
Postgraduate research study
The Centre for Vision, Speech, and Signal Processing (CVSSP) at the University of Surrey offers 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.
PhD at CVSSP

PhD at CVSSP
Our Centre is ranked 1st in the UK, 5th in Europe and 21th in the world for computer vision in the Computer Science Rankings 2020.
The University of Surrey is also ranked 1st for postgraduate research culture in the Advance HE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2020.
— There is no better time to join us!
Our vision is to engage PhD, post-doctoral and industry researchers in AI & 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; 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; and an 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 which is ranked second in the Guardian newspaper league table 2020.
Our programme offers;
- Cohort-based research training with training weeks on transferrable 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 has 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. You can 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 CVSSP Admin if you have a general enquiry.
Research at CVSSP
Our research has pioneered new technologies for the benefit of society and the economy, with applications spanning healthcare, security, entertainment, robotics, autonomous vehicles, communication and audio-visual data analysis.
CVSSP Research Facilities
CVSSP has unique facilities to support audio-visual machine perception research, including: a multiple camera audio-visual recording studio with 16 Ultra HD cameras, video rate capture and processing, a 64 channel sound sphere, and robot vision platforms including a new autonomous car testbed.
PhD Studies at University of Surrey
Find out more about PhD study at the University of Surrey from the people at the heart of our doctoral research community – our incredible students and academics.
PhD programme details
If you wish to apply for a PhD with us then please follow this link below.
Please contact Nan Bennett once you have applied for a PhD position or successfully submitted a PhD online application form.