Information and Communication Systems PhD
The University of Surrey’s Institute for Communication Systems (ICS), home of the 5G/6G Innovation Centre (5G/6GIC), is the one of the UK’s major academic research centres specialising in information and communications technology.
Key course information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- April 2027
- Attendance
- Full-time
- Duration
- 4 years
- UK fees
- £5,238*
- Overseas fees
- £28,300
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- April 2027
- Attendance
- Part-time
- Duration
- 8 years
- UK fees
- £2,619*
- Overseas fees
- £14,200
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- July 2027
- Attendance
- Full-time
- Duration
- 4 years
- UK fees
- £5,238*
- Overseas fees
- £28,300
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- July 2027
- Attendance
- Part-time
- Duration
- 8 years
- UK fees
- £2,619*
- Overseas fees
- £14,200
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- October 2027
- Attendance
- Full-time
- Duration
- 4 years
- UK fees
- To be confirmed
- Overseas fees
- £29,400
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- October 2027
- Attendance
- Part-time
- Duration
- 8 years
- UK fees
- To be confirmed
- Overseas fees
- £14,700
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- January 2028
- Attendance
- Full-time
- Duration
- 4 years
- UK fees
- To be confirmed*
- Overseas fees
- £29,400
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
- Entry requirements
- See full entry requirements
- Start date
- January 2028
- Attendance
- Part-time
- Duration
- 8 years
- UK fees
- To be confirmed*
- Overseas fees
- £14,700
- Subject area
- Funding
- Funding information
Why choose this programme?
You’ll be based in our Institute for Communication Systems (ICS) and taught by leading experts in the field. Become a part of our thriving community of academics, researchers and PhD students, and gain excellent employment prospects from Surrey.
We’re specialists in mobile and wireless technologies, including satellite communications and networks, internet of things, cyber security, and future network architectures and protocols. As home to the 5G/6G Innovation Centres, we’re recognised as world leaders in end-to-end research and practical implementation for 5G/6G mobile communications and beyond.
Our strong track record in research includes high-quality publications, patents and world-class implementations. We’re heavily involved in collaborative research across the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas, funded by governments and industry. Our PhD graduates secure excellent positions across industry and academia in the UK and worldwide.
Statistics
100%
Of our computer science research graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes 2026, HESA)
Top 75 in the world
For telecommunication engineering in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2026
Top 20 in the UK
Surrey is ranked 19th in the UK for the quality of our research outputs (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Course details
Open Close
What you will study
It normally takes three to four years of full-time study to complete this PhD. Your research can be based on a topic of your choice, or may be dictated by industry sponsorship or government funding.
On our Information and Communication Systems PhD programme, you’ll be assigned two supervisors, who’ll guide you through your studies. Your supervisors will give you direction and experience of the cutting-edge technologies in their areas of expertise.
They’ll also give you the support you need to complete your PhD, from giving you guidance and feedback on your work to helping you frame your research proposal.
Though you’ll primarily be in contact with your two supervisors, you’ll also work with other staff within the Institute for Communication Systems and you may have the opportunity to become a team member on research projects.
Assessment
You’ll be required to write a confirmation report on your research in your first year, and you will be examined by two examiners.
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.
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 areas
Open Close
Research themes
We research areas related to information and communication technology, including end-to-end terrestrial, mobile and satellite communications and networks, and their application to verticals such as connected vehicles and health, including:
- Integrated satellite and NTN with terrestrial networks
- AI for networking and wireless communications
- THz communications and components
- Positioning and image sensing
- High-quality time and frequency transmission
- Reflective and transmissive intelligent surfaces
- Internet of senses
- AI with network and physical layer security
- Ultra-massive MIMO
- AI for MAC, RRM and RAN management
- RF, antennas and signal processing
- XVR and teleportation
- Connected transportation
- Artificial intelligence radio access networks (AI-RANs)
- Semantic and intelligent physical layer
- Quantum electromagnetics theory and practice
- Wireless signal processing and computing architectures
- Alternative computing architectures for signal processing and communications
- Non-linear signal processing for next-generation connectivity
- Semantic token communications
- AI for satellite communication and remote semantic sensing
- Cell sweeping for coverage enhancement
- AI for high-fidelity baseband-RF joint design
- Quantum wireless communication (Rydberg atomic antenna)
- AI for future multi-antenna technology (MIMO)
- AI for ISAC and RAN digital twin
- Quantum for network synchronisation.
Research centres
Academic staff
Open Close
Prof Zhili Sun is your postgraduate research director in the Institute for Communication Systems. See a full list of all our academic staff within the Institute.
Support and facilities
Open Close
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.
Facilities
You’ll be allocated space in the Institute for Communication Systems, which is home to 143 researchers. The Institute is one of the world’s major academic research centres dedicated to mobile and wireless communications. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities such as:
- Campus-wide 5G/6G testbed
- Antennas and signal processing
- Networks lab testbed
- Link and system level simulators
- Satellite networking testbed
- Security testbed
- Wireless network testbed
- Internet of things testbed.
Hear from our students
Open Close
Having an experienced supervisor in my research area has been invaluable to me throughout my PhD journey... their unwavering support and encouragement have significantly boosted my self-confidence, especially in times when I needed it the most.
'I wanted to learn more about telecommunications and find solutions to improve connectivity for people and businesses. Working towards a PhD allowed me to pursue this goal through research.'
Entry requirements
Open Close
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).
Country-specific qualifications
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.
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 and funding
Open Close
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).
Fee options
- UK
- £5,238
- Overseas
- £28,300
- UK
- £2,619
- Overseas
- £14,200
- UK
- £5,238
- Overseas
- £28,300
- UK
- £2,619
- Overseas
- £14,200
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £29,400
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £14,700
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £29,400
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- £14,700
- 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
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.
Register for updates
Open Close
Apply
Open Close
Application process
Applicants should contact potential supervisors before submitting an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our application guidance.
Apply online
To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.
Select your course
Choose the course option you wish to apply for.
Sign in
Create an account and sign into our application portal.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, April 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 17 January 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, April 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 17 January 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, April 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 17 January 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, April 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 17 January 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, July 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Friday 16 April 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, July 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Friday 16 April 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, July 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Friday 16 April 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, July 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Friday 16 April 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, October 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 11 July 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, October 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 11 July 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, October 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 11 July 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, October 2027
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 11 July 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, January 2028
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 10 October 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Full-time, January 2028
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 10 October 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, January 2028
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 10 October 2027
Select
Information and Communication Systems PhD
Part-time, January 2028
Status
- Applications:
- open
- Closing date:
- Sunday 10 October 2027
If you are applying through a studentship, there may be an earlier deadline listed on the studentship advert which should be followed. The above closing date is the last day that any applications for this entry point can be submitted.
After registration
Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Code of practice for research degrees
Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you will be agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions at the offer stage. You will be asked to accept these when you accept the offer made to you. You will be provided with these terms and conditions again at registration by way of reminder.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate; some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.