PhD Computing

The Doctoral College works with staff and students in all areas of the University’s research to ensure that our diverse community of postgraduate researchers are offered the best possible experience. Most of our programmes can be studied full time or part time and comprise input from researchers, current practitioners, professional bodies, business and industry. This ensures they are current, relevant and stimulating, and enable you to develop practical skills sought by employers.

You work on an advanced research project with a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. You are expected to fully engage with your personal skills development and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.

This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.

You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. Even if you already have a masters degree, you will normally be registered as a ‘MPhil/PhD’ candidate and may apply to transfer to ‘PhD’ status around 12–21 months after registration, based on your progress to date.

You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.

Your PhD will be assessed via submission of either a written thesis (up to 80,000 words), or one that combines critical writing with artistic, creative and/or professional practice, and a viva voce (an oral examination).

Applicants are expected to have completed a masters level qualification to a high standard (e.g. at 'merit' or 'distinction' level) as well as either a good 2:1 or first class honours undergraduate degree in an area of study appropriate to your project proposal. We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications (for instance, you may have studied different subjects at undergraduate and masters level but have worked in and/or developed an interest in your sector since then).