A Master’s degree (Merit or Distinction) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, or a closely related technical discipline.

Applicants must also hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least a UK 2:1 (Upper Second-Class Honours) or international equivalent in Computer Science or a related quantitative field (e.g. Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering).

Candidates must demonstrate strong academic preparation in programming, algorithms, data structures, machine learning, and computational theory.

International qualifications must meet UK equivalence standards (verified through UK ENIC, if required).

Leading universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Edinburgh, and Manchester) typically expect first-class undergraduate results and Distinction-level postgraduate performance.

Applicants proposing interdisciplinary research (e.g. AI in healthcare or robotics) should show relevant cross-disciplinary knowledge.

Work experience is not required, but research or technical experience in computing, data science, or engineering is highly valued.

Applicants with experience as research assistants, software developers, or data analysts are often preferred.

Prior involvement in open-source projects, publications, or technical competitions (e.g., hackathons, Kaggle) can strengthen an application.

Industrial experience in software engineering, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity may be advantageous, especially for applied research projects.

For research linked to industry collaborations or professional doctorates, relevant employment in tech or R&D sectors can be beneficial.

IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 6.5–7.0, with no component below 6.0.

TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 90–100, with section scores typically above 22.

PTE Academic: Overall score of 62–70, with no component below 62.

Applicants who have completed prior degrees in English or in majority English-speaking countries may be exempt from language testing.

Some universities (e.g., Oxford, Imperial, and Edinburgh) may require IELTS 7.0 overall for research programmes in Computer Science.

Official academic transcripts and degree certificates from all completed qualifications (with certified English translations if applicable).

Detailed research proposal (typically 1,500–3,000 words) outlining the proposed research topic, objectives, background, methodology, and potential contribution to the field of Computer Science.

Personal statement describing your academic journey, technical expertise, research interests, and motivation for pursuing a PhD.

Curriculum vitae (CV) including education, programming skills, research experience, technical projects, publications, and relevant professional experience.

Two or three academic references, at least one from a previous supervisor familiar with your research or coding abilities.

Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable).

Some departments may request a portfolio of technical work (e.g., GitHub repository, published papers, or coding samples).

For certain technical programmes, GRE scores may be requested, though this is uncommon in UK universities.

Applicants to AI or data science tracks should demonstrate proficiency in key programming languages and tools (e.g., Python, R, TensorFlow, MATLAB, or C++).