IDCORE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

IDCORE is very attractive to students with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) backgrounds and we receive around 100 applicants each year for the 10 places offered.

The infographic shows the gender, basic ethnicity detail and the first degrees of the 40 students we have recruited between 2019 and 2022. We have achieved this by using:

• clear selection guidelines
• an open and transparent process
• interviews with a mixed panel and standard questions
• having a broad selection of projects and supervisors available so that students can choose research topics after they have joined the programme.

We are proud of our EDI achievements but aim to go further. Our ambition is to have 50% female students and a diverse ethnic community representative of the UK population.

How to apply for 2024 entry

**OVERSEAS AND EU APPLICANTS**

UPDATE MARCH 2024: PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OVERSEAS AND EU PLACES HAVE BEEN FILLED - PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE AN OVERSEAS OR EU CANDIDATE - YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

We are now accepting applications for September 2024 entry.     

Applications are made online using the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder. Please select September 2024 as the entry point and click on the Apply button.

Application notes - please read before starting your application:

• Please note that in place of the “Research Plan” document requested, you are required to upload a Cover Letter: a single A4 page explaining why you think IDCORE should offer you a place.
• Please also upload a CV (with an appropriate filename) to any of the upload fields. Alternatively, please email your CV to idcore.admin@ed.ac.uk after you have submitted your application.
• You can leave the Personal Statement window blank if all information is included in your Cover Letter. 
• You can leave the Relevant Knowledge/Training window blank if all information is included in your CV. 
• Please leave the Research Proposal window blank and do not nominate a supervisor.  
• If you are an overseas student applying with your own funding, please provide details when prompted. Otherwise, please leave all funding questions blank. 
• Some web browsers may not allow you to leave a field blank - if this is the case please enter 'n/a'.
• Two references are required: Ideally one should be an academic reference and the other a recent employer reference. References must be dated within the last 12 months, signed and on letter-headed paper.

Funding

Full EPSRC funding, which includes fees and an enhanced stipend, is available for UK students. We do have a small provision to be able to award funding to overseas and EU students and we will welcome overseas and EU applications.  Please note that competition for overseas funding will be very high.  If you have questions about your eligibility, then please contact idcore.admin@ed.ac.uk.

**OVERSEAS AND EU APPLICANTS**

UPDATE MARCH 2024: PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OVERSEAS AND EU PLACES HAVE BEEN FILLED - PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE AN OVERSEAS OR EU CANDIDATE - YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

If eligible for funding and you are accepted to the programme, funding will automatically be allocated - there is no separate application for funding.

We also welcome overseas applicants who have sourced their own funding, perhaps from their home country government or similar. Please note that the funding you secure must cover Overseas tuition fees plus your living costs in the UK for at least 4 years. Please indicate the source of funding in your application.

The IDCORE Interview

If you have submitted an application which meets IDCORE’s quality threshold you will be invited to attend an interview, either online or in Edinburgh. We normally hold interviews on a monthly basis, starting in, or before, December.

Interviews are conducted by a panel of academics from the Universities of Edinburgh, Exeter and Strathclyde together with an industrial panel member. Each candidate will be asked to present an 8 minute oral talk entitled “state of the art in offshore renewable energy” (PowerPoint slides are not permitted) and will then be asked about their experience through a series of standarised questions. Excellent candidates are able to show passion and enthusiasm during the interview and provide compelling evidence of why they want to join IDCORE.

Places are offered to candidates who the panel feel would make excellent IDCORE students. Decisions are made on the day and normally communicated to candidates within one week of the interview.

The interview day also provides an opportunity for candidates to learn more about the programme and, if in-person, to see some of the facilities in Edinburgh.

Closing date

We will continue to review applications, and invite suitable candidates to interview, until all 10 places are filled. This may mean that all positions may be filled as early as spring. Please do not delay your application.