Each year, PhD supervisors from academic institutions in EMEA are invited to submit their proposals for collaborative research projects with Microsoft Research Cambridge. Applications are then peer reviewed and a number of projects selected for funding. PhD students are appointed to the selected projects and begin their research in the following academic year under the supervision of their academic supervisor, with co-supervision from a researcher at Microsoft Research Cambridge.
The Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship Programme in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) was launched in 2004 and has so far supported more than 200 PhD students from more than 18 countries and 51 institutions.
Some of the Scholars may also be offered—at the sole discretion of Microsoft Research—an internship in one of the Microsoft Research laboratories. Internships involve working on a project alongside and as part of a team of Microsoft researchers. Scholars are paid during their internship—in addition to their scholarship bursary. Interested Scholars can apply through the Microsoft Research careers page.
Current schedule
For 2020 Applications
- Nominations from Microsoft Researchers Open August 30, 2019 and close September 21, 2019 17:00 GMT
- Faculty nominees receive a request to submit their proposal September 24, 2019
- Proposals accepted through November 5, 2019 17:00 GMT
- Recipients announced by January 31, 2020
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.
Eligibility criteria
Applications must not be made by students but by PhD supervisors, who must have been nominated by Microsoft Research prior to the submission deadline. 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:
- The institute agrees to 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.
- 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:
- 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 our workforce and in our pipeline of future researchers. We are always looking for the best and brightest talent and pride ourselves on our individuality.
Funding
Each Microsoft scholarship consists of 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 is willing to 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.
PhD Contractual Information – update for this year
All PhD Agreements, Student Description Forms and Visitor Agreements will be issued via our online contracting processing service – Docusign
In our efforts to reduce paper consumption and the amount of time shipping agreements can often take, we will be utilizing an online contract processing service, Docusign for execution of all PhD Agreements. This tool allows for the collection of legally verifiable eSignatures from designated authorized signers simultaneously. Once the agreement is signed in full, all parties on the record receive the fully executed PDF document via email for their files.
If your organization is not comfortable electronically signing agreements the tool still allows for you to download the agreement, print, sign, scan and upload back into the tool. Once uploaded the agreement will be routed to the next signer on the list and again once signed in full, a fully executed PDF will be sent to all parties.
Further information will be sent once the selection has been made.
Note: All intellectual property rights associated with funded PhD projects are subject to the terms and conditions in the PhD Term Sheet and EPSRC Term Sheet where appropriate.
Application process
Applications must be submitted by academic institutions, such as from a PhD supervisor or departmental secretary as we do not accept applications from students directly.
- Selection Criteria
Applications should contain the following:The research project proposal should address the following points:
Applications must be complete, submitted online, and received by 17:00 GMT November 5, 2019 deadline to be considered. Proposals received after this deadline will not be considered.
Selection process
Applications are sent for comprehensive review to Microsoft internal reviewers only. Ranking depends on review feedback. Other factors, such as relevance to Microsoft research themes, are taken into account for the selection.
Decisions are made solely at the discretion of Microsoft Research and all decisions are final.
Applicants for the 2020 Programme (PhD supervisors) have until 31st March 2021 to propose the best and most suitable student possible to carry out the proposed research project.