The UK’s National Institute for Data Science
Founded by the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, UCL & Warwick and EPSRC
2016 Doctoral Studentships — Further Particulars for Applicants
At the heart of the Alan Turing Institute’s (ATI’s) mission is supporting the next generation of
internationally-leading data science researchers. To accomplish this mission, we are establishing a
doctoral studentship scheme driven by the Institute’s intellectual focus and vision for data science.
The Institute’s doctoral studentship scheme will leverage the strengths of our Joint Venture (JV)
University partners and their core and domain expertise. At the same time, it will harness the ATI’s
unique convening power as the UK’s national institute for data science, to bridge between disciplines
and engage with the wider data science community and the world at large. Mathematics, Statistics
and Computing underpin much of the research the ATI undertakes, and because the ATI
simultaneously aspires to serve society’s needs, engineering, social sciences, ethics and design are
also included in the Institute’s research fabric. The ATI draws considerations of ethics through all the
research that it undertakes, and aims to instill a deep and considered appreciation for the importance
of ethical approaches to data science.
As detailed overleaf, in 2016 the Institute will provide two main routes to participate in its doctoral
scheme, through studentships which provide grants for successful applicants. These grants are
intended to cover tuition and fees, and will also provide a competitive stipend for 3.5 years. If you are
accepted and enroll, you will pursue doctoral studies through one of our JV partner institutions, under
the supervision of academic staff who are substantially engaged with the Institute. You will be based
at the ATI hub at the British Library in London, but will also spend time at your host university
(primarily after the first year) to ensure a rich research relationship over the course of the scheme.
You will register for a doctoral degree (or initially with progress requirements for continuation to a
doctoral degree) in an academic discipline core to data science. The scheme is aimed at students
who wish to combine deep technical understanding in core competencies (including algorithms,
systems, mathematical statistics, machine learning, inference, mathematical methods and modelling)
with an appropriate degree of scientific breadth from an in-depth exposure across the spectrum of
data science challenges and opportunities. The Institute is committed to the essential professional
and personal skills needed to lead and shape the emerging field of data science.
The Institute hub at the British Library in London provides an outstanding and unique research
environment. The Institute envisions internship opportunities with its partner organisations and other
activities to engage with data science in the world at large. The Institute also aims to instill a deep
and considered appreciation of the importance of responsible research practices alongside ethical
working practices in data science.
The scheme is, in short, an exciting offering, maximising the opportunities for future leadership in
data science which the ATI is distinctively positioned to provide.
Details of the Scheme’s Entry Process:
The ATI provides you with two main entry routes into its October 2016 Doctoral Studentship Scheme:
Route 1 (proceed from Step 1 below): The ATI will evaluate applications for shortlisting on a
rolling basis, in response to its advertisement for studentships. Once primary supervisors are
tentatively identified, to participate in the scheme, shortlisted students will apply to the
appropriate JV University for admission. The ATI will ensure that such applications are
notified to the relevant university. Since this is the first year of the scheme, you may find that
this necessitates some double data entry (for which we apologise). We will however ensure
that the costs of any university application fees are covered.
Route 2 (proceed from Step 7 below): The ATI will also consider exceptionally qualified
candidates identified by its JV University partners who have already applied for admission; the
Institute will evaluate any such identified applications for shortlisting. Previously identified
supervisors in such cases would ordinarily be expected to become primary supervisor in the
event that a student is accepted onto the ATI studentship scheme.
So that you are aware of what happens after you respond to our studentship advertisement with an
application (Route 1), or are directed to us by a JV University partner (Route 2), the entry process for
October 2016 runs as follows:
1. Shortlisting and interviews following on from a general advertisement of the scheme will be
overseen by the ATI. There will be rolling deadlines, with applications ordinarily considered
at the end of each month.
2. The ATI intends to populate a webpage with a list of potential project areas. Applicants may
specify a principal core domain focus, along with any secondary foci, and may also specify
potential supervisors / projects. The primary supervisor will be significantly based at the ATI.
3. At each month’s end, as part of the rolling round of studentship considerations, received
applications will be triaged initially by an ATI academic team, with applications scored initially
as Outstanding, Good, or Other with respect to the ATI doctoral studentship scheme.
4. Top-calibre applicants will be taken forward for further consideration through panel interview.
Interviews will be scheduled in batches and managed by an ATI academic team. Each
interview panel will ordinarily comprise 3 academics, with interviews typically including an indepth technical discussion about a research paper selected from a predefined list.
5. Following interviews, any student deemed eligible for consideration will be invited to
undertake discussions with potential supervisor(s). Based on intellectual fit, primary
supervisors will thus be tentatively identified, and applicants shortlisted.
6. Once primary supervisors are tentatively identified, to participate in the scheme, students will
apply to the appropriate JV University for admission as a doctoral student (note that initial
registration may be for a different degree or status, with a progress requirement for
continuation to a doctoral degree). The ATI will ensure that applications through the ATI are
notified to the relevant University. Selection of the University to which a student applies for
admission to participate in the scheme will be guided by scientific fit. ATI Studentships will
specify the Universities in which they are tenable. Applicants will be responsible for making
the formal application to the JV University if they have not already done so.
7. The ATI will issue conditional studentship offer letters to selected candidates for the ATI
doctoral scheme, which will specify the Admitting JV University and include details of the
Institute studentship award criteria. The letter will state that the award of the studentship is
conditional on the student meeting the Admitting JV University admissions criteria. The
Admitting JV University will be responsible for issuing offer letters for admission to the
University. The granting of an ATI Studentship does not guarantee university admission and
applicants should make themselves aware of any language, visa and other requirements that
may apply.
8. The ATI may in certain circumstances agree to co-fund students with other scholarship
bodies. Interested applicants wishing to discuss this should contact the ATI team.
9. There is no automatic right to defer or transfer studentships. Studentships are not normally
tenable at institutions other than the JV University partners.