis, publications or security projects all help.
Want feedback on your proposal? Book a review.