Doctoral Programmes

We offer a 4-year PhD course in Computer Science. Initial registration is at MPhil/PhD level with upgrade to PhD within one year if progress is evident after review. Additionally there is the option to study for a 1-year Master by Research (MScR) in Computer Science. You can be confident of finding a suitable course, whether you are a current student or a recent graduate with industry experience.

Entry Requirements

Applicants are expected to have, or shortly be obtaining, at least an upper second class (UK 2.1 honours) degree or equivalent in a related STEM subject . Typically, successful candidates will have, or be completing, a relevant MEng or MSc degree. If you satisfy the grade requirements this is only one aspect of the application and does not guarantee admission - please read the follow-up sections to ensure that your application is strong.

Advice

Research degree applications are highly competitive and we receive many more applications than we can accept. To strengthen your application you should:

• find a Research Supervisor matching your research interests (do consult some of their academic papers before making the first contact); noting not all research active academics have the capacity to take on new students and not all academics currently undertake research activities;
• write a research proposal, possibly with the help of the proposed supervisor, conveying a clear vision of what you are looking to achieve (guidelines on writing a research proposal);
• obtain the agreement from an academic to supervise your proposed research, before making a formal application; otherwise, your application may not be considered for a research degree;
• develop a factual application, relating to academic achievement and any prior experience while demonstrating your suitability and commitment to do research.

Apply - Postgraduate Admissions

Supporting Documents Required

After submitting your application you will receive an email from the central PG Admissions Team with instructions on uploading your supporting documents. These will include your:

• Research Proposal
• Degree transcript(s) and certificates
• References or referee details
• English language certificate (if applicable)
• CV

You will be required to submit some of these documents in hard copy if you are made an offer. You should also specify whether you wish to be considered for a scholarship. (University scholarships require a separate application from the course application.)

Deadlines

There are no application deadlines for our research degrees, however, if you are applying for a scholarship please check the scholarship deadlines and the entry/eligibility criteria for admission (accessible from Funding Advice). Please be aware that if you receive an offer for a research degree, this does not mean you have had an offer for a scholarship or any funding. Scholarship applications are considered separately. Cohorts of new students usually join the Department at the beginning of an academic year (usually October) and mid-January.

Funding

We have a number of research studentships, which are awarded on the basis of availability and merit. In addition, the Doctoral College provides a list of Funded Studentships as well as advice and guidance about other sources of funding. We welcome applications from self-funded applicants who have the resources to cover their fees and living costs for the duration of the course..

Please see our Funding Advice for more information on available funding sources.

Contact us

All Postgraduate Research enquiries can be directed to PGRAdmin.DCS@warwick.ac.uk