Research Degrees in

Computer Science

in the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Overview

Do you want to advance or change your career, deepen your expertise in a topic, or expand your research and practical skills?

With a PhD or other postgraduate research degree in the area of Computer Science you will:

  • Work with leading experts in the field. We are a centre for research excellence, with nearly 60% of our outputs rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest national evaluation of research (REF2014).
  • Choose from our flexible study pathways. We offer PhD and Master's by Research programmes, which can be pursued full, or part time.
  • Join a thriving research community. Our Centre for Applied Computational Science (CfACS) brings together a team of interdisciplinary researchers committed to delivering cutting-edge research to improve everyday life.
  • Use our excellent facilities and equipment. We have GPU clusters to support big data processing, an animation suite (including green room and photography studio), advanced graphics workstations, a usability lab, and a robot swarm.
  • Undertake tailored personal and professional development training. Our comprehensive training programme equips you with the skills necessary to pursue careers in academia or industry.
  • Benefit from Manchester’s innovative technology scene. Manchester is the birthplace of the modern computer, and today has one of the country’s largest digital and creative sectors.

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Areas of supervisory expertise

We can supervise a broad range of projects within Computer Science, Informatics and Mathematics. Our areas of expertise include:

  • Bio-inspired computing
  • Complex systems modelling
  • Computational linguistics
  • Computer games
  • Cyber security
  • Data science and big data
  • High-performance computing
  • Human-centred computing
  • Intelligent agents
  • Internet of Things
  • Machine learning, optimisation
  • Networks and distributed systems
  • Smart infrastructure and smart cities
  • Text and data mining
  • Visual computing.

Find out more about our staff's expertise

Research culture

As a postgraduate researcher at Manchester Met, you will join a dynamic team of researchers committed to undertaking world-leading theoretical and applied research.

More about our research culture

Our research is not about computers per se; rather, we use computers as a tool to investigate the world. Our research crosses boundaries and disciplines. We work in areas such as healthcare, security, energy, smart cities and environmental studies to develop research projects that deliver tangible benefits to businesses and society. Our research makes real impact in areas such as policy, criminal investigations, crowd management and safety, health and wellbeing, games and education, corporate logistics and ‘next generation’ unconventional computing.

Our postgraduate researchers are a core part of this research environment. You will develop rigorous theoretical and practical skills that will enable you to produce impactful research. You will receive support throughout your research from your supervisory team and from the Faculty’s research team who provide training and networking opportunities. You will benefit from a wide range of industry events and seminars held at Manchester Met and beyond.

You will be a member of our Centre for Advanced Computational Science (CfACS) research centre that aims to use computational science to solve the important challenges that society faces. We are also home to the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Flow Analysis (CMMFA).

Courses offered, duration, and start dates

Programmes offered

  • PhD (3 years full-time, 6 years part-time)
  • Masters by Research (1 year full-time, 2 years part-time)
  • MPhil ( 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time).

Find out more about the different research degrees we offer

Start dates

The majority of our students enrol in October. We offer further enrolment points in January, April and July.

Distance learning

Research degrees are available to study on-campus or through distance learning.

Career prospects

A research degree in Computational Science equips you with higher-level research skills that open up a wide range of career pathways.

Our PhD graduates are fully equipped to pursue successful academic careers. Postgraduates who can research independently and apply rigorous critical thinking skills to real world problems are also highly valued in the expanding science and technology sectors. Our graduates are able to pursue senior-level roles in areas such as design and development, systems, and data analytics.

By studying in Manchester – a pioneering digital powerhouse, and global destination for leading industries – you will have significant opportunities to network and develop a practical understanding of this growing sector.

Course structure

This course is research based. You will independently conduct research into your own topic or a topic that we advertise. Your supervisory team will offer expert guidance throughout your studies and review work in progress.

Each year, you will follow a programme of training and development to enhance your research methods, subject-matter expertise and professional skills.

Fees and funding

Find out more

Postgraduate Research Degrees Fees

Please refer to our Fees page for more information on tuition fees.

Loans for research degrees

Many of our PhD and Professional Doctorate programmes are eligible for the government's Doctoral Loan Scheme. MPhil and MA/MSc by Research degrees are eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.

Find out more about tuition fees and financial support

Scholarships

Each year we offer a number of competitive scholarships to support high quality research projects. Current scholarship opportunities in Computational Science are advertised on our site.

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Entry requirements

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You should, as a minimum, have a first or 2.1 honours degree or an equivalent qualification.

International students must demonstrate a sufficiently high standard of English language ability.

In order to enter most postgraduate courses the English requirements are IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 575, and TOEFL computer-based 230

We welcome interest from applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We will take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment into consideration.

See more about our standard entry requirements.

Enquiries

Before applying for a research degree, you should have a preliminary discussion with a member of staff about your project and ideas. To arrange this, please email Dr Wei Bai (W.Bai@mmu.ac.uk), the Research Degrees Co-ordinator for the Department of Computing and Mathematics.

For further information on the application process, contact the Admissions team pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk, +44 (0)161 247 2966

How to apply

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To apply for this degree, please select one of the study options below to begin your application.

Before you apply, you should discuss your project with a member of academic staff. You should also complete the postgraduate research degree thesis proposal form, which you will need to upload as part of your application. The document can be attached at the final checklist section after you’ve submitted your application.


Postgraduate Study