Key Information
Duration
- Full-time: 36 months
- Part-time: 60 months
Start Dates & Application Deadlines
- Starting September 2026 — Application deadline not specified.
- Starting January 2027 — Apply before Oct 2026.
- Starting May 2027 — Application deadline not specified.
Language
English
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Dundee, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Language Studies, Cognitive Science
Overview
Context of The influence of individual differences in brain rhythms on language and music competency project at University of Dundee
The methodological focus will be on using EEG (electroencephalography) and behavioural experiments, and the associated research fields are Cognitive Neuroscience, Auditory Neuroscience, Systems Neuroscience, and Psychology.
Previous research has overwhelmingly focussed on generic neural mechanisms and has shown that brain rhythms play a crucial role in speech and music perception. “Brain rhythms” (or "neural oscillations") refer to regular neural activity, which is ubiquitous in the brain and involved in many perceptual, cognitive and behavioural processes. Visit the programme website for more information
I have previously shown that each brain area has its own unique mix of rhythms (Keitel & Gross, 2016). But although every individual is slightly different, individual differences in these brain rhythms and perception processes have been largely neglected. In this project, we will study the role of brain rhythms at the individual level, by comprehensively modelling brain rhythm profiles for each individual. These brain rhythm profiles can then be used to predict speech and music perception and skills, and explain why some people perform better in these areas.
The project will adopt such an overarching approach because music and speech perception relies on many of the same basic auditory processes, and these predict literacy and academic success.
Programme Structure
- Apart from the core research question and the basic methodology, the project is very much open to the interests and skills of the PhD candidate. Depending on the candidate's background, the project can focus more on either technical, social, biological or musical sciences or a combination. Specific experiments will be planned together with the candidate, and they will be part of a very friendly and supportive team.
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
GPA: Upper Second Class
English Requirements
We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.
Other Requirements
- Honours degree at 2.1 or above in a relevant discipline.
- In certain circumstances we may ask you to spend a year completing our Master's degree in Psychological Research Methods before you commence your doctoral research. The decision about the suitability of your qualifications is made by the potential supervisor and the schools postgraduate advisor.
- IELTS 6.5
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
- International: 41,790 AUD / year (≈ 21,940 GBP / year)
- Domestic: 9,116 AUD / year (≈ 4,786 GBP / year)
Living Costs
Dundee, United Kingdom: 1,499-2,846 AUD / month
Scholarships
The following scholarships are available for this programme:
- Chevening Scholarship — University of Dundee — Various benefits — Deadline 06 Oct 2026
- GREAT Ghana Scholarship — University of Dundee — 10,000 GBP — Deadline Not specified
- GREAT Kenya Scholarship — University of Dundee — 10,000 GBP — Deadline Not specified
- GREAT India Scholarship — University of Dundee — 10,000 GBP — Deadline Not specified
- Vice Chancellor's South Asia Scholarship — University of Dundee — 6,500 GBP — Deadline 28 Aug 2026
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program — U.S. government — Various benefits — Deadline 07 Oct 2026
- ServiceScape Scholarship — ServiceScape — 1,000 USD — Deadline 30 Nov 2026
- ACES Scholarships — ACES Education Fund — 3,500 USD — Deadline 15 Nov 2026
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility — OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation — Various benefits — Deadline Not specified
- Scholarships for PhD Students — Junhua Li — 19,000 GBP — Deadline Not specified
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship — Boustany Foundation — Various benefits — Deadline 28 Feb 2027
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship — IvyPanda — 1,000 USD — Deadline 31 Oct 2026
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship — Voice Talent Online — 1,000 USD — Deadline 01 Mar 2027
- Women Scholarship for International Students — educations.com — 5,000 USD — Deadline 28 Aug 2026
- The PhD Prep Fellowship — Admit Lab — 10,000 USD — Deadline 01 Sep 2026
- Dream Chaser Scholarship — Salvado Law — 1,000 USD — Deadline 13 Jan 2027
- Scholarship for students with disabilities — Anonymous Hope Fund — 3,000 USD — Deadline 31 Dec 2026
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids — UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) — 22,500 GBP — Deadline Not specified
- Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria — Leopold Figl Foundation — Various benefits — Deadline 31 Dec 2026
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship — IELTS from 6 to 9 — 1,500 USD — Deadline Not specified
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — 12,000 USD — Deadline 11 Jan 2027
