Computer Science PhD

at University of Surrey

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate Careers and Employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.
 

Research themes
 

Secure systems

• Hardware security 

• Trusted computing 

• Privacy-enhancing technologies 

• User authentication 

• Secure communications 

• Network and mobile security and privacy 

• Applied cryptography 

• Security protocols 

• Formal verification 

• IoT security and privacy 

• Security visualisation 

• Intrusion detection 

• Digital forensics 

• Human factors  

• Data loss prevention 

• Concurrent and distributed systems 

• Cloud, Edge and Fog resilience and security 

• Connected and autonomous vehicles and transport systems 

• Social networks and online harms 

• Cyber crime 

• Game theory for security 
   

Nature-inspired computing and engineering

• Computational intelligence 

• Evolutionary optimisation 

• Machine learning, including deep learning 

• Computer Vision/Pattern Recognition 

• Reinforcement Learning (rule-based, deep) 

• Control theory 

• Prediction and learning in complex networks 

• Data mining  

• Natural Language Processing 

• Knowledge extraction 

• Signal processing 

• Bayesian inference 

• Medical image processing 

• Robotics 

• Systems biology 

• Morphogenetic engineering 

• Neural information processing 

• Developmental and cognitive neuroscience 

• Time series analysis 

Applicants are expected to hold a first or upper-second class degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent overseas qualification), or a lower second plus a good Masters degree (distinction normally required).

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve at least 60% or 65% in the final two years of your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve at least 55% or 60% in the final two years of your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve at least 65% or 70% in the final two years of your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each element.

Full-time
 

• UK          £4,596
   
• Overseas     £23,400