Computer Science: Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Graduate Teaching Assistantship (RS688)

Funding provider(s): Swansea University 

Subject area(s): Computer Vision, Computational Imaging, Inverse Problems, Deep Learning, and Optics 

Project start date: 1 January 2025  

Supervisor: Simeng Qiu, Lecturer of Computer Science Department, Swansea University

Aligned programme of study: 
PhD in Computer Science, Extended Period of Study [UK students] 
PhD Extended Period of Study – Swansea University [International students] 

Mode of study: Full-time

Length of study: 4 years

Project description: 

The Department of Computer Science is offering a Graduate Teaching Assistantship for January 2025 entry to its PhD studies in Computer Science. We are looking for an applicant with a keen interest and competency in pursuing doctoral studies in the area of Computer Vision and Computational Imaging and Deep Learning who are at the same time highly motivated in gaining teaching training and teaching experience. The GTA will complete the Associate Fellowship of Advance HE (AFHEA) and thereby develop their teaching related skills and enhance their professional competencies. The equivalent of 3 months per year will be devoted to teaching training/practice; the remaining time is for research studies on a four year programme. 

Research Area and Supervision: 

The research focus of our computational imaging group lies in computer graphics and spans across computer vision, image processing, optics, inverse problems, and artificial intelligence to solve hardware and software co-design problems. By joining our group, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with distinguished academic and industry partners (EU/UK/US/Middle East) while gaining extensive research experience. Our group also focuses on publishing high-quality research papers at leading conferences and journals such as SIGGRAPH, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, Optica, and Eurographics. The core goal of this 4-year PhD programme is to train students to develop innovative solutions for advanced problems in computational imaging.  

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all of its practices and activities. The Department of Computer Science, as part of the Computational Foundry, holds a Bronze Athena SWAN Award, and we are one of only 19 universities across the UK, and the only one in Wales, to hold a University-level Athena SWAN Silver award. For this position, we strongly encourage applications from female applicants and traditionally under-represented parts of the community. 

Candidates must hold a UK Bachelor degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline, or overseas Bachelor degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Computer Science, Mathematics or a closely related discipline; or an appropriate master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University)  – see country specific qualifications

Additional eligibility requirements  

• Potential to initiate, develop and deliver high quality research in Computer Science in one of the research areas in the Department, likely to lead to the award of a PhD under the supervision of a team of academic staff. 
• High level of proficiency in English, sufficient to undertake research, teaching and administrative activities and to communicate effectively with staff and students.  
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team on research and teaching related activities. 
• See related Key Information section above for requirements regarding teaching. 

Desirable: 

• A first class BSc degree or a master’s or equivalent postgraduate degree in Computer Science or related area. 
• Experience in teaching undergraduate or postgraduate students. 
• A track record in developing and delivering research. 

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.

ATAS

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance; further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website. 

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with scholarship course offer. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237 for four years.

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 a year will also be available.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select Computer Science/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / January
   Please note the course length is 4 years. However, in order to submit an application via the system, you will need to select the 3 year option.

   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2025

3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter 'RS688 - Graduate Teaching Assistantship'

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via e-mail). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised application closing date. Please note that your application may not be considered without the documents listed:

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including: a statement [max 1 page] about teaching/organisational skills outlining how you can contribute to the teaching operation and provide a good student experience.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Simeng Qiu (Simeng.qiu@swansea.ac.uk)

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.