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The AMBER group aims to equip systems and software engineering practitioners with effective methods and tools for developing the most demanding computer systems. We do this by means of models with well-founded semantics.

The AI group pioneers the development of theories, algorithms, and foundational and domain-specific models that help machines perceive and sense the world, communicate naturally, reason about dynamic environments, make informed decisions, and improve productivity.

The Computational Medicine group develops and applies computational, AI, and data science methods to complex biomedical data, working closely with clinicians and healthcare partners to translate findings into real-world impact.

The Educational Practice in Computing group focuses on pedagogic research and practice in Computer Science Education.

You'll apply your research to the design and development of innovative teaching practices, tools, curricula and policies for Computer Science Education at primary, secondary and tertiary education levels, and in the area of community education.

Examples of our current PhD research projects include:

• Exploring techniques, tools and curriculum design for teaching Computer Science in the era of Generative AI - particularly Programming/Software Engineering.
• Opportunities, Challenges and Educational Impacts of Adopting Large Language Models as Educational Tools in Computer Science
• Generative AI in STEM: Effects on Learning Behavior, Academic Performance, and Decision-Making

Gaining Informed Consent Online: A Data Supported Framework

Intelligent Systems research group (ISRG) bridges the gap between theoretical AI foundations and real-time deployment in safety-critical systems. The group works at the intersection of core machine learning, distributed systems, security, and game engineering to solve complex computational challenges and develop high-performance, resource-aware technologies for multi-agent ecosystems. Housing the Centre for AI Safety, Urban Observatory, and EPSRC National Edge AI Hub, the group is setting the standard for scalable, distributed intelligence.

ICOS carries out research at the interface of computing science and complex biological systems. We seek to create the next generation of algorithms that provide innovative solutions to problems arising in natural or synthetic systems. We use our interdisciplinary expertise in machine intelligence, complex systems and computational biology.

Open Lab has been conducting impactful Human Computer Interaction (HCI) research in local democracy, education, health and social care, and culture and heritage for over 18 years.
We use a range of research methodologies responsive to contexts and place-based needs. These include Research through Design and Participatory Community-Engaged approaches to advance cross-disciplinary research. Our research promotes equity, wellbeing, and human rights in digital societies.

Building on research expertise across applied quantum foundations, quantum optics / sensing, noisy/near-term intermediate-scale quantum algorithms, and quantum communication, cryptography and formal methods, the Quantum Group aims to build a coherent programme covering most theoretical quantum information and quantum technologies.

The Scalable Computing group deals with data at scale. Research in this group centres around systems to process data at scale and human performance.

From the perspective of scalable data systems, members of the group work in:

• Technical scalable computing systems
• Visualisation and Visual Analytics
• Fairness of Automated Decision Making

On starting the programme you'll identify and research an open question before formulating an approach to answering it. After agreeing a topic with your supervisor, you'll conduct a literature review and refine your research goals.

Following your initial research you submit a project proposal and give a presentation about your work. Once your project proposal is approved you will conduct your supervised research and write a thesis. Your thesis is also assessed by an oral examination.

Throughout the course of your research you'll write research papers for conferences and journals.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Thesis
• Viva

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

The School of Computing has a dedicated Wellbeing Advisor who understands the needs of our students.

They can be a confidential listening ear and provide guidance on a range of wellbeing issues.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Our academic staff have international reputations for their contributions to the field. Some have extensive experience as practitioners in industry.

Search our academic staff in the School of Computing

We are unable to give an exact fee, this is why the fee is shown as a range. This fee range takes into account your research topic and resource requirements.

Your research topic is unique so it will have unique resource requirements. Resources could include specialist equipment, such as laboratory/workshop access, or technical staff.

If your research involves accessing specialist resources then you're likely to pay a higher fee. You'll discuss the exact nature of your research project with your supervisor(s). You'll find out the fee in your offer letter.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.