Computing postgraduate research degrees
Ready to start your research career? Explore our postgraduate research degrees in computing
If you're ready to start your journey towards a postgraduate research qualification – and put your skills in Computing to work solving the pressing issues of the future – look no further than Portsmouth.
As a postgraduate researcher here, you could research everything from cyber security and digital infrastructure for business, to the ways in which computational intelligence, paradigms and algorithms can be used in robot-enhanced therapy, limb motion recognition, and autism spectrum disorders intervention.
Our research is already creating impact and helping address issues facing organisations, businesses and individuals. 83% of our research impact in Computer Science and Informatics was rated as outstanding or as very considerable in terms of reach and significance in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) – and when you study for a postgraduate research degree with us, you'll play your own part in turning our expertise into impact.
The University of Portsmouth is ranked 5th of the modern universities for research quality in computer science and informatics
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
Research degrees
Find out about our PhD, MPhil, and PhD by Publication opportunities in Computing below, including how to apply, entry requirements and funding your degree. For more detailed information about the application process, visit our How to Apply pages.
Computing PhDs and MPhils
Explore our pre-approved funded and self-funded PhD projects in Computing, or submit your own research idea.
PhD and MPhil projects
Funded
There are currently no funded PhD projects available in this area – for more information on funding your own research project, visit our pages on funding your research degree.
Self-funded
- A Novel Framework for Robot Training and Tutoring Using Natural Language
- AI applications in Health Technologies
- AI-Driven Analysis of Online Misogyny
- Air Quality Assessment and Decarbonization Modeling for Portsmouth International Port: Utilising Environmental Drones and Digital Twins
- Ambient Assisted Living Technologies
- Analytics Theory and Applications for Teaching Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Best practice on design of personal health records: Practitioners perspectives and experiences on improving quality of care
- Blocks-based environments for learning programming in text-based languages
- Data fusion and multimodal learning for Ambient Assisted Living
- Decision support for public security using explainable artificial intelligence
- Deep Learning Models for Health Informatics
- Developing UK energy portfolio strategy using Machine Learning modelling
- Development of a framework for IoT Forensics
- Development of AI technologies to identify ocular disease
Self-funded projects
- Edge Computing for Ambient Assisted Living
- Enhancing Text Mining through Advanced AI and Machine Learning Techniques for Knowledge Discovery
- Exploit Learning Related Emotion to Improve students Engagement and Motivation in Higher Education
- Human-Robot Collaboration for Agile Logistics and Warehouse Operations
- Improving student retention: identifying at risk students at very early stages using machine learning
- Integrated AI framework for grasp and manipulation of intelligent robots
- Intelligent Human-Robot Interaction for Rehabilitation
- Intelligent sensing and control of a novel rehabilitation robot
- Machine learning approach to identifying side channel attacks on cloud computer systems
- Machine Learning Framework for Classification of Celestial Objects in Huge Datasets of Multi-spectrum Sky Survey
- Multi-Modal Interaction for Improved Human-Robot Collaboration
- Multi-modal Intelligent Sensing and Recognition for Human-Robot Interaction collaboration
Self-funded projects
- Optimising Human-Robot Teaming in Healthcare Assistance
- Outcome and Mortality Prediction in Intensive Care Units using Machine Learning
- Predicting Psychosis Journeys: A Data-Driven Approach with Predictive Modeling
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Quantum Machine Learning to Secure Internet of Medical Things
- Real-time Efficient On-road Obstacle Detection Using Fusion of Optical Imagery and Lidar Cloud Points on Edge in Autonomous Vehicles
- Real-time Efficient Small Object Detectors On UAV-based (Drone) images Using Neural Architecture Search (NAS) for Surveillance and Security applications
- Reinforcement-based Security Solution in Software-defined Intrusion Detection System
- Robust Realtime Lightweight Fruit Disease Detection on Small-Form Platform Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Optical Imagery
- Scalable Transfer Learning in Heterogeneous, Dynamic Environments for Robotic Arm
- Security Challenges and Solutions in Modern Transportation Networks
- Self-adaptive machine learning methods for outcome prediction in real-world complex datasets
- Self-learning for computer vision asset management
- Semantic Identification of objects of interest using Convoluted Neural Networks
- Skill Learning Framework for Human–Robot Interaction and Manipulation Tasks
- Smart Digital Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Prediction using Machine Learning and AI
- Smart Energy and Performance Optimisation Framework for Modern Computing Platforms Using Deep Learning and Data Analytics
- Split Learning for Malware Detection
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Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Computing through Deep Learning and Data Analytics
- Sustainable and Robust Federated Learning for Cyber threats Detection in 5G Networks
- Strategic aspects of blockchain technologies
- Technology enabled abuse in the context of domestic violence
- The problem of anonymisation on graph data
- Understanding the barriers to M-Health adoption in older people
Submit your own idea
If you already have a research idea, find a supervisor whose research interests match yours by searching our Find a PhD Supervisor page. Once you've identified someone suitable, contact them to discuss your idea.
