university of oxford computer science phd

Intelligent Earth (UKRI CDT in AI for the Environment)

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The Intelligent Earth CDT is a four-year PhD programme designed to equip a new generation of PhD students with advanced AI skills to tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues. 

The programme will train a new generation of quantitative environmental data scientists to make substantial contributions in environmental and data sciences through five closely connected themes:

• Biodiversity
• Natural hazards
• Environmental solutions
• Core AI/ML research on complex environmental data

The programme is intrinsically interdisciplinary: you will be advised by both an environmental science supervisor and an AI supervisor from two different departments, plus a non-academic partner who also serves as host for a secondment. This course is suitable for quantitative applicants from data science, mathematical, physical and environmental science backgrounds. 

The teaching model for all courses will be tailored towards training students to become independent researchers. After introductory lectures, you will be introduced to the corresponding AI tools, frameworks and environmental datasets to apply the taught material in tutorial-based project work. You will work in interdisciplinary groups tackling grand challenges in environmental science of increasing complexity with AI. The programme will be individually tailored to your needs.

Key components of the teaching programme:

• Induction week
• Core courses in foundations of AI/ML and foundations of the four environmental themes
• Responsible AI training
• Computational skills training
• Advanced cross-cohort courses will focus on specific areas of AI applied to grand challenges and associated datasets from the four environmental themes
• Professional skills training
• Teaching skills training

In the second half of year one, you will undertake a three-month research project supervised by one of the potential DPhil supervisors.

In addition to the formal teaching programme, student experience and training will be enriched by:

• Weekly Intelligent Earth seminars
• Annual two-week hackathons
• Annual two-day CDT conference

Course structure

In year one, you will take core courses and computational skills training courses, followed by advanced cross-cohort courses, responsible AI training, and professional skills training modules, culminating in a three-month research project followed by the annual hackathon and conference. Course free periods will be used for consolidation, supervisor matching, and DPhil proposal development.

In year two, you will transition to your primary department and supervisors, and you will start your DPhil research. You will take advanced cross-cohort courses and professional/computational skill training modules. A secondment with non-academic partners may also take place at this stage, but may alternatively take place in year three.

In year three, your focus will be on DPhil research with optional advanced courses and professional/computational skill training modules based on your individual training needs. A secondment with non-academic partners may also take place at this stage if it was not undertaken in year two.

In year four, you will finalise your DPhil research and complete your thesis writing. Professional training will focus on career development, job/fellowship applications and interviews.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Intelligent Earth CDT and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Intelligent Earth CDT.

During your first year, you will have a supervisor from the academic leadership of the CDT. Regular meetings serve to monitor academic progress as well as to discuss any academic issues or questions arising. When you transition into one of the participating departments to commence you research project in year two, you will be co-advised by two supervisors, one from an environmental science department and one from an AI department. First-year supervisors will act as mentors throughout the programme, providing academic and pastoral guidance.

You will be expected to meet your supervisor on a regular basis. These meetings should take place at least once every two weeks, averaged across the year, to discuss your progress.

You will be assessed continually throughout the first year training courses modules. In the second half you will undertake a three-month research project and will be required to deliver a written report that will be assessed.

At the end of the second year, you will be required to write a report and give a presentation on your research, and to present a detailed and coherent plan for the research-intensive phase in the third and fourth years of your doctoral studies. Progress towards completion is again formally assessed some way into the final year of study.

You will carry out your DPhil project in the department of your primary supervisor and will gain your DPhil from the department in which you carry out your research project. You will follow the same milestones and assessments as a standard DPhil, so you will have Probationer Research Student (PRS) status until you confirm your status as a DPhil student by term six. By term nine you will confirm status and you will submit your thesis for assessment by the end of term 12.

Graduate destinations

The CDT will train a new generation of quantitative environmental data scientists equipped to make substantial contributions in environmental and data sciences as well as being prepared for a wide range of career paths in academia, research and industry, supported by the CDT's extensive partnership network.

The CDT anticipates Intelligent Earth Graduates to drive innovation and found their own start-ups, supported by the programme’s dedicated training in enterprise, impact, and responsible AI.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours

The above qualification should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines:

• computer science
• engineering
• earth sciences
• environment sciences
• mathematics
• meteorology
• oceanography
• statistics;  or
• other related disciplines such as data science, mathematical, physical and environmental science

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• The programme aims to develop and apply AI and candidates should have strong quantitative skills. Therefore, as a minimum applicants should have maths skills equivalent to UK A-level or to have done maths as part of their course.
• Candidates will need to demonstrate a broad interest in some or all of the five Intelligent Earth themes: Climate, Biodiversity, Natural Hazards, Environmental Solutions, and Core AI Research in their personal statement and interview. 
• Applicants whose previous degree was not explicitly quantitatively based should be able to demonstrate the ability to learn the necessary skills required for successful completion of the course.
• Although it is not required to have a master’s degree, in practice most applicants with a ‘physical science’ background will have completed a four-year integrated master's course.
• Professional experience, especially research experience, is valuable and will be taken into consideration as a substitute for an academic qualification.
• Publications are not expected, but should be included if present.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process and are expected to be held in the second half of February.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, in order to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

If you wish, you may submit an additional contextual statement (using the instructions in the How to apply section of this page) to provide further information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.  Further information about how your contextual statement will be used  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Once submitted, applications will be anonymised to minimise conscious and unconscious bias. Please carefully read the instructions for completing your application in the How to apply section of this page.  Further information about why we are anonymising applications  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Information on ethnicity will be used subsequent to academic shortlisting. Candidates who identify as Black British will be shortlisted for interview, provided that they meet the  eligibility criteria  shown in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

This is also one of the courses participating in the  Academic Futures programme , including the  Black Academic Futures programme . Applicants who are offered a place on this course and meet the eligibility criteria will subsequently be considered for funding through the Academic Futures programme.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Some postgraduate research students in science, engineering and technology subjects will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to applying for a  Student visa (under the Student Route) . For some courses, the requirement to apply for an ATAS certificate may depend on your research area.

The programme is resourced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) with contributions from the university and partners. It will be integrated in Oxford's Doctoral Training Centre and training may take place in a number of locations across the university and students will often work together on problem sets, or in groups, with the support of demonstrators.

You will have access to computational facilities as well as a laptop. When you move out to your department you will also have access to the facilities provided by that department. You will remain a member of the CDT and be able to return to the CDT facilities, based within the Doctoral Training Centre, on Keble Road, to use the facilities there.

You will have access to seminars in all eight departments as well as across the wider university. In addition to the training modules offered by the CDT, you will be able to sign up for a wide range of training courses and modules offered by departments across the university via the University's Researcher Training Tool.

You will also have access to Oxford's wide library network, including the recently refurbished Radcliffe Science Library.

Departments offering this course

One of the following departments will serve as your primary department from year two onwards, when you will begin your DPhil research:

Department of Biology

The Department of Biology is one of the leading UK university departments dedicated to research and teaching in biology, possessing world-class strengths across the breadth of modern biological science research.

The department’s research is organised into five sections:

• Behaviour and Biomechanics
• Ecology and Evolution
• Evolution and Developmental Biology
• Microbiology and Infectious Disease
• Molecular Plant Biology

There is considerable overlap between these sections, with many members of the department working in more than one section, and many research projects that cut across section boundaries. Indeed, a key characteristic of the department is that it works as a well-integrated whole with collaborations developing naturally between researchers working on diverse topics

All of the department’s laboratories are excellently equipped for modern cell and molecular technologies. In addition, you will have access to a range of unique facilities in the form of the living collections and arboretum of the University’s Botanic Garden and two on-site herbaria of international standing.

There are two routes into undertaking your doctoral research at the department. You may apply directly to the DPhil in Biology. Alternatively, you may apply to one of the University’s Doctoral Training Programmes . The latter are fully-funded, four-year graduate training programmes which involve a training period of taught courses for around three to six months before deciding on a DPhil project. Applicants are encouraged to consider both entry routes.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science is at the heart of computing and related interdisciplinary activity at Oxford. 

The department is home to a community of world class researchers and is consistently ranked in the  Times Higher Education University Rankings  amongst the very best computer science departments in the world, for both teaching and research. 

The Department of Computer Science is committed to attracting the world’s most talented students and working with them to continue the success of the field of computer science. As a student here, you will join a vibrant community working in research areas including:

• algorithms and complexity theory
• artificial intelligence and machine learning
• automated verification
• computational biology and health informatics
• data, knowledge and action
• human centred computing
• programming languages 
• software engineering.

