Computer Laboratory

PhD in Computer Science — applications and admission

Prerequisites

Applicants are expected to have a very good degree (in the UK a First Class Honours degree) in Computer Science or a related subject. A masters-level degree (or other post-graduate work) is increasingly desirable; some PhD applicants may find prior study of our MPhil in Advanced Computer Science useful.

A good IELTS or TOEFL score is also required where an English language qualification is necessary.

Course code

All research students are admitted in the first instance on a probationary basis and are registered for the Certificate of Postgraduate Studies in Computer Science (CPGS). The course code for application purposes is CSC1. Students who complete successfully the probationary period and pass the first year review to the satisfaction of the Degree Committee will be registered retrospectively for the Ph.D. Degree to the date of admission.

Research Proposal

Students are not assigned to prespecified projects. They are expected to propose an area or topic, and will be accepted only if an appropriate and willing supervisor is available. Applicants should therefore prepare a statement of proposed research of no more than 3000 words (in addition to the usual personal statement) indicating their intended topic and research strategy. This should:

  • show an understanding of existing work in the field,
  • identify an area for new work,
  • have concrete goals and deliverables for the first year, and
  • indicate that you know how to achieve them.

This could usefully be drafted in collaboration with the intended supervisor and candidates are invited to make informal contact with the Laboratory, either through individual staff members or the Student Administration Manager (address below), before submitting a formal application. If you contact more than one person in the Laboratory, please make sure that all the people you contact are aware of all the others so that we do not duplicate effort. The Laboratory may suggest an informal visit, and may interview applicants in person or by telephone.

Application forms

Formal application for admission for the PhD degree must be made through the University's central Board of Graduate Studies (postal address below), from whom an application form. Applicants should include their Research Proposal with their application.

Students are encouraged to submit their applications using the Board of Graduate Studies online application form system. All supporting material, transcripts, academic references, degree certificates and research proposal, must be received by the Board of Graduate Studies by no later than the deadlines published below. Please note that there is an application fee for applications

Uploading supporting documents: Applicants are asked NOT to upload scanned documents as JPEGS. Please convert scanned material and .docx documents into PDF before uploading them with your application.

Please note that your application will not be activated by the Board of Graduate Studies until supporting documentation has been received. All supporting documents must be received by the Board of Graduate Studies within two weeks of submitting the application. Online applications will be withdrawn and may not be reinstated if supporting material is not received by the relevant closing date. . It is therefore very important to have all your supporting material, including references, transcripts and research proposal, ready to submit before you apply.

Application deadlines

Admission is usually for October, the beginning of the academic year. We strongly recommend that self-funding or home applicants apply earlier than the March 31 deadline and preferably in January or early February.

International and EU applicants wishing to enter the Cambridge Gates and other Cambridge Trust funding competitions including the Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme (CISS), must apply significantly earlier. Students from most countries need to submit their application (both graduate admission and scholarship, also known as GRADSAF) by no later than 2 December 2011 . Applicants from the USA must submit their applications by October 15. The list of deadlines for graduate and scholarship applications provides more precise details.

Home and eligible EU students wishing to be considered for the Cambridge Home and EU Scholarship Scheme (CHESS) or funding from the EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant must submit their complete application to the Board of Graduate Studies no later than 13 January 2011.

Applicants are asked to notify the Laboratory's Student Administration Manager that they have submitted their application to the Board of Graduate Studies. Applicants may expect to hear informally whether the Laboratory is willing to accept them: however, formal acceptance as a graduate student is decided by the Board of Graduate Studies. The offer of a place does not guarantee funding by the Laboratory or the University, and acceptance by a College is also a separate matter.

Funding and grants

Home and EU Students

The Laboratory makes awards both from funds supplied, for UK and EU students only by the UK government (for example, the EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant), and from its own funds. In the year starting October 2011, the Computer Laboratory will be helping to fund nine research students from its Doctoral Training Grant. These funds are limited and the Laboratory encourages applicants to seek other funding, for example scholarships from their home countries, to come to Cambridge. The Admissions Panel considers all applicants for funding awards within its gift and submits the names of highly ranked home and EU students to the Cambridge Home and EU Scholarship Scheme (CHESS) competition.

The Laboratory may also have studentships associated with industrial collaborations and particular research projects. About a quarter of research students starting in 2010 were funded on research project studentships. Research project studentships are advertised as they become available on the Job Opportunities webpage.

EU and overseas students

Very highly ranked EU and international students will also be considered for nomination to the Gates Cambridge Trust and Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme (CISS) competitions.

The Board of Graduate Studies Prospectus provides information about other grants for students applying to Cambridge, and their closing dates. Intending students make their own applications for these as indicated in the Prospectus, and are advised to make them early. The Laboratory will contact applicants directly about its awards.

It is worth noting that full funding must be secured before starting a course at Cambridge. Many of the scholarships will not accept applications from students who are already in residence. Do not assert that you will be able to support yourself and hope that something else will turn up once you are in Cambridge.

Admission conditions

Students who intend to study for a period of either 3 or 4 years to obtain a Ph.D. Degree are not registered for that qualification on admission. Rather, they are usually registered for the CPGS and, after fulfilling the requirements, are registered for the Ph.D. Degree, backdated to their date of admission. Other potential Ph.D. students, not initially registered for the CPGS, will also be subject to a similar first-year assessment exercise: the first-year report and thesis proposal.

The various probationary statuses are:

  • Certificate of Postgraduate Studies in Computer Science (CPGS), 1 plus 2; or
  • Not at First Registered (NOTAF); or
  • Ph.D. (Probationary), 1 plus 2.

Standard conditions include securing sufficient funding for three years to meet the financial conditions of the Board of Graduate Studies and College membership. Additionally, applicants may be asked to achieve a certain grade in their current studies; to take or retake an English Language proficiency test; and any other conditions the Board of Graduate Studies might apply.

Please contact the Graduate Education Manager about any particular questions.

Email: Postgraduate.Admissions@cl.cam.ac.uk

Tel +44 1223 334656
Fax +44 1223 334678

Applicants are encouraged to apply using the online application form. However, if it is impossible to do this, applications submitted by post should be sent to:

Admissions Office
Board of Graduate Studies
PO Box 338
Cambridge CB2 1YP

and applications submitted by courier should be sent to:

Admissions Office
Board of Graduate Studies
4 Mill Lane
Cambridge, CB2 1RZ
Tel +44 1223 760606
Fax +44 1223 338723
Email admissions@gradstudies.cam.ac.uk
WWW: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/