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  1. Home
  2. …
  3. Courses
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  5. Computer Science
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Students attending a class in the university building

PhD/MPhil Computer Science

Postgraduate research degree

Your Computer Science PhD/MPhil programme will focus on a specialist area that aligns with the interests of our staff. Work in a vibrant and dynamic community of researchers, with expert training.

School of Science & Technology Department of Computer Science

Research centres and groups

  • Adaptive Computer Systems and Machine Learning
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Data Visualization and GIS
  • Human-Computer Interaction Design
  • Software Reliability

Key information

Starting date Deadline for application
1st Feb 2023 1st February 2023 16th Nov 2022 16th November 2022
1st Apr 2023 1st April 2023 14th Jan 2023 14th January 2023
1st Jul 2023 1st July 2023 15th Apr 2023 15th April 2023
1st Oct 2023 1st October 2023 16th Jul 2023 16th July 2023

Duration

Full-time
2 – 4 years
Part-time
3 – 7 years
PhD by prior publication
1 – 2 years

Computer Science Postgraduate research degrees PhD/MPhil course Overview

We welcome applications for the Computer Science PhD/MPhil programme if your primary research interest is one of the following areas:

  • Computer Science
  • Geographical Information Science and Data Visualization
  • Human Computer Interaction Design
  • Software Systems Engineering
  • Creativity Science
  • Software Reliability
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Our Department of Computer Science is located within the School of Science & Technology. We have the following research centres:

  • Adaptive Computing Systems and Machine Learning
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Data Visualization and GIS
  • Human-Computer Interaction Design
  • Software Reliability

You will become a focused researcher committed to developing skills and undertaking rigorous research. Also become part of a pioneering community of academics.

We provide you with extensive support through a structured programme of supervision and training.

Structure

We offer the following types of award:

  • PhD by Major Thesis
  • PhD by Prospective Publication
  • PhD by Prior Publication
  • MPhil.

We also welcome enquiries from candidates who wish to spend one year at City, University of London as part of a PhD Sandwich programme.

Degree Pathway

This takes place towards the end of the first year of registration for full-time candidates. Review for part-time candidates will be towards the end of the second year.

The PhD programme concludes with the candidate submitting their research in the form of a PhD thesis. Then attending a viva voce examination with two examiners, at least one of whom will be external to City.

For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students.

Requirements

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a record of high academic achievement. The minimum requirement is a good undergraduate degree (first or upper second class honours) in a relevant subject from a UK university, or a recognised equivalent from an overseas institution.

In exceptional cases, we will consider applications from individuals whose undergraduate degree is in a less relevant discipline but who hold a relevant Masters degree with at least a merit level pass. We will also consider applications from individuals with extensive professional experience in the area of their proposed research.

English requirements

Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants whose first language is not English. We require a minimum IELTS overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four components.

Please note that the UK Border Agency currently requires us to confirm that you are at level B2 or above in all components of English before issuing visa documents.

For more information see our English language proficiency requirements at City.

Visa requirements

If you are not from the European Economic Area / Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:

  • Students on courses of more than six months
  • Students on courses of less than six months
  • Students on a pre-sessional English language course.

For more information see our main Visa page.

Some applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate before joining a course. ATAS is a certificate issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which gives you security clearance to study certain postgraduate programmes at City, University of London.

Non-EEA students who choose to study certain subjects at MSc or MEng or PhD level in the UK have to apply for and receive clearance under the ATAS scheme regardless of if they are required to apply for a Student visa or not.

For more information see Applying for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

Fees and funding

Full-time UK:£6,240 per year

Part-time UK:£3,120 per year

Full-time Overseas/EU:£18,730 per year

Part-time Overseas/EU:£9,360 per year

The writing-up fee for all candidates is £500 per year (max 1 year).

External candidate study of this course costs £2,080 (UK) or £6,500 (Overseas/EU) for full time study and £1,040 (UK) or £3,250 (Overseas/EU) for part-time study.

Fees for doctoral candidates are charged annually and cover registration, supervision and examination. Fees are subject to review each year and are likely to increase by approximately 3% annually.

Support for PhD study

Prospective students are encouraged to explore doctoral Grants and funding opportunities such as:

  • PhD Studentship in Industrial Artificial Intelligence
  • School of Science & Technology Doctoral Studentships
  • Research Council studentship awards, if available.

Our bursaries are non-repayable sums of money granted by the University, usually based on need.

Our loans are repayable sums of money granted by the University or other body.

Our scholarships are when the University pays towards your Study fees. You may also be eligible for further funding.

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans

The Government has introduced a new Postgraduate Doctoral Loans scheme which can provide a loan of up to £25,000.

This will be over three years to support study for a doctoral degree.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study. It can be used alongside any other forms of support you may be able to receive.

For more information, please see our Postgraduate Doctoral Loans page.