The department’s strength comes from its firm grounding in core computer science disciplines, a high degree of mathematical sophistication among its researchers, and its committed engagement with applications and interdisciplinary work.

You will have the opportunity to meet other students and staff working across these research areas by attending seminars, workshops and lectures, and through social events organised by the Computer Science Graduate Society and the Oxford Women in Computer Science Society.

The department is home to undergraduates, full-time and part-time master's students, and has a strong doctoral programme.

Department of Earth Sciences

The Earth sciences are the focus of scientific understanding about this and other planets, embracing a wide range of fundamental topics.

Topics studied in Earth sciences include the evolution of life, how climate has changed and will change in future, the nature of planetary surfaces and interiors, and the processes underlying natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanoes.

The emphasis of both teaching and research in the department is on understanding the fundamental principles of geological processes. Theory, measurements, experiments, and observation of natural processes are all essential elements in the Earth sciences, and students with a strong background in all aspects of the physical sciences are encouraged to join the department.

The department offers the latest analytical equipment and powerful computing facilities, supporting research in all aspects of the Earth sciences.

The department’s research is grouped into six areas of focus:

• geophysics and geodynamics
• planetary evolution and materials
• oceanography, climate and paleoenvironment
• paleobiology and evolution
• geodesy, tectonics, volcanology and related hazards
• Earth resources.

It is not unusual for research topics to be multidisciplinary, and for students to have more than one supervisor covering different aspects of the project.

Department of Engineering Science

The Department of Engineering Science brings together the study of all branches of engineering at Oxford. It has a community of around 550 graduate students at any given time.

The department has a substantial research portfolio, including much that is directly supported by industry. The major theme underlying this research portfolio is the application of cutting-edge science to generate new technology, using a mixture of theory, computation and experiment.

Study and research opportunities in the department include both conventional disciplines of engineering and newer areas of interest, such as information engineering, low-temperature engineering, nanotechnology and experimental plasma physics.

There are no barriers between different branches of engineering. The department is involved in a great deal of multidisciplinary and collaborative research with groups in other departments, from archaeology to zoology. 

The department has an excellent record of engagement with industry and of translating research results into real-world applications. It has generated numerous successful spin-out companies.

The department offers a range of research degrees, including four-year programmes as part of several specialised Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs).

School of Geography and the Environment

With over 200 graduate students from a range of nationalities, professional and disciplinary backgrounds, the School of Geography and the Environment at Oxford is one of the largest, most diverse and vibrant in the world. 

The school offers a number of graduate courses, ensuring that a suitable opportunity exists at Oxford regardless of whether you are planning a career in research, teaching or an environment-related profession, preparing for a career change or to take a career break.

There are several one-year MSc courses combining taught course modules with a dissertation. These courses offer a framework of core lectures, field courses, electives, and workshops and symposia for learning. Individual classes reflect the research interests of individual faculty and often mix seminar style teaching with discussions or practical exercises.

The two-year MPhil courses combine a substantial research component with master’s-level study, and the DPhil is an advanced research degree which involves three to four years of full-time original, independent research or a part-time pathway which involves six to eight years of research.

Research is supported in key areas of environmental, human and physical geography, from studies on migration, geopolitics, biogeography, climate change, flood risk, desertification, biological and cultural diversity, and many other areas.

Department of Physics

The six sub-departments at Oxford Physics are Astrophysics, Atomic and Laser Physics, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Particle Physics and Theoretical Physics. Each of these sub-departments is autonomous, although many of the research projects available are interdisciplinary.

All of the DPhil degrees at Oxford Physics are research-based courses that normally take three to four years of study. You will be expected to carry out your own research in areas drawn from the broad range of research across the department, and will be allocated at least one supervisor who will be your primary contact for guidance throughout your research degree. In parallel with your project, you will be expected to attend a taught course in the first year, comprising lectures, seminars and discussion classes at graduate level.

Whilst working on your research project you will engage in a thorough skills training programme which includes a range of workshops and seminars in transferable skills, generic research skills and specific research techniques. There are also numerous seminars and lectures held in the department by local and visiting physicists, and you will be provided with many opportunities to meet experts in various fields. There will also be opportunity for you to present your work at both formal and informal conferences, seminars and colloquia.

Department of Statistics

The University's Department of Statistics is a world leader in research in probability, bioinformatics, mathematical genetics and statistical methodology, including computational statistics, machine learning and data science. 

You will be actively involved in a vibrant academic community by means of seminars, lectures, journal clubs, and social events. Research students are offered training in modern probability, stochastic processes, statistical methodology, computational methods and transferable skills, in addition to specialised topics relevant to specific application areas.

Much of the research in the Department of Statistics is either explicitly interdisciplinary or draws motivation from application areas, ranging from genetics, immunoinformatics, bioinformatics and cheminformatics, to finance and the social sciences.

The department is located on St Giles, in a building providing excellent teaching facilities and creating a highly visible centre for statistics in Oxford. Oxford’s Mathematical Sciences submission came first in the UK on all criteria in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

CDT funded studentships come with an additional research training support grant (RTSG) to cover costs of associated equipment, research and travel. Individual research projects come with variable research costs and students will need to discuss these with their supervisor and plan a budget for their project. In some cases students may need to apply for additional funding, either from the RTSG or from college or other sources. Students should always involve their supervisor with such funding requests.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students on the Intelligent Earth (UKRI CDT in AI for the Environment):

• Balliol College
• Campion Hall
• Exeter College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Lincoln College
• Mansfield College
• New College
• Pembroke College
• Reuben College
• St John's College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Application fee waivers for eligible associated courses

If you apply to this course and up to two eligible associated courses from our predefined list during the same cycle, you can request an application fee waiver so that you only need to pay one application fee.

The list of eligible associated courses may be updated as new courses are opened. Please check the list regularly, especially if you are applying to a course that has recently opened to accept applications.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

Informal enquiries should be made to the Intelligent Earth CDT administrator in the first instance.

You are encouraged to communicate with academics working in your area of interest to discuss potential research topics and the possibility of being offered supervision. Profiles of academics with whom you might wish to study can be found on the CDT website.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

If you are not applying for a specific project, you do not have to specify one at this stage. Instead you should indicate your preferred CDT Research theme under 'Proposed field and title of research project'. If there are pre-defined projects or topic areas of interest to you, you can indicate this in your personal statement. You retain the right to change your research stream up to the point where you submit your research proposal in the second term, so this selection is not binding at application stage.

Proposed supervisor

Referees: three overall, of which at least two must be academic.

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

One professional reference can be accepted if you have relevant work experience, but academic references are preferred.

Your references will support proven and potential academic excellence in terms of intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, communication skills and ability to work in a group.

We are requesting that referees anonymise their references with respect to name, ethnicity and gender as one of the actions we are taking as part of a pilot aimed at minimising conscious and unconscious bias in the admissions procedure for graduate students. Please ensure any referees you approach are aware of this requirement. 

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Contextual statement

If you wish to provide a contextual statement with your application, you may also submit an additional statement to provide contextual information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.

Submit a contextual statement

It is not necessary to anonymise this document, as we recognise that it may be necessary for you to disclose certain information in your statement. This statement will not be used as part of the initial academic assessment of applications at shortlisting, but may be used in combination with socio-economic data to provide contextual information during decision-making processes.

Please note, this statement is in addition to  completing the 'Extenuating circumstances’ section of the standard application form .

You can find  more information about the contextual statement  on our page that provides details of the continuing pilot programme to improve the assessment procedure for graduate applications.

Statement of purpose: A minimum of 500 words to a maximum of 1,000 words

Your statement should be written in English and should focus on your motivation, research interests and career ambitions in the area of the CDT, rather than on other personal achievements, interests and aspirations. It should refer directly and specifically to one or more of the themes of the CDT.

It will be normal for your ideas and goals to change in some ways as you participate in the programme and you are not committed to work in the specific subject area or with any supervisor(s) you highlight in your application. You should nevertheless make the best effort to demonstrate your current interests and aspirations. 

Your statement will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• your ability to present a coherent case
• your commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
• your preliminary knowledge of the subject area and research techniques
• your reasoning ability
• your ability to absorb new ideas

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 5 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships

Friday 1 March 2024 Applications may remain open after this deadline if places are still available - see below

A later deadline shown under 'Admission status' If places are still available,  applications may be accepted after 1 March . The 'Admissions status' (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.

*This is a new course (for entry in 2024-25)

Further information and enquiries

This course is led by the MPLS Doctoral Training Centre

• Course page on the Intelligent Earth website
• Funding information  from the CDT
• Academic and research staff  at the CDT
• MPLS Doctoral Training Centre website
• Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected]

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content

Computer and Information Science

Study the theories, experimentation and engineering that form the basis for the design and use of computers.

