Computer Science - Research

Overview

The School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EEECS) aims to enhance the way we use technology in communication, data science, computing systems, cyber security, power electronics, intelligent control, and many related areas.



You’ll be part of a dynamic doctoral research environment and will study alongside students from over 40 countries world-wide.



We supervise students undertaking research in key areas of computer science, including:

- Artificial Intelligence

- Cybersecurity

- Computing Systems

- Power Electronics

- Robotics

- Sensor-based Systems

- Wireless Communications



As part of a lively community of over 100 full-time and part-time research students you’ll have the opportunity to develop your research potential in a vibrant research community that prioritises the cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovation in the advancement of knowledge.



Within the School we have a number of specialist research centres including a Global Research Institute, the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT) specialising in Cyber Security, Wireless Innovation and Data Science and Scalable Computing.



Many PhD studentships attract scholarships and top-up supplements. PhD programmes provide our students with the opportunity to acquire an extensive training in research techniques.



Subject Summary

You will have the opportunity to develop and refine appropriate research skills and learn how to carry out significant, high-quality, original research in your specified research area, as well as having the opportunity to work with some of the most passionate internationally recognised researchers in their field.



• Cyber Security

• Wireless Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence

• Computer Systems

• Energy, Power and Intelligent Control

• Education and Society



Course structure

There is no specific course content as such. You are expected to take research training modules that are supported by the School which focus on quantitative and qualitative research methods. You are also expected to carry out your research under the guidance of your supervisor.



Over the course of study you can attend postgraduate skills training organised by the Graduate School.



You will normally register, in the first instance, as an ‘undifferentiated PhD student’ which means that you have satisfied staff that you are capable of undertaking a research degree. The decision as to whether you should undertake a PhD is delayed until you have completed ‘differentiation’.



Differentiation takes place about 8-9 months after registration for full time students and about 16-18 months for part time students: You are normally asked to submit work to a panel of up two academics and this is followed up with a formal meeting with the ‘Differentiation Panel’. The Panel then make a judgement about your capacity to continue with your study. Sometimes students are advised to revise their research objectives or to consider submitting their work for an MPhil qualification rather than a doctoral qualification.



To complete with a doctoral qualification you will be required to submit a thesis of approx 80,000 words and you will be required to attend a viva voce [oral examination] with an external and internal examiner to defend your thesis.



A PhD programme runs for 3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing up year should it be required.



The PhD is open to both full and part time candidates and is often a useful preparation for a career within academia or consultancy.



Full time students are often attracted to research degree programmes because they offer an opportunity to pursue in some depth an area of academic interest.



The part time research degree is an exciting option for professionals already working in the education field who are seeking to extend their knowledge on an issue of professional interest. Often part time candidates choose to research an area that is related to their professional responsibilities.



If you meet the Entry Requirements, the next step is to check whether we can supervise research in your chosen area. We only take students to whom we can offer expert research supervision from one of our academic staff. Therefore, your research question needs to engage with the research interests of one of our staff.

Graduate

The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

3 academic years full-time, 6 academic years part-time.

Entry Year: 2024/25

Career Prospects

For further information on career opportunities at PhD level please contact the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Student Recruitment Team on askEPS@qub.ac.uk. Our advisors - in consultation with the School - will be happy to provide further information on your research area, possible career prospects and your research application.

Research information


Associated Research

Research within the School is organised into research themes.

The research clusters combine strengths by working together on major projects, in many cases in collaboration with key technology companies.


HPDC has been successful in attracting substantial DTI funding for projects (around £3-4m), which have produced exemplary demonstrations of Grid technology in real applications.

KDE researches theoretical and application-oriented issues in soft computing, addressing the latest development and applications of knowledge and data systems for solving extensive, complex, technological socio-economic problems. Different techniques in the design of advanced knowledge systems are developed and research directions are investigated.

SIVS carries out research in intelligent video surveillance, 3D medical imaging and speech processing. This cluster has also attracted several million pounds in funding for both fundamental and applied speech, image and video applications within the framework of the ECIT institute, a major new cross-disciplinary development in conjunction with Electronic Engineering.


ECIT brings together internationally recognised research groups specialising in key areas of advanced digital and communications technology.

CSIT brings together research specialists in complementary fields such as data security, network security systems, wireless-enabled security systems, and intelligent surveillance systems, and serves as the national point of reference for knowledge transfer in these areas. As well as collaborating to widen perspectives in the other clusters, KDE has used external funding to produce substantial research outputs and technology transfer in the areas of adaptability, optimisation, reasoning under uncertainty, data mining, and knowledge integration.