About the Project
Supervisor: Professor Mohammed El-Hajjar
Future wireless networks will do more than connect people: they will sense, compute, and adapt intelligently. This PhD explores signal processing for next generation wireless systems, including integrated sensing and communications, over-the-air computation, and holographic MIMO, developing new methods to support faster, smarter, and more reliable wireless systems.
Future wireless networks are expected to do far more than provide faster data communications. They will need to sense the environment, support distributed intelligence, and enable high reliability communication. This PhD project addresses the challenges that arise when communication systems must also perform sensing, computation, and adaptive decision-making.
The research will focus on next-generation wireless technologies, such as integrated sensing and communications, over-the-air computation, and holographic MIMO. Key research problems may include the waveform design and beamforming methods that support both sensing and communication, how to exploit the wireless channel for efficient distributed computation, and how to model, process, and optimise signals in extremely large antenna systems.
The intended outcomes include new mathematical models, algorithms, and simulation-based performance evaluations for future wireless systems. The project may involve tools from digital communications, statistical signal processing, optimisation, information theory, and machine learning. You will develop methods that improve spectral efficiency, sensing accuracy, reliability, scalability, and energy efficiency in emerging 6G and beyond networks.
Future wireless infrastructure will be central to smart cities, connected transport, industrial automation, robotics, immersive services, and edge intelligence. A standout feature of the project is its breadth across several timely and rapidly developing research areas, giving the student scope to shape the direction of the PhD according to their strengths and interests while contributing to internationally relevant wireless communications research.
Entry requirements
You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in one of the following:
- electronic engineering
- wireless communications
- a closely related discipline
You should have:
- background in wireless communications, signal processing and optimization
- excellent writing and communication skills
Fees and funding
We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.
Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants.
Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants.
Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.
For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.
How to apply
Apply now
You need to:
- choose programme type (Research), 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- select Full time or Part time
- search for programme PhD Electronic & Electrical Engineering (7092)
- add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application
Applications should include:
- your CV (resumé)
- 2 academic references
- degree transcripts and certificates to date
- English language qualification (if applicable)
Contact us
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
For questions about applying, please doctoralcollege-admissions@soton.ac.uk.
Project leader
For an initial conversation, meh@ecs.soton.ac.uk.
The School of Electronics & Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.