Computer scientists work in almost every industry because computing is the glue that holds much of contemporary science, technology, commerce and entertainment together.

With a computer science degree, you can pursue a wide spectrum of roles – you could develop software, applications or websites. You could design, maintain or protect computer systems. Or you could focus on data – how to store, organize and derive value from it.

Department of Computer and Information Science

201 Weir Hall University, MS 38677 (662) 915-7396 [email protected]

FedEx Corp. Expands Strategic Partnership with University

Thanks to FedEx funding, the computer and information science department will expand its research and education in data science – i.e., extracting meaningful insights from massive amounts of data. FedEx support will help enable a dedicated degree program in data science, along with financial assistance to attract first-rate faculty and students to the program.

Spring Tutoring

Tutoring is free to all CS majors and anyone enrolled in a CS course.

No appointment needed. Located in Weir Hall 234.

Tutors and Available Times: Sushmita Halder – T,TH 9:00a.m.-12p.m. and Fri 3:00p.m.-6p.m. Kien Giang – M,W 11:00a.m.-12:50p.m./ 3:00p.m.-5:00p.m.; T,TH 4:00p.m.-5:00p.m.; Fri 3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.

From the Desk of the Department Chair

Welcome to the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Mississippi! We offer exciting and innovative undergraduate and graduate programs on the beautiful campus of the University of Mississippi in historic Oxford, Mississippi. Surrounded by beautiful tree-lined horizons and nestled in a valley in North Mississippi, we are breaking new ground in computer science education and research.

We have added new faculty members to our solid base of experienced faculty. We have also developed new courses on important topics such as web programming, mobile application development, immersive media, information visualization, system security and network security.

Additionally, beginning Fall 2020, we are very excited to offer two new undergraduate emphases for the BSCS program: Computer Security and Data Science.

Again, welcome to the Department, and we look forward to seeing you around campus!

–Dr. Yixin Chen, Professor and Chair

What you’ll find at Ole Miss

Degree choice – with the more specialized Bachelor of Science degree, you’ll take additional mathematics, science and computing courses. With a Bachelor of Arts, you get the core computer science principles and the flexibility to take courses compatible with a liberal arts degree.

New or enhanced courses – you’ll keep up with innovations in cybersecurity, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, graphics, game development, web and mobile app development and more.

Community and competition – you can take part in our programming competitions, hackathons, esports activities and join our student chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery.

Search form

• Travel & Maps
• Our Building
• Supporting Mathematics
• Art and Oxford Mathematics
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Undergraduate Study
• Postgraduate Study
• Current Students
• Research Groups
• Case Studies
• Faculty Books
• Oxford Mathematics Alphabet
• Oxford Online Maths Club
• Oxford Maths Festival 2023
• It All Adds Up
• Problem Solving Matters
• PROMYS Europe
• Oxfordshire Maths Masterclasses
• Outreach Information
• Mailing List
• Key Contacts
• People List
• A Global Department
• Research Fellowship Programmes
• Professional Services Teams
• Conference Facilities
• Public Lectures & Events
• Departmental Seminars & Events
• Special Lectures
• Conferences
• Summer Schools
• Past Events
• Alumni Newsletters
• Info for Event Organisers & Attendees

• Postgraduate Courses
• MSc in MFoCS

MSc in Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science

Information for current students

Course Calendar

Course Structure

Mathematical Institute Course material

Computer Science Course Material

Mathematical Institute Lecture list

MSc in Mathematics and the Foundations of Computer Science

Other useful information for current students

Useful Contacts

Please direct all enquiries in the first instance to the MSc Administration Team at @email .  For further useful contacts see the Course Handbook.

Student Feedback and Representation

The Department has a Consultative Committee for Graduates  which meets termly.  

Departmental and University Regulations

Information for current students.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems

Autonomous systems powered by artificial intelligence will have a transformative impact on economy, industry and society as a whole. Our mission is to train cohorts with both theoretical, practical and systems skills in autonomous systems - comprising machine learning, robotics, sensor systems and verification- and a deep understanding of the cross-disciplinary requirements of these domains. Industrial partnerships have been and will continue to be at the heart of AIMS, shaping its training and ensuring the delivery of Oxford’s world-leading research in autonomous systems to a wide variety of sectors, including smart health, transport, finance, tracking of animals, energy and extreme environments. 

During your time as a CDT student, there are opportunities to take up internships, outreach activities, personal development, team work, and collaboration with other CDTs in similar areas.

Our Research

The University of Oxford has a world-class reputation in the underpinning technologies of AIMS. Graduates have gone on to become entrepreneurs, taking leading roles in industry and commerce or continued their careers in academia.

Recognising the strength of our research and teaching in this area and the potential for future breakthroughs, the Departments of Engineering Science and Computer Science were awarded the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT), which provides the focus for the development of these new technologies.

Key skills areas

What’s holding up the real-world impact of AI? Today, too often, innovation is overly-focussed on new component algorithms, particularly those from Machine Learning. To realise impact on the world, however, such algorithms must be integrated with complete autonomous systems – in which there are far–too–few trained experts. AIMS imparts unified training in four important and intimately-connected components of such systems:

• Machine Learning, as a unifying core;
• Robotics & Vision;
• Cyber-Physical Systems (e.g. sensor networks); and
• Control & Verification.

As examples of autonomous systems, AIMS aims at building systems to impact upon

• sustainable urban development (transport, financial services and smart infrastructure),
• extreme and challenging environments (space robots and satellite data) and
• smart health (cancer diagnosis).

AIMS students are also trained explicitly in

• entrepreneurship,
• responsible research and innovation,
• management of intellectual property,
• presentation,
• scientific writing and
• public engagement.

Autonomous systems in the real world may need to identify and interpret complex scenes, from moving vehicles to human activity. For example, robotic systems require such capabilities so that they can navigate in unknown environments, and augmented reality systems require methods for scene perception and object identification. AIMS will offer training in visual geometry, deep learning, perception, generative models, visual tracking, segmentation, path planning, visual navigation, robot learning, locomotion and motion planning. Domains of focus include urban & off-road driving, hazardous environments, smart infrastructure, space robots and healthcare.

AIMS recognises the increasing centrality of machine learning to autonomous systems. The data-driven approach offered by modern machine learning models has complemented the growth of datasets and computing power (particularly GPUs), which has resulted in machine learning transforming fields such as computer vision and robotics in the years since AIMS’s foundation in 2014. As such, AIMS now places Machine Learning as the hub of its training programme. Within machine learning, AIMS offers courses covering estimation & inference, signal processing, supervised & unsupervised learning, learning theory, Bayesian non-parametrics, graphical models, ensemble learning, neural networks and back-propagation, deep learning (representative models will include AlexNet, VGG-VD, ResNet, DenseNet), machine learning in production, optimisation, automatic differentiation, reinforcement learning, autonomous systems safety and governance, and much more. Focal applications are found in medical, smart city and space data domains.

Autonomous systems must be safe and dependable. For example, how do we ensure that the embedded software controller of the self- driving car does not crash, or that the implantable blood glucose monitor correctly identifies an abnormal range and raises an alarm? Verification via model checking provides automated methods to establish that given requirements are satisfied, but is challenged by the need to consider the complex interplay of discrete, continuous and probabilistic dynamics. Training will be given in modern control, deep reinforcement learning for process control, systems verification, adversarial inputs, symbolic controller abstraction techniques, computational game theory and multi-agent planning. Focal domains will include finance, factory automation, critical infrastructure and healthcare.

Many applications demand the seamless connection of intelligent devices in order to offer sensing, monitoring and actuating capabilities: these will form cyber-physical systems . Currently, cyber-physical systems face key technical barriers, including:

• providing context-awareness (e.g. location), problematic in indoor environments;
• overcoming the unreliability of sensors and actuators, often lacking calibration, quality estimation, energy management and fault detection capabilities;
• Improving security and privacy concerns, both in peer-to-peer ad-hoc networks and cellular networks.

AIMS offers training in sensor and actuator networks, topology control, cross-modality learning, privacy and security, lightweight authentication and key management, wireless network security, anti- jamming/jamming resistance, passive/active threat models, verification of security systems, differential privacy, and hands-on embedded systems programming. Key applications include the smart city, critical infrastructure and sensitive healthcare data.

What is a CDT?

Annual Review

Our Annual Review highlights the achievements of our staff and students during the preceding academic year. Take a look through the links below to get a feel for the breadth of activities taking place here at the CDT.

