Comp_Science_Software_Engineering

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Computer Science research degrees

Postgraduate - Research

MSc by Thesis PhD

Looking for a funded PhD?

Check out our current PhD scholarship opportunities now

About our programmes

Whether you choose to study at Masters or PhD level, you'll find that Computer Sciences at Hull combines research expertise and cutting-edge facilities to deliver a unique experience in your postgraduate journey. The qualification you earn will allow you to face the challenges that lie ahead in the rapidly-developing world of computer science and to gain a head start in your career. The research we do in Computer Science - from AI and informatics to gamification, computational science, robotics and visualization - builds on a long history of successful research and innovation.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the UK's assessment of research quality, we were ranked joint fifth in the country for the international, real-world impact of our research. Studying with us for a postgraduate research degree means you get to benefit from this expertise to solve a world-leading research problem of your own. Along the way, you will also acquire a wealth of other vital skills and enjoy being part of our active and friendly postgraduate student community.

Apply for research programmes in Computer Science

Find out more about PhD research programmes in Computer Science

Details

Open for admission in 2024/25

Qualification Full time Part time
MSc by Thesis 1 year* 2 years*
PhD 3 years* 6 years*

* The length of programme registration will be longer as it includes the maximum writing-up phase. For further details on how research degrees are structured at Hull, and thesis submission expectations scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Start in January, May or September

Research

Our academic experts welcome applications for postgraduate research across a broad range of topics.

Artificial Intelligence and Informatics

  • Decision support and data mining (in telehealth)
  • Applied distributed information systems (privacy and security)
  • Big data
  • Digital healthcare technologies

Computational Science

  • Agent-based modelling
  • Data structures and analytics
  • Domain-specific languages
  • Crowd-sourced data
  • High-performance computing

Computer Gamification and Instruction

  • Using game technologies to improve motivation and engagement
  • Technology enhanced learning
  • Intelligent and personalised systems
  • Data mining (including educational data mining)
  • Human-computer interface aspects
  • Mobile and web-based applications

Dependable Systems

  • Optimal design refinement and allocation of dependability requirements - automation of processes in dependability standards
  • Automated dependability (safety, reliability, availability) analysis
  • Multi-objective optimisation of system architecture and maintenance
  • Automatic test data generation
  • New generation user interfaces for system design tools
  • Meta-heuristics, intelligent agents and application of AI in system design 

Robotics

  • Intelligent robots
  • Intelligent diagnostic tools
  • Cognitive architectures
  • Fuzzy logic and robotics
  • Assistive living robots

Simulation and Visualization

  • Applications of simulation and visualization
  • Underpinning technologies

Fees and funding

Home


Full time:
£4,786 per year

Part time: £2,393 per year

International


Full time:
£20,000 per year

These fees are for all research degree programmes on this page. For courses lasting more than one year, annual increases apply. For more information, please visit the fees and funding page. 

Postgraduate research programme structures


PhD

  • Full-time: 3 years of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 6 years of research, with up to 24 months of writing up if required

Masters

  • Full-time: one year of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 2 years of research, with up to 24 months of writing up if required

Writing-up and thesis submission


A standard full-time PhD programme comprised three years of research plus up to 12 months of thesis finalisation (also referred to as “writing-up”). Part-time is six years plus up to 24 months thesis finalisation if needed. Full-time standard Masters programmes are comprised one year of research plus up to 12 months of thesis finalisation needed; and part time Masters programmes have two years of research with up to two years of thesis finalisation.

For full-time students, the thesis finalisation phase should take three months but may be extended to one year without further paperwork. For part-time students, thesis finalisation should take six months, but may be extended to two years without further paperwork. The maximum thesis finalisation period is included in your overall programme length, which means that international PGRs will not need to apply for an additional visa to cover this phase.

If you need to move into the thesis finalisation period of your research degree, you must enrol for this phase and you will be liable to pay a continuation fee.

The fees for the writing-up period for 2023/24 are:

Full time

  • Thesis finalisation fee £370
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Part time

  • Thesis finalisation fee £185
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Thesis submission timelines


It is expected that you will submit your thesis within the timeframes outlined below:

Masters degrees

  • Submission by one year and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 2 years and 6 months part-time.

Doctoral degrees

  • Submission by 3 years and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 6 years and 6 months for part-time.

Doctoral Loan

UK students who haven’t secured a scholarship can take out a Doctoral Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. They provide up to £29,390 for full-time and part-time PhDs in all subject areas.

EU students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance. Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Additional costs

There are some extra costs that you may have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary:

  • Student visas (international students).
  • Books (you’ll have access to many books through the University library, but you may want to buy your own copies).
  • Optional conference/field/archive/library trips (Faculties support some travel and conference attendance financially. Details vary. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want to buy your own).
  • Printing and photocopying (There is a printing allowance in place for all students, currently £20 a year. Some Faculties grant PGR students access to printing and photocopying as staff. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Professional-body membership.
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography).

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few.

Some postgraduate research students may be asked to pay a bench fee in addition to the tuition fee to cover additional costs of their research project. If such a fee is levied for additional project-specific costs, not included in the tuition fee, you will receive further information during the application process.

For information about bursaries and how to fund your studies see our money page, or take a look at our PhD scholarships page for specific funded PhD opportunities.

Watch: find out more about postgraduate study at the University of Hull.

The University’s Postgraduate Training Scheme (PGTS) provides a range of generic and discipline-specific modules to support research students through their programme.

The library has an exclusive lounge for postgraduate research students and a dedicated Skills Team to provide a wide range of study and research skills help.

The Doctoral College provides support to postgraduate research students. Offering skills development opportunities and dedicated facilities, the school is here to help you achieve your potential.

Research at Hull tackles big challenges and makes an impact on lives globally, every day. Our current research portfolio spans everything from health to habitats, food to flooding and supply chain to slavery.

Entry requirements

You should normally have, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in Computer Science or related discipline with reasonable programming skills and experience.

You should check our existing research areas and tailor your research proposal accordingly.

International students

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

  • For 2024 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each competency.
  • For 2025 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each competency.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

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