Microsoft Research Cambridge is now accepting applications from suitably qualified students into the Microsoft PhD Scholarship Programme for PhD students. It is a fully funded scholarship. Scroll down to read in details.
About Microsoft PhD Scholarship Programme
Contents
Microsoft scholarships provide PhD supervisors and students with an annual bursary of up to three years to work on joint research projects with Microsoft Research Cambridge.
PhD supervisors from academic institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are asked to submit proposals for joint research projects with Microsoft Research Cambridge each year.
Following that, applications are peer-assessed, and a selection of projects is chosen for financing. PhD students are assigned to the selected projects and begin their study the following academic year, with co-supervision from a Microsoft Research Cambridge researcher.
Since its inception in 2004, the Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship Program in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) has funded over 200 PhD candidates from over 18 countries and 51 institutions.
They may also give some Scholars an internship in one of Microsoft Research’s laboratories, at Microsoft Research’s exclusive discretion. Internships entail working on a project with and alongside a Microsoft research team. Besides their scholarship, they compensate scholars during their internship.
Funding
Each Microsoft scholarship comprises an annual bursary up to a maximum of three years or a maximum of four years for an EPSRC CASE award. The monetary value of the award varies by country to reflect local differences in costs and overheads.
Payment is made directly to the institution. The amount of the scholarship is the maximum amount Microsoft Research pays to the institution. In addition, every scholar receives a fixed hardware allowance and conference allowance.
- By applying, the PI and university or research institute will accept the PhD Term Sheet as the basis for the scholarship.
- Microsoft has a pool of CASE awards that may apply. In these circumstances, EPSRC Term Sheet will apply.
Microsoft PhD Scholarship Programme Eligibility.
1. Applications must not be made by students but by PhD supervisors, who must have been nominated by Microsoft Research prior to the submission deadline.
2. Only applications from institutions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will be considered.
For an application to be considered, the following key requirements apply:
1. The institute agrees with the terms and conditions in the PhD Term Sheet and EPSRC Term Sheet where appropriate and there will be no negotiation once the selections have been made and communicated.
2. Applicants must be nominated by a Microsoft supervisor to be eligible to submit an application.
The proposed research must be closely related to our research themes at Microsoft Research in Cambridge:
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- All Data AI
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Confidential Computing
- Future of Work
- Game Intelligence
- Healthcare Intelligence
- Biological Computation
Microsoft actively seeks to foster greater levels of diversity in its workforce and in its pipeline of future researchers. They are always looking for the best and brightest talent and pride themselves on their individuality.
Microsoft PhD Scholarship Benefits.
1. Microsoft scholarships comprise an annual bursary up to a maximum of three years for PhD supervisors and students to do collaborative research projects with Microsoft Research Cambridge
2. The monetary value of the award varies by country to reflect local differences in costs and overheads. Payment is made directly to the institution. The amount of the scholarship is the maximum amount Microsoft Research pays to the institution. In addition, every scholar receives a fixed hardware allowance and conference allowance.
Microsoft PhD Scholarship Programme Selection Criteria
The research project proposal should address the following points:
1. Evidence that the research supervisor would be suitable for supervising a PhD student for the proposed research project. This may include a shortlist of the supervisor’s recent and relevant publications. Please consider including the URLs of the publications to make it easier for reviewers to find them.
2. How research relates to the Microsoft Research Cambridge lab’s current research themes.
3. Evidence that the department or laboratory offers a suitable environment for research in the proposed area.
4. The basis for the research (motivations and brief state-of-the-art, including key references).
5. The hypothesis under investigation and primary aims.
6. Research strategy with significant milestones if identified.
7. Methods of research (for example, fundamental techniques, experiments, and trials).
8. Details of any collaboration with other departments/research bodies.
9. Expected outcomes (for example, software tools).
10. Description of the department that you work in (e.g. the number of faculty and PhD students in the department).
Microsoft PhD Scholarship Programme Key Dates
For the application process:
1. Online submission opens: September 15
2. Application deadline: November 5
3. Notification of results: Stage 1 by the end of October and Stage 2 by the end of January
For Successful Applicants:
4. PhD Agreements sent to Institutes by February 16
5. Signed PhD. Agreements were returned to MSR via Docusign by June 30.
6. PhD students to be appointed by March 31
Microsoft actively seeks to foster greater levels of diversity in our workforce and in our pipeline of future researchers. We are always looking for the best and brightest talent and celebrate individuality. We invite candidates to come as they are and do what they love.
How to Apply
Applications should contain:
1. A completed online application form that includes contact details of the main supervisor together with a named secondary supervisor who will take the project on if the main named supervisor leaves.
2. Funding requirements.
3. A project proposal of a maximum of six (6) A4 pages in 10-point font, including references. Accepted formats: plain text (.txt), .pdf, or Microsoft Office Word (.doc or. docs) only.
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