22 Apr 2024

AIMS Students Kelsey Doerksen & Benedetta Mussati accepted as Oral speakers at the Oxbridge Women in Computer Science conference 2024

15 Mar 2024

Doctoral training investment supports leading research in areas of national importance

12 Feb 2024

Educating the next generation of AI researchers. Why the University of Oxford is the place to be for graduates thinking of AI careers in research, industry and more.

09 Oct 2023

Oxford DPhil Siddhant Gangapurwala Honoured with Best UK Robotics PhD Award

25 Jul 2023

Winners announced for the MPLS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awards

13 Jul 2023

Honourable mention for student paper (CVPM) at CVPR 2023

02 May 2023

Helping to protect endangered sea turtles

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding

International students

• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Department of Computer Science and Technology

Sign in with Raven

• People overview
• Research staff
• PhD students
• Professional services staff
• Affiliated lecturers
• Overview of Professional Services Staff
• Seminars overview
• Weekly timetable
• Wednesday seminars
• Wednesday seminar recordings ➥
• Wheeler lectures
• Computer Laboratory 75th anniversary ➥
• women@CL 10th anniversary ➥
• Job vacancies ➥
• Library resources ➥
• How to get here
• William Gates Building layout
• Contact information
• Department calendar ➥
• Accelerate Programme for Scientific Discovery overview
• Data Trusts Initiative overview
• Pilot Funding FAQs
• Research Funding FAQs
• Cambridge Ring overview
• Ring Events
• Hall of Fame
• Hall of Fame Awards
• Hall of Fame - Nominations
• The Supporters' Club overview
• Industrial Collaboration
• Annual Recruitment Fair overview
• Graduate Opportunities
• Summer internships
• Technical Talks
• Supporter Events and Competitions
• How to join
• Collaborate with Us
• Cambridge Centre for Carbon Credits (4C)
• Equality and Diversity overview
• Athena SWAN
• E&D Committee
• Support and Development
• Targeted funding
• LGBTQ+@CL overview
• Links and resources
• Queer Library
• women@CL overview
• About Us overview
• Friends of women@CL overview
• Twentieth Anniversary of Women@CL
• Tech Events
• Students' experiences
• Contact overview
• Mailing lists
• Scholarships
• Initiatives
• Dignity Policy
• Outreach overview
• Women in Computer Science Programme
• Google DeepMind Research Ready programme overview
• Accommodation and Pay
• Application
• Eligibility
• Raspberry Pi Tutorials ➥
• Wiseman prize
• Research overview
• Application areas
• Research themes
• Algorithms and Complexity
• Computer Architecture overview
• Creating a new Computer Architecture Research Centre
• Graphics, Vision and Imaging Science
• Human-Centred Computing
• Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Mobile Systems, Robotics and Automation
• Natural Language Processing
• Programming Languages, Semantics and Verification
• Systems and Networking
• Research groups overview
• Energy and Environment Group overview
• Declaration
• Publications
• Past seminars
• Learning and Human Intelligence Group overview
• Technical Reports
• Admissions information
• Undergraduate admissions overview
• Open days and events
• Undergraduate course overview overview
• Making your application
• Admissions FAQs
• Super curricular activities
• MPhil in Advanced Computer Science overview
• Applications
• Course structure
• Funding competitions
• Prerequisites
• PhD in Computer Science overview
• Application forms
• Research Proposal

Funding competitions and grants

• Part-time PhD Degree
• Premium Research Studentship
• Current students overview
• Part IB overview
• Part IB group projects overview
• Important dates
• Design briefs
• Moodle course ➥
• Learning objectives and assessment
• Technical considerations
• After the project
• Part II overview
• Part II projects overview
• Project suggestions
• Project Checker groups
• Project proposal
• Advice on running the project
• Progress report and presentation
• The dissertation
• Supervisor briefing notes
• Project Checker briefing notes
• Past overseer groups ➥
• Part II Supervision sign-up
• Part II Modules
• Part II Supervisions overview
• Continuing to Part III overview
• Continuing to Part III: 2023 guidance
• Part III of the Computer Science Tripos
• Overview overview
• Information for current Masters students overview
• Special topics
• Part III and ACS projects overview
• Submission of project reports
• ACS projects overview
• Guidance for ACS projects
• Part III projects overview
• Guidance for Part III projects
• Preparation
• Registration
• Induction - Masters students
• PhD resources overview
• Deadlines for PhD applications
• Protocol for Graduate Advisers for PhD students
• Guidelines for PhD supervisors
• Induction information overview
• Important Dates
• Who is here to help
• Exemption from University Composition Fees
• Being a research student
• Researcher Development
• Research skills programme
• First Year Report: the PhD Proposal
• Second Year Report: Dissertation Schedule
• Third Year Report: Progress Statement
• Fourth Year: writing up and completion overview
• PhD thesis formatting
• Writing up and word count
• Submitting your dissertation
• Papers and conferences
• Leave to work away, holidays, and intermission
• List of PhD students ➥
• PAT, recycling, and Building Services
• Freshers overview
• Cambridge University Freshers' Events
• Undergraduate teaching information and important dates
• Course material 2022/23 ➥
• Course material 2023/24 ➥
• Exams overview
• Examination dates
• Examination results ➥
• Examiners' reports ➥
• Part III Assessment
• MPhil Assessment
• Past exam papers ➥
• Examinations Guidance 2022-23
• Marking Scheme and Classing Convention
• Guidance on Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct
• Purchase of calculators
• Examinations Data Retention Policy
• Guidance on deadlines and extensions
• Mark Check procedure and Examination Review
• Lecture timetables overview
• Understanding the concise timetable
• Supervisions overview
• Part II supervisions overview ➥
• Part II supervision sign-up ➥
• Supervising in Computer Science
• Supervisor support
• Directors of Studies list
• Academic exchanges
• Advice for visiting students taking Part IB CST
• Summer internship: Optimisation of DNN Accelerators using Bayesian Optimisation
• UROP internships
• Resources for students overview
• Student SSH server
• Online services
• Managed Cluster Service (MCS)
• Microsoft Software for personal use
• Installing Linux
• Part III and MPhil Machines
• Transferable skills
• Course feedback and where to find help overview
• Providing lecture feedback
• Fast feedback hotline
• Staff-Student Consultative Forum
• Breaking the silence ➥
• Student Administration Offices
• Intranet overview
• New starters and visitors
• Forms and templates
• Building management
• Health and safety
• Teaching information
• Research admin
• Miscellaneous

PhD in Computer Science

• Undergraduate admissions
• MPhil in Advanced Computer Science

Potential applicants should refer to the the Postgraduate Admissions Course Directory for information about the program and application requirements.

Those who are applying for one of the department's PhD studentships and RA'ships , you should use the deadline published on the individual job listing.

For those applicants who have not secured external scholarships and who wish to be considered for the various University and Cambridge Trusts' funding competitions, applications for the academic year commencing October 2024, and January 2025, open on 4 September 2023. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The deadline for submission of complete applications is 23:59 (GMT) on  5 December 2023 . Applicants who have secured external funding may apply up to 15 May 2024.

Please note that applications submitted between 6 December 2023 and 15 May 2024 will be considered only if there is a named potential supervisor who has invited the application, if the application is complete, and if funding is readily available. Note that incomplete applications received after this date will only be considered for January 2025 admission but cannot be considered for the funding competitions (for which the deadline is 5 December 2023).

Applicants should refer to the Postgraduate Admissions page for links to the application portal , deadlines, guidance and information.

Please note the following:

• Applications for funding support from the University and Cambridge Trusts must be submitted early: see University funding deadlines .
• Research students are normally admitted to the probationary Certificate of Postgraduate Studies in Computer Science (see CPGS) in the first instance.
• Applicants will also need to include a brief research abstract within the section of the application form which asks for a research topic and to indicate a potential supervisor's name .
• Applicants should discuss their proposed research with a potential supervisor before submitting the application for admission. See Research proposal for further details about the research proposal, and Research themes for links to potential supervisors within areas of your research interests. Please confirm that you have discussed the project with the proposed supervisor, and that they have confirmed they will be content to review an application from you. You should include a statement to this effect within the research abstract section of the application form.
• Applications are considered as they are received.

Please note that your application can only be considered by the department once it has been submitted. Your application can only be submitted if it is complete. You will be able to upload all your supporting material including a research proposal and the same time as submitting the application form. It is therefore very important to have all your supporting material, including agreement from your referees to provide you with references, your transcripts and research project proposal, ready before you start the application.

