virtual PhD Projects, Programs & Scholarships

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Traditionally speaking the view of the hotel general manager’s role was to act as “Mein Host” which suggested the need for a physical presence in the hotel.

PhD Studentship Opportunity in Generating virtual camera views using Generative Networks

University of Surrey
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Dr S Hadfield, Dr A Gilbert

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

This project will explore how advances in Generative networks and deep-learning approaches to inpainting can be combined to create virtual camera views.

Virtual Human-Robot Collaboration: developing an immersive human-robot collaboration testing environment using virtual reality tools

University of Sheffield
Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering

Prof A Tiwari

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

The aim of this research theme is to develop an immersive human-robot collaboration testing environment using virtual reality tools, such as HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and VR CAVEs.

The virtual body schema project: How can body schema be objectively defined and measured?

University of Sheffield
Department of Psychology

Dr SP Wilson, Dr T Stafford

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

The body schema can be loosely defined as the representation of the body in space, i.e., how you know you can reach the pint at the bar but not the bottle behind it; that you can fit through the door but not the cat-flap; that you must dive to kick a ball or duck to avoid a punch.

Building Full Body Illusion in Immersive Virtual Reality with Physically Based Avatars

Kingston University
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing

Dr J Francik, Dr D Makris

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

This project aims to apply the paradigm of physically based animation to control virtual reality (VR) avatars – characters that represent the player in VR.

Future applications and interfaces for virtual- and augmented-reality - Project ID SOC0007

Edinburgh Napier University
School of Computing

Dr A Esteves, Dr L Muir

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

This project will entail the exploration of novel applications areas for virtual- and augmented-reality (VR, AR).

Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality

University of York
Department of Electronic Engineering

Research Group: Communication Technologies

Dr G Kearney

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Recent developments in low cost VR displays have led to a resurgence of research into binaural 3-D audio. Whilst a good 3-D audio experience can be given using the state of the art technologies, there are still many problems to be solved.

Novel Visualization and Interaction Techniques for Multiple Targets in Virtual Reality 3D Environments

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering

Dr H Liang, Prof Y Yue

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

This project investigates the development of novel visualization and selection techniques for multiple targets in virtual reality environments.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality to support engineering product development

University of Auckland
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dr D Wynn

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

This project will concern application of virtual/augmented reality to support collaborative product development.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Entertainment

Bournemouth University

Funding Type

PhD Type

4 Year PhD Programme

4 Year PhD Programmes are extended PhD opportunities that involve more training and preparation. You will usually complete taught courses in your first year (sometimes equivalent to a Masters in your subject) before choosing and proposing your research project. You will then research and submit your thesis in the normal way.

EngD Programme

An EngD is a professional doctorate in Engineering and related subjects. The qualification is equivalent to a PhD, but involves more vocational and practice-based elements, geared towards the needs of industry. Applicants are often based within a company whilst completing their doctorate.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training

EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training conduct research and training in priority areas funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Potential PhD topics are usually defined in advance. Students may receive additional training and development opportunities as part of their programme.

Funded PhD Programme (European/UK Students Only)

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. It is available to citizens of a number of European countries (including the UK). In most cases this will include all EU nationals. However full funding may not be available to all applicants and you should read the full programme details for further information.

The ESPRC doctoral training Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE) is seeking candidates of academic excellence to undertake fully-funded research in computer games, animation, visual effects, and other topics in the graphics/vision area.