Our PhD research programme provides you with the opportunity to study a wide range of computer science topics – from the rapid rise of the software industry, forensics of multimedia security through to digital ecosystems and media analysis. Our expert lecturers, highly-rated course and excellent facilities mean that by the time you complete your PhD, you will be a specialist in your field.
Computing at Surrey has a booming postgraduate research programme of over 60 PhD students, with many industrial sponsorships. We have the best computing resources to support your research, including an Access Grid-equipped seminar room and a Grid infrastructure supporting leading-edge distributed technologies, as well as a number of high-performance servers.
The Department of Computing strives to be world-leading or internationally excellent in all its research, with many members of staff being publicly recognised as experts in their respective fields. Employment levels for our computing students are exceptionally high, and the Department performs well in student surveys.
Programme overview
Why not read about the experiences of past and present students studying the subject, including Sandra Kaebisch and Linyu Peng?
PhD overview
Our PhD programme offers the opportunity to study in a wide range of interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research areas of computer science, with good support from academics and peers within a University committed to the personal, professional and academic development of its students.
There are currently around 60 PhD students in the department. The PhD community is very active and well organised when it comes to arranging research and social activities for students. An annual PhD conference, which has been successfully run for over ten years, is organised by the students to showcase their research work.
Why not read some of our recent news, including a feature on one of our PhD students, who was recently named best speaker in a Research Spotlight competition.
Our research areas:
Secure Systems
New technologies for security and safety-critical domains, ranging from trustworthy voting systems, to formal methods integration for software systems development, and formal models for UML.
Nature-inspired Computing and Engineering
Building up computational models for understanding biological and social intelligence and developing algorithms inspired by natural intelligence for solving complex real-world problems found in optimisation, signal processing and pattern recognition, decision-making, and self-organisation of collective system.
Why not explore our research in greater depth?
Entry requirements
A first or upper second-class 2.1 degree in engineering or physical sciences, or equivalent overseas qualification, or a lower second 2.2 plus a good Masters degree (distinction normally required).
Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.
How to apply
For more information on the course and how to apply please visit the programme website.
General enquiries:
+44 (0)1483 681 681