Applicants wishing to be considered for funding competitions should check their eligibility on the University-wide Sources of Funding web page.

The application portal acts as a scholarship funding application as well as an application for admission. In most cases, no further funding application form is required. There are some exceptions, however: we recommend checking the Student Funding webpage which provides information about other grants for students applying to Cambridge and their closing dates.

The current costs of a PhD are available from the Student Registry's Postgraduate Course Costs and Fee Status page . You will need sufficient funding to cover the University Tuition Fee, and at least the minimum maintenance for three years.

Once again, if you wish to apply for one of the department's PhD studentships and RA'ships , you should use the deadline published on the individual job listing.

Home students

The Department makes awards to UK students both from funds supplied, for example the EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant, and from its own funds such as the Premium Studentship  and the Hopper Studentship . In the year starting October 2023, the Department will help to fund up to three research students from its Doctoral Training Grant. These funds are limited. The Applications Panel considers all successful applicants for funding awards within its gift and submits the names of highly ranked home and international students to the Cambridge Trusts.

The Department may also have positions associated with industrial collaborations and particular research projects. Such studentships are advertised on the University's Jobs web page.

Very highly ranked international students will be considered for nomination to the Gates Cambridge Trust and Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme ( CISS ) competitions.

Please note earlier applications deadline for Gates Cambridge US scholarships for US students who are resident in the US: 11 October 2023 .

The Department will contact applicants directly about its internal awards such as the Premium Studentship .

It is worth noting that full funding must be secured before starting a course at Cambridge. Most of the scholarships will not accept applications from students who are already in residence. We strongly discourage students asserting they can self-fund a PhD in the hope that something else will turn up once you are in Cambridge.

Admission conditions

The Faculty's Degree Committee makes recommendations to offer places to successful applicants via the University's central Postgraduate Admissions Office, the only body with the authority to make an offer of a place as a postgraduate student. Offers from Postgraduate Admissions are usually conditional . A deadline will be set by which date all conditions must be met and, once met, the offer is confirmed by the Postgraduate Admissions Office.

Standard conditions include securing sufficient funding for three years to meet the financial conditions of the University including tuition fees and maintenance, and College membership. Additionally, applicants may be asked to achieve a certain grade in their current studies; to take or retake an English Language proficiency test ; and any other conditions the Postgraduate Admissions Office might apply.

Successful applicants who have applied online may be required to send original documents to the University's Postgraduate Admissions Office for validation. We strongly recommend the use of a reputable courier and that you obtain a tracking number .

Please contact the department's Postgraduate Education Manager with any questions not answered above.

Email: Postgraduate Education Manager

Include "PhD application query" in the subject.

Department of Computer Science and Technology William Gates Building 15 JJ Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0FD

Tel: +44 1223 334656 (NB may not be accessible during remote working)

Postgraduate Admissions Office Academic Division Student Services Centre Bene't Street, New Museums Site Cambridge, CB2 3PT, U.K.

WWW: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/

Department of Computer Science and Technology University of Cambridge William Gates Building 15 JJ Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0FD

Information provided by [email protected]

Privacy policy

Social media

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Department of Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.

Department of  Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.

Pengcheng Shi Director and Associate Dean 585-475-6147, [email protected] Min-Hong Fu Senior Staff Specialist 585-475-6193, [email protected]

The Ph.D. in computing and information sciences is a research degree designed to produce independent scholars, cutting-edge researchers, and well-prepared educators. Faculty and students conduct both foundational and applied research to address diverse and important challenges, and our graduates are poised to excel within both computing and interdisciplinary environments in academia, government and industry. The Ph.D. program brings together faculty from disciplines throughout the college’s five departments and schools: Computer Science , Computing Security , the School of Information , the School of Interactive Games and Media , and Software Engineering .

of full-time students are fully supported, with many having external fellowships from groups such as the National Science Foundation and Microsoft Research

job placement by graduation, as faculty members in universities around the world and in industry R&D positions

in the nation among all Ph.D. programs in computing (U.S. News and World Report)

Latest News

November 20, 2023

Do your kids cheat on their schoolwork? 13% of teens are using ChatGPT   

The New York Post talks to Pengcheng Shi, associate dean for research and scholarship in the Department of Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D., about the use of ChatGPT in the classroom.

October 16, 2023

Two RIT students earn Google Ph.D. Fellowships for AI computing research

Two RIT students have won Google Ph.D. Fellowships for their work as some of the most promising young academics in the world. Emily Kuang and Allahsera Auguste Tapo—both in the computing and information sciences Ph.D. program—will receive full tuition, a stipend, and Google research mentorship as part of their fellowships for up to three years.

July 28, 2023

MAGIC Center partnership with Foundry creates interdisciplinary research opportunities for students

RIT’s MAGIC Center and MAGIC Spell Studios has formed a partnership with Foundry, a Rochester-based company whose mission is to empower institutional miners, staking customers, and blockchain entrepreneurs with the tools they need.

Featured Work

Computing Ph.D. Student Leads Groundbreaking Research with KAIST Interaction Lab

Jiangnan Xu

Jiangnan Xu travels to Korea with the School of Interactive Games and Media to study the intersection of AI and the Metaverse.

Featured Profiles

Blurring the Lines of Artificial Intelligence and Biomedicine Research

Linwei Wang

Linwei Wang, professor of computing and recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), is using artificial intelligence to advance non-invasive personalized...

Faculty / Staff

Pengcheng Shi

Min-Hong Fu

Charles Gruener

Siyuan Wang

Research Areas

Our faculty and students conduct research to change how we live, work, and interact, focusing on both novel computing technology and how computing can support, facilitate, enable, and inspire progress in other domains.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Science
• HCI and Accessibility
• Software Engineering
• Security and Privacy

Please find Faculty Publications and Awards . 

Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.

A research degree designed to produce independent scholars, cutting-edge researchers, and well-prepared educators, you'll benefit from world-class faculty, diverse academic offerings, and modern facilities as you identify and research challenges within and beyond computing. 

Learn More about Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D.  

How to Apply

The following faculty are looking for new students with full financial support, starting Fall 2024: 

View details

For those wishing to apply to the Ph.D. program, there is a four stage process:

• Applicants submit their materials via the  RIT online application system , which has detailed instructions for doing so. There is no hard deadline for this, but applicants who submit their materials before January 1 will receive stronger attention.
• The admissions committee will independently assess all applicants, academic qualifications (background, grades, test scores, prior experiences, achievement, recommendations, interviews, motivations, faculty inputs, etc), the Ph.D. director will evaluate faculty requests for students based on the needs of the faculty and department. The committee will interview, by phone or video chat, all candidates for the second stage.
• From November through April, the Ph.D. director, admissions committee, and faculty will work together to find the best matches from those qualified applicants for further evaluation and admission consideration. Candidates may be asked to contact specific faculty to discuss potential advisor relationships, or faculty may call candidates.
• When the candidate, faculty advisor, Ph.D. director, and committee agree on a match, we make an offer. 

To learn more about applying to the Ph.D. program or about the graduate program admissions process at RIT please visit the   Office of Graduate Admissions .

Here you will find additional resources for the Ph.D. Program in Computing and Information Sciences, such policies, procedures, technical resources, etc.

View resources

Funded PhD Studentship

The following faculty are looking for new students with full financial support, starting Fall 2024. 

View details >

• Our Department
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Graduate Research
• Msc in Statistical Science
• Undergraduate Study
• Research Facilitation
• Public Engagement with Research
• Industry Relations
• Consultancy

MSc/PGDip in Statistical Science

The Master of Science in Statistical Science offers broad high-level training in applied and computational statistics, statistical machine learning, and the fundamental principles of statistical inference.

Graduate Open Day

The Graduate Open Day is usually around October/November and further details will follow closer to the time.

About the course

The Master of Science (MSc) in Statistical Science is a twelve-month full-time taught master’s degree running from October to September each academic year. The course has a particular focus on modern computationally-intensive theory and methods. The MSc in Statistical Science will aim to train you to solve real-world statistical problems. The course will equip you to choose the most appropriate statistical method to solve a given problem of data analysis, implement the analysis on a computer and communicate your results clearly and succinctly.

Training is delivered through mathematically demanding lectures and problems classes, hands-on practical sessions in the computer laboratory, report writing and dissertation supervision. You will have around three months to work on your dissertation with guidance from your supervisor.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Statistical Science is a nine-month taught course, running from October each academic year. It is similar to the MSc in Statistical Science but there is no dissertation.

