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FAQ for PhD positions

• Q: What are the current options for doing a PhD in your lab?

  A: We recruit PhD students in a continuous way. There are various options for joining the lab.

• School PhD studentship. Open usually at the beginning of the year.

• Industry-sponsored PhD studentship from our collaborating industrial partners. Open for application anytime.

• Self-funded PhD option (we can provide stipend and research budget, while you will pay your tuition fee). Email me first.

• Q: I emailed you about possible PhD positions, but didn't hear you back.

A: Sorry about this. I am keeping getting a large volume of emails about this. Please email me again after several weeks. Also, please read this FAQ, as most of your questions can be answered here.

• Q: Do you have fully funded PhD studentships for UK students?

A: Yes, we have fully funded PhD studentships for candidates of any nationality. Typically, they are open for application around November. Please see the Q1 for details. 

• Q: Do you have fully funded PhD studentships for international students?

A: Yes, we have fully funded PhD studentships for candidates of any nationality. Typically, they are open for application around November. Please see the Q1. 

• Q: Do you require English language tests?

A: Yes, the University has a general guideline about this. Some programs require a higher level: IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 7 in writing and 6.5 other sections) or TOEFL 100 overall (with not less than 25 in writing, and 22 other sections). 

• Q: Do I need to have a MS degree to apply for the PhD study?

A: Academic Entry requirements are UK Bachelor Degree or equivalent with 1st Class Honours or if holding a UK Bachelor Degree at 2:1 then a Masters’ Degree with Distinction or equivalent is also required. So you do not need a MS if your BS is with 1st Class (roughly above 70%). Otherwise, you will need a MS with Distinction (roughly above 70%).

• Q: When should I prepare the application?

A: The application is running all year. Depending on your situation and the funding sources, please get in touch when you are ready. 

• Q: What are you studying? Can I bring my ideas for a possible PhD project?

A: Yes, you are welcome to bring your ideas and projects. We encourage our team members to explore freely. We are working on a wide range of topics in machine learning, together with many collaborators worldwide. Please find our current research topics here. Depending on the interest of each member in our lab, we set up a personal plan to maximize her potential. I am sure that you can find your fit well in our lab.

• Q: How many papers should I publish to get my PHD?

A: We don't have specific requirements for this. You could graduate without any publication. However, remember that you are putting effort here towards your PHD study and you need some evidence showing that you can graduate and find a job afterward. So you are self-motivated for publications. Certainly, I would like to help you to publish your works whenever they are ready. One or more publications, as you can imagine, will help you find a new position, either academic or industrial.   

• Q: How many years do I need to get my PHD?

A: In the UK, a PhD study usually takes 3 years to go. Some studentships offer a 3.5-year or 4-year period of study time. But mostly, a typical period is 3 years. There is a 4th year, called write-up year, during which you can finish up your thesis writing. For a part-time PHD, it typically takes you five years.

• Q: I would like to know the lab more. Importantly, I want to know if you (the PI) are easy-going or tough.

A: I can barely recommend myself to you. Please get in touch with our lab fellows. I am sure they have a lot of things to share with you.