Democratising AI for underserved applications

About the Project

These projects are open to students worldwide, but have no funding attached. Therefore, the successful applicant will be expected to fund tuition fees at the relevant level (home or international) and any applicable additional research costs. Please consider this before applying.

This project focuses on democratising machine learning for underserved domains by introducing a quality-centric framework for building reliable and efficient AI systems. Rather than relying on large datasets and intensive computation, the approach redefines how data is collected, annotated, and transformed into meaningful features—ensuring that models are both interpretable and effective even with limited resources. The research aims to lower barriers to adoption for sectors such as healthcare and small businesses, supporting broader and more equitable access to purposeful AI.

It may be possible to undertake this project by distance learning.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Dr Hua (yining.hua@abdn.ac.uk)

Decisions will be based on academic merit. The successful applicant should have, or expect to obtain, a UK Honours Degree at 2.1 (or equivalent) in Computing Science. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.

Application Procedure:

Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php.

You should apply for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computing Science to ensure your application is passed to the correct team for processing.

Please clearly note the name of the lead supervisor and project titleon the application form. If you do not include these details, it may not be considered for the project.

Your application must include: A personal statement, an up-to-date copy of your academic CV, and clear copies of your educational certificates and transcripts.

Please note: you do not need to provide a research proposal with this application.

If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us at researchadmissions@abdn.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This is a self-funding project open to students worldwide. Our typical start dates for this programme are February or October.

Fees for this programme can be found here Finance and Funding | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen

Additional Research Costs may be required and will be discussed if you are invited to interview. These will be in addition to tuition fees.