The MSc was 12 months extremely well spent. I was able to take a wide range of classes covering cutting edge modern techniques, and put those skills into practice via the programming-oriented assessments. The dissertation was an excellent chance to develop research skills and dive deeper into an area of interest. Finally, I also got the chance to meet many wonderful people in my cohort, sharing knowledge and forming great friendships.

Alexander Barry

Course Details

Students can expect to take four or five courses each term (or, in exceptional cases, three or six) for a total of nine courses. These are made up of five core courses and four optional courses. The optional courses available will vary from year to year. The core courses available each year may also vary.

2024-2025 core courses

• Applied Statistics
• Statistical Inference
• Statistical Programming
• Computational Statistics
• Statistical Machine Learning

2024-2025 options

• Stochastic Models in Mathematical Genetics
• Probability and Statistics for Network Analysis
• Advanced Topics in Statistical Machine Learning
• Advanced Simulation Methods
• Graphical Models
• Bayes Methods
• Algorithmic Foundations of Learning (TBC)

You will be assessed on your performance in written examinations in May/June, through your work in the assessed practical problems set during the year, and by the quality and depth of your dissertation.

Entry Requirements

Please see the main graduate admissions page on the MSc in Statistical Science and PGDip in Statistical Science . For information on entry requirements.

To find out the sort of mathematical and statistical content you need to have studied, please refer to our MSc Prerequisites .

Fees and Funding

For information on fees and funding, visit the University fees and funding webpage. To help you find funding, the University provides a fees, funding and scholarship search .

Jane Street Scholarships

The Mathematical Institute, Department of Computer Science and the Department of Statistics at the University of Oxford are consistently ranked amongst the very best mathematical sciences and computer science departments in the world, for both teaching and research. The Jane Street Graduate Scholarships are four fully funded scholarships for UK Black or Mixed-Black students applying to courses from these departments.

How to apply

Admissions for 2025-26 open in September 2024.

Applicants should complete and submit their application online, via the University’s online form. Applicants should upload electronic copies of supporting materials (including written materials and their CV). Applicants can also register the email details of their referees online and the University will contact them directly to request references, confidentially and securely.

Paper applications are acceptable in exceptional cases where it is not possible for you to apply online; to inquire about whether your circumstances qualify for this exception, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office .

There is an application fee for each programme of study that applicants apply to.

More detailed information on how to apply to the MSc or PGDip in Statistical Science is available on the University pages about the MSc in Statistical Science or the PGDip in Statistical Science . For guidance on how to complete your application, please refer to the online Application Guide .  

Any Questions?

If you have any questions please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page first. If you cannot find the answer to your question, you can e-mail [email protected].

Email: [email protected]

Discover More

Find out more about Jane Street scholarships for UK Black or Mixed-Black students

Frequently asked questions about applying to the MSc in Statistical Science.

MSc/PGDip in Statistical Science Prerequisites

The prerequisite information you need to know before coming on the course.

MSc Student Resources

Course materials for the MSc in Statistical Science.

Our Community

Find out more about the people and culture in the department.

• Postgraduate Research

Computer Science PhD / MPhil

• Part time available: yes

Studying in:

• Computer Science
• School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science
• Faculty of Science and Engineering

Pursue your postgraduate programme at the University of Liverpool and you'll be part of a Computer Science school that's internationally renowned for its advanced research and teaching.

Why study with us?

There is a real sense of community, and the supervisors and staff are always willing to offer advice and motivation. There is a good balance between the practical training that is required to develop research skills and the independence to conduct your research. Paul Gainer - Computer Science PhD student

of research environment rated as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent' in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021).

refurbishment of Grade II listed building.

in the UK for world-leading research output in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

Established in 1983, our department has grown into a vibrant environment. In 2014 we became one of the top 10 computer science departments in the UK after 97% of our research was rated as world leading and internationally excellent by the Research Excellence Framework.

Computer Science at the University of Liverpool is research-driven and internationally renowned for its cutting-edge work. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework rated 97% of our research as being world-leading or internationally excellent, the highest proportion of any Computer Science department in the UK.

With our close industry partnerships and Russell Group status we enjoy strong funding and have recently invested £5m in our facilities. It is the perfect setting for world class experts to do ground-breaking research.

To best support our research we have flexible platforms that reflect our core interests and strengths. These platforms inspire innovative cross-disciplinary collaborations, with specialists throughout the University and across the world.

Research plays an important role in the life of the Department, and members of the Department are well known internationally for their ongoing contributions to the theory and practice of Computing. This has consistently been recognised in research assessment exercises over a number of years.

Research interests

The scientists in the Algorithms Section focus on the theory and applications of algorithms and also on understanding and coping with complexity. Scientists in our section also design and implement experimental software in order to test, apply and evaluate advanced algorithmic techniques. Our era has been characterised as “the era of Algorithms”. Our scientists investigate several aspects of this important field, including algorithmic optimisation, algorithms for networks and distributed computing, algorithmic game theory and algorithmic economics, and also computability and complexity of problems. The section is organised thematically in three corresponding research groups:

• Algorithms, Complexity Theory and Optimisation
• Economics and Computation
• Networks and Distributed Computing.

Research in the Algorithms Section mainly builds on Computer Science. However there exists a growing interdisciplinary flavor where algorithmic thought is inspired by problems in economics, mathematics, chemistry, statistical physics, engineering and biology/medicine. The Algorithms Section has several externally funded research projects (UK and EU funding) and also engages in applied industry-driven algorithmic research and design of associated software (e.g. auctions, network data analytics, traffic analysis, social media algorithmic applications and analysis, new materials construction, biological systems, banking). Details can be found on the group pages.

The Algorithms Section is a leader in algorithms and complexity in the UK and also one of the leading teams world-wide. The scientists of the section publish in a variety of very competitive conferences on algorithms and theory of computing. The section has a strong presence on the editorial boards, and organisation and program committees of major events in algorithms and complexity.

The Algorithms Section is involved in a state of the art Software Lab, in cooperation with the EEE&CS School initiative NeST ( Network Sciences and Technologies ).  The lab is equipped with several servers, several software platforms, a network of tiny devices (arduinos) and several high-speed connections. The lab aims to apply algorithms to create modern and efficient software and has already produced some software products in cooperation with local industry.

Agent Applications, Research and Technology

Scientific staff in the AI Section focuses on the theory and practice of building intelligent systems across core areas of artificial intelligence, including knowledge representation, data mining and machine learning, argumentation, robotics and autonomous systems, and verification. The section is organised thematically in four corresponding research groups:

• Argumentation and Representation of Knowledge
• Data Mining and Machine Learning
• Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• Verification.

Research in the AI section mainly builds on computer science but also has an interdisciplinary flavour by taking inspiration from fields such as economics, biology, mathematics, and engineering. The AI section has several externally funded research projects (UK and EU funding), and also engages in applied industry-driven research projects (e.g. law, robotics, pharmaceutical companies). The details of these projects can be found on the individual group pages. The AI section plays an internationally leading role by publishing at leading AI conferences, and has a strong presence on the editorial boards, and organisation and program committees of major events in AI.

The AI section is involved in a state-of-the-art robotics laboratory named smARTLab ( swarms, multi-agent and robot technologies, and learning Lab ).   smARTLab has two large experimentation facilities for research and development of ground robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Research themes

The current research platforms are grouped into two main sections, each containing a number of more specialised areas.  These are:

Algorithms Section

Artificial Intelligence Section

Research groups

Algorithms section

• Algorithms and Networks .

Artificial Intelligence section

Study options and fees

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.

Entry requirements

To be eligible, applicants should possess at least a 2:1 class Honours degree (or its equivalent) in Computer Science or in a related subject. Applications should indicate proposed research topics.

English language requirements

How to apply.

Research degree applications can be made online.  You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are  open all year round .

More about applying for research degrees

Apply online

Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal

Find a supervisor

• Professor Sven Schewe

Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +44 (0)151 794 4532

Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects

Related doctoral training partnerships.

Doctoral Training Partnerships support future researchers with funding and a rewarding learning environment where you can collaborate with leading researchers.

• EPSRC CDT in Distributed Algorithms
• ERDF Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory (LCEI)
• STFC Liverpool Big Data Science (LIVDAT) CDT
• CESRC Data Analytics and Society
• University of Liverpool Doctoral Network in Technologies for Healthy Ageing

Find a scholarship

We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.

See scholarships

Find a course

• A-Z of courses /
• Studentship vacancies

Undergraduate enquiries

International enquiries

Postgraduate taught enquiries

Postgraduate research enquiries

Ask the University of Liverpool a question

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate Taught
• Online programmes
• Welcome to Liverpool

Learn about...

