Programme
The CDE is an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded initiative with three main strategic purposes
- to dissolve the barriers between academic and industry collaboration
- to support the growth of R&D in the digital media industries
- to create the technology leaders of tomorrow by giving talented researchers a sound academic grounding in research skills, within the context of the real drives and pressures of industry.
It is a 4 year programme which embeds a Research Engineer (RE) in a company, who, supported by an academic supervisor, will work on projects of immediate industrial relevance. 75% of the RE’s time will be spent in industry.
These projects will form the basis of a doctoral submission by portfolio thesis for either the award of an Engineering or Professional Doctorate in Digital Media. See What is an EngD? for more information.
For an idea of the kinds of projects we currently support please ensure you read our Current Students page.
Please note this is a high-level research degree in collaboration with industry, it is not a work placement or an entry-level employment scheme.
We are currently especially interested in applicants with interests and skills in these areas:
- procedural generation
- physics-based animation, ray tracing, global illumination
- new data visualisation techniques
- analysis of complex data
- pipeline integration and workflow optimisation
- augmented reality
- mobile technologies
- image processing
- pattern recognition
- computer vision
Package
If successful, you will receive a generous package which pays your tuition fees and provides a tax-free annual stipend of £15,090. Companies pay a yearly top-up to that stipend. There is also dedicated funding for resources and conference attendance.
Taught Units
Over the first two years of the programme you can be supported by access to options from a suite of Master programmes from both universities. The taught programme will be negotiated by you, your academic supervisors and the host company, so it can be tailored to your particular research needs.
You need to collect a minimum of 48 and up to 60 credits during your study.
More info on content of Bath units.
More info on content of Bournemouth units.
More info on Bournemouth distance learning modules.
Qualifications
- Applicants should hold a first degree, or equivalent, of at least an Upper Second (2.1) in a relevant subject, such as, but not limited to, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Software Engineering, Computer Arts, Animation, Digital Effects, Design or Interactive Media.
- Many of our applicants already hold a postgraduate qualification in a related field or have some work experience.
- Knowledge of programming languages, such as C++, or industry standard software, such as, Maya is a distinct advantage.
- Non-UK applicants are asked to provide evidence of their English language skills, equivalent to IELTS score of 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each element. The equivalent required TOEFL score is 650 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based with no less than 5.0 in TWE. No section less than 22), 100 (Internet-based with no component less than 24).
Eligibility
- UK nationals will receive fees, the maintenance stipend and any company top-up payment.
- A limited number of non-UK EU nationals will receive fees, the maintenance stipend and any company top-up payment.
- Applicants who have legally-established residency in the UK, regardless of citizenship, may be funded on the same basis as UK nationals. We will not consider you unless you can clearly show in your application that you meet in full the residency requirements on our funder’s website.
- Applicants from outside the EU cannot be funded. We may not vary the rules or negotiate alternative arrangements.
Application Process
You can apply for a specific project or make a general application.
As projects become available we will post them on our Current Opportunities page.
Please indicate clearly if you are applying for a specific project or research area and make sure you include a link to any online portfolios or examples of your work in your personal statement.
You are welcome to include additional material but you must answer all the questions on the form provided. For example in the question on your employment history it is not acceptable to write ‘See CV’ and attach a separate document.
When we receive your application we will assess it to decide if we wish to take it forward.
We will then send your application to our industry partners for their consideration.
Please note: The company will decide if it wishes to interview you for their project and if they wish to appoint you. The CDE cannot guarantee you will be successful in securing a placement.
However, we realise there are many different reasons why you may not secure a position and if we feel you are a strong candidate we will continue to promote you to our partners.
Complete the application form here
This form uses Bath’s online application system and you will need to create a ‘New User’ account before accessing. If you wish, you can save your partly completed application and log-in later to complete it.
The database gets updated as part of its maintenance every day around midnight, so please do not attempt to submit your application between 23:45 and 00:15 each day. Thank you.
If you have any questions during the application process please contact us on cde@cs.bath.ac.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.
Finally
This is the first initiative of this kind for the animation, games and effects industries and we hope you share our excitement at its potential. If we haven’t answered your question please contact us cde@cs.bath.ac.uk and best of luck.
