Key Information
Duration
- Full-time: 36 months
- Part-time: 60 months
Start Dates & Application Deadlines
- Starting January 2027: Apply before Aug 2026
- Starting April 2027: Apply before Nov 2026
- Starting July 2027: Apply before Feb 2027
- Starting October 2027: Apply before May 2027
Language
English
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Information Technology (IT), Computer Sciences, Data Science & Big Data
Overview
Research in Computer Science and Informatics from Cardiff University is all about going beyond current knowledge and technologies to build the computing systems of the future.
Technologies we now take for granted, like the web, smartphones, and databases, are all products of past research in computer science and informatics. So what will the future bring? Visit the programme website for more information
Researchers here at Cardiff are currently working on new developments in areas like computer graphics, data mining, and ‘intelligent’ mobile systems. We hope that our research will enable new kinds of computing applications, products and systems to help people in areas like healthcare, the environment, security and business.
Conducting research in computer science and informatics is exciting and challenging and we offer you the opportunity to work alongside our research staff who are leaders in their areas of expertise. They publish widely, edit and review for international journals, act as external examiners both within the UK and internationally, provide consultancy and secure research funding.
Careers
This postgraduate research programme will prepare you for a career as a leading academic or in an industrial research and development role. Successful graduates will be able to demonstrate to employers both a deep understanding and broad knowledge concerning contemporary computer science from a research and development perspective.
Examples of career pathways include: Software Developer, Lecturer, Web Developer, Software Engineer, Software Architect, Technical Consultant, IT Specialist, and Support Analyst.
Programme Structure
Research includes:
- Research in the school is organised into three Research Groups. Each one is led by a distinguished professor and is made up of academic staff, research assistants, and research students.
- Over the course of their studies, research students will normally publish a number of papers and attend conferences that will help them work towards their thesis.
- To be successful, these papers will contain new ideas and research results that will go beyond current knowledge in computer science and informatics.
- The student’s supervisors will help them develop these ideas and achieve results, and other members of the student’s research group will help them communicate and improve their ideas and results.
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
GPA: Upper Second Class
English Requirements
- TOEFL iBT: 90
- PTE Academic: 69
- IELTS: 6.5
Other Requirements
General Requirements
- A 2:1 Honours undergraduate degree or a master's degree, in computing or a related subject. Applicants with appropriate professional experience are also considered. Degree-level mathematics (or equivalent) is required for research in some project areas.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
International: 50,857 AUD / year (≈ 26,700 GBP / year)
Domestic: 9,535 AUD / year (≈ 5,006 GBP / year)
Living Costs
Cardiff, United Kingdom: 1,196-2,030 AUD / month
Funding
Scholarships are available. Selected opportunities include:
- Fulbright-Cardiff University scholarship – Various benefits – Deadline 07 Oct 2026 – Merit-based (Cardiff University)
- Cardiff University Marshall Scholarship – Various benefits – Deadline Not specified – Merit-based (Cardiff University)
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program – Various benefits – Deadline 07 Oct 2026 (U.S. government)
- ServiceScape Scholarship – 1000 USD – Deadline 30 Nov 2026 (ServiceScape)
- ACES Scholarships – 3500 USD – Deadline 15 Nov 2026 (ACES Education Fund)
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility – Various benefits – Deadline Not specified – Merit-based (OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation)
- Martingale Scholarship – Various benefits – Deadline 19 Oct 2026 – Need-based (Martingale Foundation)
- Scholarships for PhD Students – 19000 GBP – Deadline Not specified – Merit-based (Junhua Li)
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship – Various benefits – Deadline 28 Feb 2027 – Merit-based (Boustany Foundation)
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship – 1000 USD – Deadline 31 Oct 2026 – Merit-based (IvyPanda)
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship – 1000 USD – Deadline 01 Mar 2027 (Voice Talent Online)
- Women Scholarship for International Students – 5000 USD – Deadline 28 Aug 2026 – Merit-based (educations.com)
- The PhD Prep Fellowship – 10000 USD – Deadline 01 Sep 2026 – Merit-based (Admit Lab)
- Dream Chaser Scholarship – 1000 USD – Deadline 13 Jan 2027 – Merit-based (Salvado Law)
- Scholarship for students with disabilities – 3000 USD – Deadline 31 Dec 2026 – Need-based (Anonymous Hope Fund)
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids – 22500 GBP – Deadline Not specified (UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship – 1500 USD – Deadline Not specified (IELTS from 6 to 9)
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme – 12000 USD – Deadline 11 Jan 2027 (The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme)