Computer Science

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree and/or a merit master's degree, or international equivalent, in computer science or a related discipline.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

Our Computer Science MPhil and PhD programme gives you an opportunity to make a unique contribution to computer science research. Your research will be supported by an experienced computer scientist within a research group and with the support of a team of advisers.

Research supervision is available under our six research areas, reflecting our strengths, capabilities and critical mass.

Advanced Model-Based Engineering and Reasoning (AMBER)- The AMBER group aims to equip systems and software engineering practitioners with effective methods and tools for developing the most demanding computer systems. We do this by means of models with well-founded semantics. Such model-based engineering can help to detect optimal, or defective, designs long before commitment is made to implementations on real hardware.

Open Lab- Open Lab is the leading academic research centre for human-computer interaction (HCI) and ubiquitous computing (Ubicomp) research outside of the USA. It conducts research across a wide range of fundamental topics in HCI and Ubicomp.

Applied research is conducted in partnership with Open Lab's many collaborators in domains including technology-enhanced learning, digital health, creative industries and sustainability. It also hosts Newcastle University's cross-disciplinary EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Civics, which focusses on the use of digital technologies for innovation and delivery of community driven services.

Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS)- ICOS carries out research at the interface of computing science and complex biological systems. We seek to create the next generation of algorithms that provide innovative solutions to problems arising in natural or synthetic systems. We do this by leveraging our interdisciplinary expertise in machine intelligence, complex systems and computational biology and pursue collaborative activities with relevant stakeholders.

Scalable Computing- The Scalable Systems Group creates the enabling technology we need to deliver tomorrow's large-scale services. This includes work on:

• scalable cloud computing
• big data analytics
• distributed algorithms
• stochastic modelling
• performance analysis
• data provenance
• concurrency
• real-time simulation
• video game technologies
• green computing.

Secure and Resilient Systems- Investigates fundamental concepts, development techniques, models, architectures and mechanisms that directly contribute to creating dependable and secure information systems, networks and infrastructures. We aim to target real-world challenges to the dependability and security of the next generation information systems, cyber-physical systems and critical infrastructures.

Educational Practice in Computing Group- Focusses on encouraging, fostering and pursuing innovation in teaching computing science. Through this group, your research will focus on pedagogy and you will apply your research to maximising the impact of innovative teaching practices, programmes and curricula in the School.

Information for international students

IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills).

Fees and funding