Postgraduate research study

We offer an enhanced PhD training programme to address the world’s demand for individuals with scientific expertise in AI and machine perception, as well as professional and cross-disciplinary skills required to develop and deploy future AI intelligent sensing technologies for modern life.

We acknowledge, understand and embrace diversity.

There is no better time to join us!

Our vision is to engage PhD, post-doctoral and industry researchers in AI and machine perception across the UK in high-quality training and networking with industry to ensure that the UK leads the future development of this field.

Our training programme enables PhD students to gain the research skills needed to obtain an internationally-recognised PhD including:

  • Multi-disciplinary knowledge of the fundamental science and practical application of multi-sensory machine perception
  • Experience of applying their research in industry and the public sector to real-world challenges and data; understanding of responsible research and innovation
  • Transferable skills such as entrepreneurship and communication, including engineering competence skills suitable for professional registration (EurIng, CEng)
  • An open science approach to research, through open publication of research papers, data and software
  • Entrepreneurial and innovation-oriented attitude through exposure to SME and spin-off companies in our network.

CVSSP is a destination of choice for postgraduate talent and it is part of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

What we offer

  • Cohort-based research training with training weeks on transferable skills, science schools on research topics and facilitated sandpits for agile cross-disciplinary team solution to industry challenges
  • Individual research training to develop in- depth research experience and specific skills tailored for the individual and their personal career development plan
  • Opportunities for engagement with non-academic industry and user partners throughout the research programme incl. project design, training in industrial practice and industrial secondments. The learning objective is to ensure that all PhD researchers gain a cross-disciplinary understanding of both the fundamental science and real-world application of multi-sensory machine perception.
CVSSP Summer Walk

We have a thriving community of over 90 postgraduate research students conducting research across a broad range of areas. Our research cohorts are internationally diverse with students from all over the world, studying on a full or part-time basis. View our research or contact the relevant academic with an informal enquiry.

Postgraduate research courses start in October, January, April and July and run for 48 months full time. Offers may be conditional of applicants achieving the minimum requirements for IELTS and having satisfactory academic qualifications. Contact our team (cvsspadmin@surrey.ac.uk) if you have an enquiry.

What our students say

Studentship opportunities

Our Centre for Doctoral Training in Audio-Visual Machine Perception offers an enhanced doctoral training programme to address industry demand for individuals with cross-disciplinary scientific expertise in AI and machine perception, working in teams with integrated professional skills in software, project management, innovation and understanding of ethics and regulation of AI and data science research.

Audio/acoustics machine learning

Funding information:

A standard stipend of £18, 622 per year (2023-24).

Media provenance and authenticity

Funding information:

We are offering the UKRI standard stipend (currently £18,622 per year) with an additional bursary of £1,700 per year for full 3.5 years for exceptional candidates. In addition, a research, training and support grant of £3,000 over the project is also offered. Full home or overseas tuition fees (as applicable) will be covered.

Medical imaging standardisation for large scale studies

Funding information:

A stipend of £18,285 for 21/22, which will increase each year in line with the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rate, plus Home/EU-rate fee allowance of £4,407 (with automatic increase to UKRI rate each year). The studentship is offered for 4 years.

Transform future media experiences

Six fully-funded PhD studentships including fees and stipend available for outstanding candidates to join the BBC partnership 'AI4ME' at the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) at the University of Surrey.

PhD programme details

Please contact Nan Bennett (n.bennett@surrey.ac.uk) once you have applied for a PhD position or successfully submitted a PhD online application form.