PhD by Publication
A PhD by publication is a postgraduate research degree based on research you've already undertaken and had published (excluding self-publishing) before registering with us.
Eligible research outputs include peer-reviewed academic papers, complete books or chapters in anthologies, and other materials accepted for publication, exhibited or performed. You'll have to submit these materials for examination between 6–12 months after registering with us.
For more information, please visit our PhD by Publication page.
Duration, fees and funding
What do my tuition fees cover?
If you're self-funding your PhD, you'll pay tuition fees to the University to cover course and university costs.
Your tuition fees cover:
- The cost of your postgraduate research programme* at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, and examinations
- Bespoke training, professional development courses, networking, and research support through The Graduate School
- Research seminars and workshops (university-wide and faculty-specific)
- A contribution to funding to attend a conference or development activity in your research field
- Tailor-made weekly and monthly events, including weekly, themed experienced researcher-led talks and workshops
- Helping you become part of our thriving research community, including Research and Innovation services where 77% of our research is world leading and internationally excellent in REF 2021
- Your graduation ceremony
- Viva examination and administration costs
- The facilities and equipment you need to complete your studies, such as computer rooms, access to laptops, the Library, and laboratories
- Access to resources including electronic journals, alternative guide to funding, and thousands of hours of educational videos on LinkedIn Learning
- University support services including academic, financial, careers and wellbeing support and personal tutors
- Membership of the Students' Union (giving you the right to vote in elections, join clubs and societies, and get free independent advice)
- Access to software such as Microsoft Office, SPSS and Adobe Creative Suite (this includes Photoshop, InDesign, and Adobe Premiere Pro)
*Please note that some research programmes may come with additional bench fees.
How long will my research degree take?
- MPhil: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time
- PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
- PhD by Publication: 1 year part-time
How much will my degree cost?
PhD and MPhil
UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- Full-time: £4,786 per year
- Part-time and part-time distance learning: £2,393 per year
EU students
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time: £4,786 per year
- Part-time and part-time distance learning: £2,393 per year
International students
- Full-time students: £19,200 (may be subject to annual increase)
- Part-time and part-time distance learning: £9,600 (may be subject to annual increase)
PhD by Publication
External candidates: £4,786
Members of staff: £1,950
All fees are subject to annual increase. If you are an EU student starting a programme in 2024/25 please visit this page
Bench fees
Some PhD projects may include additional fees – known as bench fees – for equipment and other consumables, and these will be added to your standard tuition fee. Speak to the supervisory team during your interview about any additional fees you may have to pay. Please note, bench fees are not eligible for discounts and are non-refundable.
Funding support
MPhil full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Postgraduate Loan (UK/EU students only).
PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Doctoral Loan (UK/EU students only).
For information on other sources of funding, visit our funding your postgraduate research degree page.
Entry requirements for PhDs and MPhils
The entry requirements for a PhD or MPhil include an upper second class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject or a master's degree in an appropriate subject. Exceptionally, equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered. All applicants are subject to interview.
If English is not your first language, you'll need English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Support and facilities
When you join us, you'll be supported by our Graduate School, alongside your assigned supervisory team, who'll help you get the most from our facilities. The Graduate School will help you become part of our thriving, collaborative research community, and help grow your skills as a researcher through the Graduate School Development Programme, which offers training, workshops and events.
You can use high-tech laboratories with the latest technology, including multimedia studios, a large-scale 3D immersive Virtual Reality room used for Virtual Reality Research, advanced motion capture facilities, and advanced interface devices including haptic feedback and EMG sensors used for Intelligent Systems Research Support.
What can a postgraduate research degree do for my career?
Once you complete your postgraduate research degree, you'll be a highly-skilled researcher with the knowledge and skills to make an impact in many different industries.
Your postgraduate research qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you're an intelligent, capable and motivated person, with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership and creativity.
Apply
Apply for a research degree in Computing and Information by completing our online form.
February (2025 start)
April (2025 start)
October (2025 start)
Current research
Explore the work we're doing across our areas of research expertise in Computing.
Cyber security
We're working to improve the security of the systems used to access assets, and to make the way people access them more secure.
Systems and Information Systems
We're exploring how technology and professionals can support the strategic, managerial and operational activities of a business.
Health Informatics
We're improving the design of computer systems and wellbeing services to make the delivery of healthcare more efficient and cost-effective, and we're exploring how technology can influence lifestyle choices and reduce health risks.
