PhD AI-Enabled Digital Accessibility (ADA)
Our AI-enabled Digital Accessibility (ADA) PhD programme supports pioneering research in merging AI advancements with human expertise - to improve digital accessibility for all, regardless of age, language, cognitive and sensory abilities. ADA will nurture the next generation of leaders in AI-enabled digital accessibility, uniting experts in engineering, computer science, social and cognitive science, and language, translation and design studies.
4,138+ people have created a bespoke digital prospectus
Why choose this
programme?
- Join the Leverhulme-funded Doctoral Scholarships Network for AI-enabled Digital Accessibility (ADA) - the first centre of its kind in the world.
- Work in cutting-edge research facilities including Behavioural Science laboratories for physiological measurements such as eye tracking, a High-Performance Compute cluster for data-driven projects and an immersive media production studio to support experimentation with the creation of accessible audiovisual media.
- Be at the forefront of an emerging and exciting discipline that will spearhead new approaches across a variety of fields, shaping the future of AI-enabled accessible digital media.
- Enhance the understanding of accessibility at its conceptual core and explore diverse methods, combining human expertise with AI progress, to deliver and implement accessibility solutions tailored to diverse user needs.
Statistics
Top 20 in the UK
Surrey is ranked in the top 20 for the quality of our research outputs (Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021)
What you will study
Our ADA PhD gives you the opportunity to undertake an interdisciplinary research programme in conceptual, experimental and/or applied areas of AI-enabled digital accessibility.
You could explore a topic such as:
- Meaningful image/video -to-speech/text accessibility through AI
- Meaningful speech-to-text accessibility through AI
- Improving text comprehension and simplification through AI
- Tools for meaningful cross-language ADA, especially low-resource languages
- Enhancing assistive technology through AI
- Developing novel methods to personalise ADA.
As a PhD student, you’ll become part of Surrey’s Leverhulme-funded Doctoral Scholarships Network for AI-enabled Digital Accessibility (ADA-DSN), putting you at the heart of a community of academics, postdoctoral researchers, industry representatives and advocates in this emerging field.
During your PhD, you’ll embark on a training programme including:
- Interdisciplinary seminars
- Bespoke lectures
- Tutorials and masterclasses
- Student-centred workshops
- Activities focused on developing interdisciplinary, cohesion, integration, team-working, team-building and practical skills.
These workshops are designed to meet individual training needs, strengthen existing and acquire new skill sets, develop personal training plans and consolidate project plans.
Please note: Studentships and PhD topics are subject to availability as places are limited.
Assessment
Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners.
You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.
After your first 12 months, you’ll complete a confirmation report, which will be assessed by independent examiners.
Location
This course is based at Stag Hill campus. Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
Research projects
We invite proposals for innovative and original projects that align with the themes and outlines presented below:
Theme 1: AI for Audiovisual Accessibility
Exploring AI-enabled solutions for converting audiovisual content into accessible formats, such as audio description for people with sight loss and other audiences.
Theme 2: AI for Speech-to-Text Accessibility
Advancing automatic speech recognition and related technologies to improve real-time and post-production accessibility of speech content for different use cases.
Theme 3: AI for Text Simplification and Comprehension
Investigating how AI can enhance text accessibility by simplifying complex language, improving readability, and adapting content for diverse users, including neurodiverse users.
Theme 4: AI for Cross-Language Accessibility
Developing AI-powered tools for multilingual accessibility through translation, interlingual subtitles and interpreting to support global content reach and inclusivity.
Theme 5: AI-Enhanced Assistive Communication Technologies
Creating AI-enabled assistive tools, such as voice assistants and chatbots to improve user experiences for diverse users across digital platforms.
Theme 6: AI for Personalising Accessible Communication
Developing novel methods for tailoring digital accessibility solutions to individual user preferences and needs while ensuring ethical AI practices.
Research centres and groups
As a PhD student, you will be supervised by a unique world-class team of researchers from different disciplines who are experts within a wide range of theoretical and methodological skills. Depending on your specific project, your supervisory team will be multi-disciplinary and you will benefit from the knowledge and insights from multiple disciplines within the University.
Your designated team of supervisors and co-supervisors, tailored to your specific project, will help you define the scope and objectives of your research, and help you ‘fill in the gap’ where needed to gain the skills necessary to bring complete your research.
Research support
The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.
UK qualifications
Applicants are expected to hold a first or upper-second-class (2:1) UK degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent overseas qualification), or a lower-second (2:2) UK degree plus a good UK masters degree – distinction normally required (or equivalent overseas qualification).
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category and at least 7.0 in the writing component.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection process
Selection is based on applicants:
- Meeting the expected entry requirements and providing all relevant documents including a satisfactory research proposal
- Being shortlisted through the application screening process
- Completing a successful interview
- Providing suitable references.
Fees per year
Explore UKCISA's website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.
* Please note: any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).
October 2026 - Full-time
- UK
- £5,238
- Overseas
- £21,800
October 2026 - Part-time
- UK
- £2,619
- Overseas
- £10,900
January 2027 - Full-time
- UK
- £5,238
- Overseas
- £21,800
January 2027 - Part-time
- UK
- £2,619
- Overseas
- £10,900
- Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
Additional costs
There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.
Funding
Doctoral studentships will be available for this programme through the ADA Leverhulme Doctoral training network. Additional funding is available for Masters Plus Doctoral Scholarships for students from underrepresented groups. For further information, please email Professor Sabine Braun: s.braun@surrey.ac.uk.
A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.
Studentships
Browse our frequently updated list of funded studentships open for applications.
How to apply
Please apply online and submit the following:
A research proposal of 1,000 words for one of the above research projects that:
- Fits with one main theme – please indicate your designated theme number (and outline in the case of THEME 6)
- Is structured as follows:
- ‘My take on the topic’
- Research questions
- Theoretical framework
- Methodologies
- Significance of the research.
An applicant motivation letter of 500 words that:
- Demonstrates fit to project
- Highlights career development aims.
After registration
Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.
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