Research opportunities in Computer Science

Our Department of Computer Science has a strong international reputation for conducting research that has real impact, tackles fundamental questions and addresses interdisciplinary problems which face today's computer scientists. We emphasise a multidisciplinary approach to research for both our PhD students and our staff. We collaborate with academic departments across the University, as well as scientific communities nationally and internationally to respond to global challenges.

Our modern, purpose-built facilities are among the finest in the UK including software, hardware and research laboratories accessible 24/7. Our research supervisors are dedicated leaders in their field who support and guide students to ensure their research projects have the maximum impact.

We’re a UK top ten research department - according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

Our courses

We offer the following research degree programmes:

• PhD degree (3 years full-time or 6 years part-time)
• Doctorate in Intelligent Games and Games Intelligence

The PhD is a research degree that involves annual progression meetings and other formal requirements including written work, seminars and other oral deliverables. You'll be supported by a personal supervisor and a Thesis Advisory Panel; a minimum of three academic members of staff. Our staff offer supervision in a wide range of disciplines and will help guide your studies. We also offer a PhD by distance learning.

Research areas

Computer science profoundly influences most industries – from healthcare to gaming to security. Our core research strengths reflect our expertise and understanding of interdisciplinary computer science research. We cover the following research areas:

• Analytics: including artificial intelligence, digital games, Esports, machine learning, natural language processing
• Beyond human vision: computer vision, image processing and analysis, pattern recognition
• Critical systems: cyber physical systems, cyber security, large-scale enterprise systems, safety-critical and real-time systems
• People, health and wellbeing: accessibility and inclusive design, health informatics, human–computer interaction (HCI)

Research centres

Our research centres span several departments and reflect how we collaborate with researchers from different subject areas.

• Assuring Autonomy International Programme
• Digital Creativity Labs (DC Labs)
• Doctoral Centre for Safe, Ethical and Secure Computing
• Institute for Safe Autonomy
• Quantum Communications Hub
• York Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security
• York Cross-disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis (YCCSA)
• YorRobots

Apply

Check that your research interests align with the expertise of one of our staff. Once you've identified a potential supervisor, please contact them before applying to discuss your application and potential research areas.

• PhD degree
• Doctorate in Intelligent Games and Games Intelligence

Funding

• Funding for research degrees