We welcome applicants funded through a wide range of schemes including:

  • The Science Without Borders scheme for Brazilian citizens
  • The Indonesia-UK DIKTI Scholarship Programme, for faculty members at Indonesian Universities to study for a doctorate in the UK.
  • The EU Erasmus Mundus programme.

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.

Academic support

City has a well-established structure and processes to support your research.

Supervision

All research students are appointed a supervisory team consisting of at least two supervisors. One of these will be designated as the first point of contact with responsibility for ensuring that effective supervision is provided.

Training

The supervisory team will discuss training requirements with the candidate when study is commenced. We may recommend that a candidate takes a number of taught modules. This way they will benefit from the specialist Masters courses in the Department of Computer Science.

Development

Research students are provided with a desk, PC and bookshelves in a shared office space and have access to shared printing facilities. Specialist facilities, such as the City Interaction Lab, are also available where relevant to the research topic.

All research students are strongly encouraged to contribute to our research environment and to attend regular research seminars and meetings.

The City Doctoral College can provide more information about graduate degrees.

How to apply

We accept applications on an ongoing basis for entry in October, January and April. Please see the requirements section above for eligibility criteria.

If you are applying for a specific scholarship or studentship, please make this clear within your application. Your scholarship/studentship will then be considered alongside your application. Please note, individual scholarships and studentships may have specific application deadlines.

It is essential that you contact a member of staff in the department you are interested in. You can then discuss your ideas for research (research proposal).

Unfortunately, we will not be able to consider your application without this pre-requisite.

Details of relevant academic staff can be found here.

You are advised to submit your application at least 12 weeks before your proposed start date. This will allow for us to consider and process your application.

Once you have identified a supervisor who will accept to guide through your research, please submit an application online.

Supporting documents

To apply online, an applicant will need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • Research proposal. The Research Proposal should be a maximum of 3 sides A4. See guidance on writing your research proposal.
  • Copies of degree certificates and transcripts – original will be requested before an offer is made.
  • Official work e-mail addresses (not private ones) for two referees (one of which must be an academic).
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable).
  • Evidence of sponsorship (if applicable).

See guidance on writing your research proposal

Apply now

  • Select one of the available starting dates to start your application.

    1st Oct 2023 1st Feb 2023 1st Apr 2023 1st Jul 2023
  • Select one of the available starting dates to start your application.

    1st Oct 2023 1st Feb 2023 1st Apr 2023 1st Jul 2023

Apply now

Full-time
  • 1st Oct 2023
  • 1st Feb 2023
  • 1st Apr 2023
  • 1st Jul 2023
Part-time
  • 1st Oct 2023
  • 1st Feb 2023
  • 1st Apr 2023
  • 1st Jul 2023

PhD projects from the Department of Computer Science

  • Aggregated Quality Assurance for Systems

    The AQUAS project, funded by the European ECSEL Joint Undertaking will investigate the challenges arising from the product lifecycle.

    Research centre: Centre for Software Reliability

    Academics: Dr Peter Popov, Professor Lorenzo Strigini and Professor Robin Bloomfield

    Status: Completed project

    View case study site

  • DIDERO-PC (DIverse DatabasE ReplicatiOn-Performance Comparison)

    This project is about experimental evaluation of diverse database replication protocols.

    Research centre: Centre for Software Reliability

    Academics: Dr Peter Popov, Dr Kizito Salako and Dr Vladimir Stankovic

    Status: Completed project

    View case study site

  • Communicating and evaluating cyber risk and dependencies

    This research focuses on the importance of dependencies and interdependencies in a security context.

    Research centre: Centre for Software Reliability

    Status: Completed project

    View case study site

  • SESAMO - Security and Safety Modelling

    SESAMO is a 3-year project starting on the 1st of May 2012, with the goal of integrating security and safety assessment together into methods and tools for model-driven development of embedded systems

    Research centre: Centre for Software Reliability

    Academics: Professor Lorenzo Strigini, Dr Peter Popov and Professor Robin Bloomfield

    Status: Completed project

    View case study site

Find a supervisor

See our full list of academic staff and potential supervisors in Department of Computer Science.

Dr Ilir Gashi

Dr Ilir Gashi

Head of Computer Science

Department of Computer Science

Professor Eduardo Alonso

Professor Eduardo Alonso

Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science Research Director

Department of Computer Science

Dr Ernesto Priego

Dr Ernesto Priego

Senior Lecturer

Department of Computer Science

Dr Cristina Gacek

Dr Cristina Gacek

Senior Lecturer

Department of Computer Science

Useful links

  • Department of Computer Science
  • Doctoral College
  • School of Science & Technology
  • Student wellbeing
  • Terms and conditions

Contact details

  • Research enquiries

    +44 (0)20 7040 8116

    pgr.sst.enquire@city.ac.uk

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