Frequently asked questions

We cover many different areas in Computer Science, with particular strengths in Artificial Intelligence (especially Vision, Knowledge Representation and Reasoning and Natural Language Processing), Multidisciplinary Informatics (including Bio-systems, Distributed and Grid Computing, Scheduling, Scientific Computation, Visualization and Virtual Reality) and Theory of Computing (including Algorithms and Complexity and Program Analysis and Logic Programming). For more information, please see our research.

The department has strong links with industry through both undergraduate and postgraduate industrial placements, and through collaborative projects and knowledge transfer. We regularly advertise so-called CASE studentships for specific PhD projects in conjunction with industry on the Faculty of Engineering's scholarships page. Should you be interested in a strongly industrial project, we advise that you indicate this on your application form so that we can check whether anything suitable is available at the current point in time.

Our department has both strongly interdisciplinary groups within the department as well as excellent links to other departments within the University, including, but not limited to Geography and Earth Sciences, Linguistics, Biology, and Mathematics. Joint supervision between two departments is possible. You will then have one parent department, which is the home department of your first supervisor, and a second supervisor or advisor from a second department.

The School of Computing provides world-class facilities for its students and staff, many of which are a result of our research excellence. Research students have their own latest workstation-class desktop machines running both Linux and Windows XP. In addition, he/she has access to shared facilities, if needed, including grid computing, VR suite, Usability labs, Video Conferencing and Holobench.

A full time PhD degree normally takes 3.5 years, with a maximum period of 4 years, a part-time PhD degree between 5 and 7 years.

Starting points for PhD students are flexible and can be throughout the year, although a September or October starting point is preferred.

You normally have one main supervisor for guidance in your chosen research project, with an additional second supervisor, advisor or mentor. Joint supervision with two supervisors is also possible.

Most of our students are embedded in a larger research group, with possibilities of contact and discussions with other research students, PostDocs and academic staff. In addition, the University's SDDU unit provides dedicated courses for the academic training and support of research students, ranging from time management to hints on viva preparation or poster presentations. In these courses you will also meet many other research students from your own and different disciplines.

We are an international department and you will find many other international students here. In addition, the University of Leeds has a dedicated International Centre that helps both before your arrival with matters like accommodation and during your stay in Leeds, including help on regulations and procedures as well as organisation of events and trips.

The University provides a full range of academic support and welfare services to all its students. More information is available from:

Disability services
International students
The University Skills Centre
Student Counselling Service

Your application form needs to include:

• - a completed 'Applications for Research Degree' form
• - a curriculum vitae (resumé)
• - a description of one or more research areas in which you would like to study
• - complete transcripts/certificates of your academic results
• - two signed and sealed letters of references, at least one of which should be from an academic referee
• - Evidence of competence in English, if English is not your mother tongue

Further information can be found on the Research Student Administration website.

Your application will be assessed on our entry requirements , including academic and English language requirements, whether your references are sufficiently supportive and whether an appropriate supervisor in your research area can be found. If all this is in order, you are offered a place of study.

If your applications materials are complete, the decision will be normally be made within 4 weeks. However, any gap in application materials (missing references, transcripts etc.) will prolong this process or lead to a conditional offer (see next question).

For time reasons, it can sometimes make sense to start an application before you have all documents (for example, before final BSc exams). This is possible and we will start processing the incomplete application. We can then often make you a conditional offer of a place of study --- i.e. an offer that can be taken up if you provide the required certificates before you start your research degree. However, you are not exempt from providing this documentation.

None. You can apply throughout the year. However, if you also apply for funding, note that funding applications are normally in January to May, depending on the scholarship.

No. It means that we accept you for a degree and offer your the academic environment and supervision in our department. Funding applications need to be made separately in the majority of cases and can only be fully processed after a place-of-study application.

Information on current fees and available scholarships is available on the Faculty of Engineering's scholarships page.

Yes - the University allows the payment of fees in four annual instalments.

Information on available scholarships is available on the Faculty of Engineering's scholarships page.

Information on available scholarships is available on the Faculty of Engineering's scholarships page.

All scholarships offered by the university, department or UK government are normally assessed on academic and personal merit only, to ensure that the best students get funding. Your personal financial situation is normally not taken into account.

The School of Computing does regularly employ postgraduate students for lab demonstrating, invigilating exams, checking exam marks, acting as tour guides for open days, etc. There are also opportunities for paid work in other University units, e.g., the Library. Paid work can be undertaken up to 6 hours per week.

Applicants may be invited for an informal meeting with an admissions tutor or a potential supervisor, if this is practical. Applicants holding an offer who are able to visit Leeds prior to commencing their course are strongly advised to do so. Note the timing of the Postgraduate Open Day, which is an excellent opportunity to get information, meet staff and students and tour the department.

Yes - further details and registration for this event is available online on our open day page.

t: +44 (0)113 343 5430
f: +44 (0)113 343 5468
e: rsadmit@comp.leeds.ac.uk