Postgraduate research in electronics and computer science at the University of Southampton. Scholarships available

Join over 500 researchers working with industry and government to address some of the problems facing the world today.

Electronics and computer science (ECS) is the leading university department of its kind in the UK. We were on of the first universities to be named an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE) by the UK government.

Our research is organised around research groups and centres. You'll join one of these groups. This means that specialist academics will always be on hand to hear your ideas and offer help and encouragement. With around 250 staff, ECS has unrivalled depth and breadth of expertise.

You'll have the freedom to run your own project and you'll be supported by a team of supervisors. Direct and regular contact with your supervisors will help you develop your scientific insight, and steer you towards creative and original thinking.

Our graduate school provides training on transferable skills, courses on research methodology, and a working framework to help you settle into a disciplined working routine. You'll also have opportunities to travel to international conferences and events to present your work. 

ECS holds an annual careers fair that attracts major companies. The majority of our graduates take up roles in the technology industry or develop their research interests further. If you have a great idea our Future Worlds startup accelerator is there to nurture aspiring entrepreneurs through one-to-one support and its network of investors.

UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Sustainability (SustAI)

SustAI is a multidisciplinary and inclusive doctoral training programme. The CDT will provide 70 fully funded PhD studentships over 5 cohorts. SustAI will equip students with state-of-the-art AI technical skills and a deep understanding of how these skills can be applied to address pressing environmental challenges. To register your interest, please sign-up for the newsletter here.

Find a research project 

Funding Opportunities  

Your doctoral research at the University of Southampton will change your career – and potentially the world. We’ve made a range of financial support available to help you begin your PhD journey.

You may qualify for one of our postgraduate scholarships or fee waivers that cover your tuition fees and more:

• Black Futures scholarship is aimed at talented UK-domiciled Black and mixed-Black heritage students. Deadline for Black Futures Scholarship applications to be received is Friday 28 February 2025.

• Innovation and Social Impact scholarships for researchers looking to drive social impact through their work. 

• Horizon Europe fee waivers introducing a new programme to support the reassociation of the UK with the Horizon Europe programme, and the University strategy to grow the international diversity of its doctoral cohort. The University will apply a fee waiver - equivalent to the difference between overseas and UK fees - for eligible postgraduate research students commencing their doctoral studies in the 2024-25 academic year.

• Presidential Bursaries for overseas postgraduate researchers, cover the fee difference between UK and overseas fees. 

For more information and how to apply visit our website