• Visits and Open Days
• Accommodation
• Student support
• Careers and Employability
• Continuing Education
• Continuing Professional Development

Information for...

• International students
• Mature students and access courses
• Parents and supporters
• School and careers advisors

• My UCalgary
• Class Schedule
• UCalgary Directory
• Continuing Education
• Active Living
• Academic Calendar
• UCalgary Maps
• Close Faculty Websites List Viewing: Faculty Websites
• Cumming School of Medicine
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Faculty of Kinesiology
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Nursing
• Faculty of Nursing (Qatar)

Faculty of Science

• Faculty of Social Work
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Haskayne School of Business
• School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
• School of Public Policy
• Schulich School of Engineering
• Werklund School of Education
• Future Students
• Explore programs
• How to apply
• Understanding graduate studies
• Indigenous graduate students
• Financing grad school
• International students
• Graduate Student life
• Current Students
• Indigenous Graduate Students
• Newly Admitted
• Graduate Orientation
• Pre-arrival
• Registration
• Annual Registration
• Concurrent Registration
• Flexible Grading Option (CG Grade)
• Confirmation of registration
• Course registration
• Leave of absence
• Registration status
• Studying at another university
• Updating personal information (included preferred name)
• Thesis-based students

Fees and funding

• Understanding your fees
• Paying your fees
• Funding options
• Payment plan
• Supervision
• Best practices and guidelines
• Conflict of interest
• Changing supervision
• Academic integrity
• Annual progress report
• Intellectual property
• Building a thesis
• Submit your thesis
• Conducting oral exams remotely
• Thesis defence
• Course-based Students
• Academic Integrity
• Sources of funding
• Payment Plan
• NEW: Term-Based Registration
• Completing my degree
• Important dates and resources
• Forms and documents
• Service Requests and eForms
• News, updates and events
• Find your Graduate Program Administrator
• Calendar Archives
• Award Opportunities
• Graduate Awards Database
• Award opportunities
• Doctoral Recruitment Scholarships
• Award Guide
• Step 1: Applying
• Looking for awards
• Eligibility
• Preparing your application
• Step 2: Receiving
• Accept/Decline your award
• Getting paid
• Step 3: Managing your award
• Renewing your award
• Award interruption
• Award Termination
• Policies and Regulations
• Regulations
• Contact the Scholarship Office
• My GradSkills
• Academic Success
• My GradSkills Partners
• Communication Skills
• Research Communications Feedback Sessions
• Oral communication
• Visual communication
• Written communication
• Experiential Learning
• Internships
• For employers
• For graduate students
• Finding an internship
• Making your internship a TTI
• Applying for a TTI
• For graduate supervisors
• Images of Research
• Three Minute Thesis
• 2024 UCalgary 3MT Finalists
• 2024 3MT Finals' Hosts and Judges
• Past Three Minute Thesis Videos
• Workshops and Resources
• Career planning and professional development resources
• My GradSkills Calendar
• My GradSkills Workshop Matrix
• Online/Virtual Training
• UCalgary Alumni Mentorship Program
• Exceptional scholars
• What I wish I knew
• FGS Services
• Supervisory Renewal
• Supports for graduate students
• Graduate Academic and International Specialists
• Graduate supervisors
• Thesis and candidacy exams
• Supervisor resources
• Maintaining your supervisor profile
• Supervisory privileges
• Leadership team
• FGS Council
• Committees of Council
• Minutes and meetings
• Website Feedback

Computer Science

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview.

Cutting-edge companies such as Google and Apple have sought out graduates of the Computer Science program, which aims to give students the skills they need for careers ranging from private industry to academic positions at advanced research centres and universities. It helps students build skills and novel ideas for designing and implementing software, as well as find new ways to use computers, develop effective algorithms to solve computing problems, and plan and manage organizational technology infrastructure. As a program that usually takes about four years for an MSc graduate to complete, the degree requires course work, a single-authored scientific paper, and an oral candidacy exam, as well as submission and successful defense of a thesis.

Completing this program

• Core Course: Research Methodology in Computer Science.
• Seminar: Students will conduct a department seminar presentation based on their research.
• Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
• Additional Courses : May include Artificial Intelligence, Databases, Computer Graphics, Scientific Computing, HCI and Visualization and others.
• Candidacy: Students will complete a research proposal, scientific paper and oral candidacy exams.

Specializations

• Wearable Technology (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)

Technology sector, business start-ups, computer science research, academia, IT, software development.

A PhD in computer science is usually considered a final degree.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Nine courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Four years full-time

A supervisor is required, but is not required prior to the start of the program

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree. Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.

John Aycock

Mario Costa Sousa

Philip Fong

Dr. Marina Gavrilova

Majid Ghaderi

Helen Ai He

Peter Høyer

Christian Jacob

Michael Jacobson, Jr.

Admission requirements

A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree. Post-degree CS courses may be considered when calculating GPA.

Exceptions to GPA requirement may be considered for those with either:

• demonstrated research excellence, or
• GRE General scores of at least 600 verbal and 750 quantitative and either 720 analytical (old test format) or 5.5 (new test format)

Minimum education

A thesis-based MSc., or equivalent from a recognized institution.

Work samples

Reference letters.

Two reference letters from within the 12-month period prior to application.

Test scores

Optional: Special consideration will be given to those with GRE scores of at least 600 verbal, 750 quantitative, and 720 analytical (5.5 in the new format). Applicants from outside Canada are expected to apply with GRE scores.

Additional Requirements

Students are required to have completed 3rd or 4th year undergraduate courses in each of the following areas:

• Theory of Computation
• Software Engineering
• Systems (Operating Systems, Compilers)
• Application (Artificial Intelligence, Graphics, Databases, etc.)

English language proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt)  score of 97.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 7.0 (minimum of 6.5 in each section).
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 68, or higher (Academic version).
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  score of 70 (70 in some sections – up to the program, 60 in all other).  
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  score of A- in one or two courses (up to the program), “B+” on all other courses.  
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 191.
• Duolingo English Test  and obtaining a minimum score of 135* (with no sub-score below 115*). ( temporary until Fall 2024 intake ).

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements

For admission on January 1

• Final Application Deadline –  July 1  (Final Documentation Submission Deadline –  July 15 )
• Final Application Deadline –  September 1  (Final Documentation Submission Deadline –  October 1 )

For admission on September 1

• Early Applications (complete application review) -  January 15
• Final Application Deadline –  March 1  (Final Documentation Submission Deadline –  March 15 )
• Final Application Deadline –  May 1  (Final Documentation Submission Deadline –  June 1 )

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, department of computer science.

602 ICT Building 856 Campus Place NW Calgary, ABT2N 1N4 403.220.3528

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Science's website

Learn more about UCalgary by taking a virtual tour

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Thesis-based MSc

Computational Media Design

Thesis-based MA

Thesis-based PhD

Electrical and Software Engineering

Course-based MEng

Course-based MEng (Software)

Thesis-based MEng

Thesis-based MSc

Curious about the University of Calgary?

Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More

University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Computer Science (PhD)

The Computer Science (PhD) program is designed to provide students an opportunity to obtain the greatest possible expertise in their chosen field through intensive research. 

Program details

Admission requirements.

• Faculty of Science • Faculty of Graduate Studies

• Doctor of Philosophy

Expected duration

Study with us.

Established in 1970, the Department of Computer Science saw rapid expansion in its first ten years as Computer Science grew from a niche interest to an independent, recognized discipline. Today, we are an internationally recognized research centre with opportunities to work in active research laboratories in robotics, bioinformatics and novel interface design, using mathematics and methods from nature to solve computing problems and more.

Explore the research in Computer Science

Participate in cutting-edge research

Robots as co-workers? The Department of Computer Science has a number of ongoing research projects. An example of this, Dr. James Young explores how companies can introduce robots to our work environments and how they can be better integrated into our homes.

Learn more about Dr. Young’s research .

Benefit from areas of specialization

The Department of Computer Science offers seven different areas of specialization. Chose the right fit for you:

• Autonomous agents
• Bioinformatics
• Computational finance
• Data security and privacy lab
• Database and data mining
• Geometric, approximation and distributed algorithms
• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• InterDisciplinary Evolving Algorithmic Sciences (IDEAS)

Discover our scholarships, awards and other financial supports

The Department of Computer Science offers numerous competitive funding opportunities to graduate students, including the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) .

Learn more about our  awards and funding .

The Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Faculty of Science offer a four-year program of study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.

