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Push the boundaries of computing research
Online or on campus
The PhD Computer Science programme at Haverton supports original research in artificial intelligence, distributed systems, cybersecurity, and software engineering. After doctoral coursework, you will join a research group aligned with your interests, contribute to publications, and defend a dissertation that advances the state of the art. Our faculty maintain active collaborations with European and African universities, offering co-supervision and exchange opportunities. PhD Computer Science is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3–5 years, and the credit total is 60. Students move from Advanced Algorithms & Complexity through Advanced Algorithms & Complexity; Research Methods in Computer Science; Specialist Doctoral Seminar (elective area); Doctoral Research Skills & Ethics; PhD Candidacy Examination; Doctoral Dissertation Research, and finish on Doctoral Dissertation Research. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students specify a small system, show how it was tested, and state how it fails. Reading is a specification, a test note, and an incident or post-mortem. The artefact a marker expects is a specification or reviewed component with tests and a trade-off note. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Conduct publishable research in a specialised area of computer science Master advanced mathematical and experimental methods in computing Present research at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Research groups meet weekly with paper readings and prototype demos. GPU cloud credits support ML dissertations. Co-supervision with partner universities in Europe and Africa is available for comparative systems research.
Faculty spotlight
Professor James Okello leads the Security & Systems lab; Dr. Elena Vasquez directs the Responsible AI research cluster.
Study online
Online tuition is free. Online examinations and certificates are 100% free and sponsored.
On-campus study
Prefer to learn at our London campus? Campus tuition is published on each programme page. All examinations are 100% free of charge.
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| PCS701 | Advanced Algorithms & Complexity Advanced Algorithms & Complexity (PCS701) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 30 credits and 300 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 30 · 300 h |
| PCS702 | Research Methods in Computer Science Research Methods in Computer Science (PCS702) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 30 credits and 300 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 30 · 300 h |
| PCS703 | Specialist Doctoral Seminar (elective area) Specialist Doctoral Seminar (elective area) (PCS703) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 30 credits and 300 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 30 · 300 h |
| PCS704 | Doctoral Research Skills & Ethics Doctoral Research Skills & Ethics (PCS704) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 30 credits and 300 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 30 · 300 h |
| PCS781 | A computing research problem A computing research problem (PCS781) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 180 credits and 1800 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 180 · 1800 h |
| PCS782 | Research design for a systems study Research design for a systems study (PCS782) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 180 credits and 1800 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 180 · 1800 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| PCS801 | PhD Candidacy Examination PhD Candidacy Examination (PCS801) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 30 credits and 300 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 30 · 300 h |
| PCS802 | Doctoral Dissertation Research Doctoral Dissertation Research (PCS802) is a course on PhD Computer Science. It carries 30 credits and 300 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 30 · 300 h |
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 3–5 years. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Haverton. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. All online degree examinations and certificates are 100% free and sponsored — the only cost for online study is the application fee. Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged separately. Check the Fees page for details.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents, research). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Haverton University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@haverton.org.
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