Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship Application

Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship Application

Get details on how to apply for a Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship.

The Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship Programme recognises and supports exceptional students who show the potential to make an outstanding contribution to science and computing.

The programme supports PhD students in computing and those working at the intersection of computing and the sciences. Joint applications by two supervisors from different disciplines are encouraged, but not essential.

Important Changes to the Programme

We have changed our selection process. Starting June 2007, our selection is based on the proposed research topic, the research track of the supervisor in the field, and the research environment provided by the host research institution. Supervisors of selected projects will have up to one year from our notification to find the best and most suitable student for the proposed project. We have also extended the list of eligible countries.

Eligibility Criteria

We will usually only consider one application per university department or per laboratory of a national research institution.

Only applications from the following countries will be considered: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany (see note below), Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (see note below), Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Only applications in one of the following research areas will be considered:

* Computational Biology
* Computational Ecology and Environment Science
* Computer-Mediated Living (including Integrated Systems, Sensors and Devices, and Socio-Digital Systems)
* Constraint Reasoning
* Machine Learning and Perception (including Applied Games, Computer Vision, Information Retrieval, and Machine Learning)
* Natural Computation
* Programming Principles and Tools (including Security)
* Systems and Networking (including Distributed Systems, Networking, and Operating Systems)

Applications may only be submitted through the online application system.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted in English and in electronic form only through the online application system at http://microsoft.redwhale.com/. After you create an application in the online application system, you can modify it at any time before the application deadline.

Applications should contain the following:

* An online Web form that includes contact details of supervisors and possible reviewers
* A project proposal of maximum three (3) A4 pages in 10-point font, including references.

The research project proposal should address the following points:

* Evidence that the applicant would be a suitable supervisor of a PhD student for the proposed research project; this may include a short list of recent and relevant publication of the applicant.
* Evidence that the department or laboratory offers a suitable environment for research in the proposed area.
* Basis for the research (motivations and brief state-of-the-art, including key references).
* Hypothesis under investigation and main aims.
* Research strategy with significant milestones if identified.
* Methods of research (for example, main techniques, experiments, and trials).
* Details of any collaboration with other departments/research bodies.
* Expected outcomes (for example, software tools).

Applications must be received no later than Wednesday, 26 September 2007 midnight (GMT). Applications must be complete and received by the deadline to be considered. Proposals received after this deadline will not be considered.

In Germany, following our recent announcement, PhD scholarships will be offered to some students of the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science only.

Applications for PhD scholarships in a university of the Republic of Ireland should be made through the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology as a result of an agreement with them.

Selection Process

Applications are on a competitive basis and we anticipate a high level of demand for scholarships. Following receipt of such applications, each will be carefully reviewed by researchers from universities and from Microsoft Research and the best proposals will be selected.

Decisions will be made solely at the discretion of Microsoft Research and all decisions are final.

Awards will be made by Friday 2 December 2007.

Supervisors will then have one year (from the day of notification) to propose the best and most suitable student possible to carry out the proposed research project.

The student, who can be of any nationality, should not have completed more than one year of PhD by the time they are selected by their respective supervisor.

After a student is identified, we will request a CV and two strong letters of recommendation (in English and preferably not from the supervisor) from professors familiar with the student’s work and we may decide to interview the student by phone.

The terms of the agreement between successful applicants and their university with Microsoft Research have been developed over the course of the last few years with input from numerous research organisations around Europe to ensure that they are appropriate and equitable.

Awards

Each Microsoft scholar will be awarded a bursary of up to 33,000 euros per year up to a maximum of three years. The award will be made automatically the following years after the first one, provided the scholar meets the requirements of the university. Payment will be made to the university. The amount of the scholarship is the maximum amount Microsoft Research will pay to the university. For more details, see our terms and conditions. In addition, every scholar will receive a laptop with a selection of software applications.

During the course of their PhD, scholars will be invited to Microsoft Research Cambridge for a summer school that includes a series of talks of academic interest and a poster session, which will give the scholars the opportunity to present their work to Microsoft researchers and a number of Cambridge academics (for example, see the programme of the 2007 Summer School).

Some of the scholars may also be offered in Microsoft Research’s sole discretion an internship in one of the Microsoft Research laboratories. Internships will involve working on a project alongside and as part of a team of Microsoft researchers. Students will be paid during their internship on top of their scholarship bursary.

Privacy Statement

The information provided in the application will be used for making our decision for the Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship only. We may pass this information to external academic reviewers who have agreed to help us review the applications. All information contained in this application shall be considered by Microsoft to be non-confidential. Universities should not submit information that is confidential, restricted, or sensitive in any way and Microsoft will assume no responsibility for protecting or disclosing any such information, once submitted. Microsoft is committed to protecting your privacy. For more information, see the full Microsoft Online Privacy Statement.

Contact us

If you have questions that are not answered on this page, please contact msrphd@microsoft.com.