Expected duration: 4 years

Tuition and fees:  Tuition fees are charged for terms one and two and terms four and five. A continuing fee is paid for term three, term six and each subsequent term. (Refer to Graduate tuition and fees .)

In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section , students must complete:

• A minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework at the 7000-level

Sample course offerings

• COMP 7860: Security and Privacy
• COMP 7890: Data-Drive Software Engineering
• COMP 7920: Advanced HCI
• COMP 7926: Computational Finance
• COMP 7950: Advanced Machine Learning

For a full list of courses and descriptions of each, please visit the Academic Calendar .

The following are minimum requirements to be considered for entry into the Computer Science (PhD) program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

To be considered for admission to the Computer Science (PhD) program, you must have:

• A master's degree or equivalent from a recognized university
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent in the last two years of study

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies .

How to apply

The Computer Science (PhD) program accepts applications for Fall and Winter entry. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:

• $100 application fee (non-refundable)
• Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
• Research statement
• Supervisor support letter (must have secured supervisor support before applying; supervisor support letter will be requested within the application as a recommendation)
• Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
• Proof of English language proficiency , if required

Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.

Choose a supervisor before you apply

Computer Science MSc and PhD programs are research-intensive and because of this, applicants require a letter of support from a faculty member who is willing to act as their supervisor should they be accepted for admission. They should contact faculty before applying to inquire about the possibility of supervision. See Applying for graduate studies for full details.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications open up to 18 months prior to start term.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated.

Start or continue your application

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for City Planning reviews applications in March.

Winter applications are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Design and Planning reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Interior Design reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Landscape Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Anthropology reviews applications in March/April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applications open September 1 of year prior to start term.

Application deadlines

Applications open   up to 18 months prior  to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for History reviews applications in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications open July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  Committee basis . The Committee for German and Slavic Studies reviews applications in February/March.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis .

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Management reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physical Therapy reviews applications in April / May.

Applications open  August 1 of the year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Program currently undergoing review, applications will not be opening at this time.

Select Preventive Dental Science in the Program drop-down on the application form.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology reviews applications in March / April.

Applications to Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology are currently closed.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Education reviews applications in February / March.

Applications to Education PhD are currently closed.

Applications are reviewed after the deadline, with decisions issued in March - April.

Currently not accepting applications to this program.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. Applications received by the March 1 deadline for a September start-date will receive first consideration for any available funding. Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis for any available funding, please contact the department for further information.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Human Rights reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Law reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing (MN) reviews applications in April / May.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing PhD reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee reviews applications as per the timelines noted below each table.

Winter applications reviewed in October Summer applications reviewed in February Fall applications reviewed in June

Winter applications reviewed in June Summer applications reviewed in October Fall applications reviewed in February

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. This includes having the support of a faculty supervisor before you apply.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Natural Resources Management reviews applications in March - June.

After the annual application deadline (see below), applications are reviewed on a committee basis by the Faculty of Social Work internal admissions committee. Once this process is complete, decisions are sent to all applicants in March / April. 

Applications open  July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Social Work reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Music reviews Fall term applications in December / January, and Winter term applications in July.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Occupational Therapy reviews applications in May / June.

Master of Occupational Therapy regular program  applications open September 15 of the year prior to deadline .

Master of Occupational Therapy accelerated program  applications open October 1  of the year prior to deadline .

The name of your confirmed supervisor is required at the time of application. To identify a prospective thesis research supervisor on your application, please  contact Immunology Faculty members .

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Community Health Sciences reviews applications in March / April.

Fall 2025 applications are currently closed.

The name of your preferred supervisor is required at time of application.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Students selected for in-person interview will be notified in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physician Assistant Studies reviews applications in April.

Offers of admission will be released to successful applicants on May 17, 2024 from the University of Manitoba Master of Physician Assistant Studies, the same day as the University of Toronto BScPA Program and McMaster University Physician Assistant Education Program. The three institutions are pleased to provide applicants their offers on the same day to help with the decision-making process.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pharmacology and Therapeutics reviews applications one month after the application deadline.

Applications for Pathology MSc are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications for Pathologist Assistant are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pathologist Assistant reviews applications in April / May. 

The Pathologist Assistant program only admits Canadian and US students every two years. The Fall 2023 intake has been suspended. The next intake is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2025.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Statistics reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Biological Sciences reviews applications one month after deadline.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Indigenous Studies reviews applications in February and June.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. For those who wish to be considered for scholarships, applications must be received by January 15 of the year in which you're seeking admission.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions Committee for Applied Human Nutrition reviews applications in February.

Les demandes d’admission sont évaluées par un comité . Le comité d’admission évalu les demandes durant les mois de Mars et Avril.  

Les demandes peut être surmise jusqu’à concurrence de 18 mois avant le début de premier trimestre.

Toute demande d’admission en ligne doit être déposée, avec documents à l’appui, au plus tard aux dates indiquées.

Soumettre ou continuer votre application

Department of Computer Science

Our department has as an active, internationally-recognized research program with many faculty members being leaders in their respective fields.

Financial aid and awards

There are a variety of awards and funding options available to help you pay for graduate studies at UM.

Tuition and fees

Learn about the tuition and fee requirements associated with graduate studies at UM.

Academic Calendar

Explore program requirements and detailed descriptions of required and elective courses offered in the Computer Science (PhD) program.

Explore the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Discovery happens here. Join the graduate students and researchers who come here from every corner of the world. They are drawn to the University of Manitoba because it offers the opportunity to do transformational research.

• Funding, awards and financial aid
• Graduate student experience

Explore the Faculty of Science

Every day scientific discovery impacts us in new and exciting ways, unveiling unimagined wonders of nature and helping us live better lives through innovative solutions. The Faculty of Science aims to share that wonder and impact, producing research scientists who will help shape a better future for us all.

• Programs of study
• Student experience
• Community and partners
• Science Co-op
• News and stories
• Equity, diversity and inclusion

Keep exploring

Discover more programs

With over 140 graduate programs across multiple faculties, schools and colleges, the University of Manitoba offers more learning, teaching and research opportunities than any other post-secondary institution in the province.

• Mathematics (PhD)
• Physics (PhD)
• Statistics (PhD)

Join students from around the world in a diverse and supportive community.

What it's like to be a UM undergraduate

Be adventurous, challenge yourself and make a difference.

Opportunities for Indigenous students

Experience a world-class education in the heart of Canada

Why international students study with us

We offer state-of-the-art facilities with 140 years of history.

Our campuses

Admission and application inquiries.

Faculty of Graduate Studies Room 500 UMSU University Centre 65 Chancellors Circle University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

[email protected]  

Phone: 204-474-9377

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Program inquiries

Department of Computer Science E2-445 EITC, 75 Chancellors Cir University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 5V6 Canada

[email protected] Phone:  204-474-8313

• Request Info

• James C. Kirkpatrick Library
• Campus Maps
• University Calendars

University of Central Missouri's Online Master’s in Computer Science Program Achieves Top Rankings for Affordability and Overall Excellence

By Alex Greenwood, May 2, 2024

WARRENSBURG, MO — The University of Central Missouri’s online Master of Science in Computer Science program is ranked #5 for affordability in TechGuide's 2024 list of Online Master’s in Computer Science degree programs. This ranking highlights the program’s commitment to providing high-quality education at an accessible price point, placing it among the top 25 institutions nationwide for affordability and value.

In addition to its affordability, the program also secured the #12 spot on TechGuide's list for the Best Online Master's in Computer Science degree programs for 2024, further underscoring its excellence in the competitive field of technology education.

The University of Central Missouri's HLC-accredited online master’s in computer science degree equips students with the skills necessary to lead in the tech industry, where professionals are increasingly essential across all sectors. As the largest and one of the most affordable programs in Missouri, UCM offers specialized tracks in cloud computing, general computer science and software development.

This flexibility ensures that graduates are not only proficient in using technology to solve diverse practical problems but are also prepared to lead teams and innovate in their chosen fields. While the program's courses are primarily available in person, students have the flexibility to customize their program options by pursuing their degree entirely online , on a full-time or part-time basis, accommodating various schedules and career goals.

Learn more about the program at the website: https://www.ucmo.edu/academics/programs/masters-degrees/chst/comp-sci-and-cybersecurity/computer-science/computer-science-masters/index.php .

TechGuide, a leading technology education resource platform, is renowned for its comprehensive coverage and expert insights in the technology sector, featuring contributions from esteemed professors and professionals through its "Ask an Expert" series and podcast, which includes more than 50 episodes with tech industry professionals. Learn more: https://techguide.org/computer-science/online-masters-in-computer-science/

social-section