computational social science phd uk

DPhil in Social Data Science

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The DPhil in Social Data Science is an advanced research degree which provides the opportunity to investigate and address novel research questions at the intersection of the computational and social sciences, supported by the multidisciplinary faculty at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics,  and other departments across the University of Oxford. 

The DPhil in Social Data Science (known as a PhD at other universities) will introduce you to cutting-edge research whilst studying in a beautiful, historic setting that is both student- and family-friendly. During your study at Oxford, you are encouraged to pioneer new approaches to contemporary social and policy issues online, developing new computational and data-driven methodology to inform the development and governance of technology. As a student, you will be part of a diverse cohort of research students, of many nationalities and from a wide range of scientific backgrounds. Research students in Social Data Science are graduates in subjects from computer science and mathematics to physics, as well as transdisciplinary subjects such as human-centred data science and complex systems.

The course combines individual supervision with a selection of lectures, seminars, transferrable skills training, and opportunities to participate in leading-edge research activities. OII faculty are world class experts working in the cutting-edge of their fields, and this innovative research is fully reflected in their course teaching. You will also be able to attend optional courses led by faculty at the OII, as well as courses in other departments.

The programme provides a strong computational foundation, training you to develop new research skills in areas such as machine learning, statistical modelling, large-scale data collection, algorithm auditing, or network science. The DPhil in Social Data Science provides you with a rare grounding in both technical skills and social science research , helping you build critical skills to study digital technologies. There are weekly opportunities for you to interact with DPhil in Information, Communication and the Social Sciences students, providing a rich multidisciplinary environment.

In addition to the formal requirements of the DPhil thesis, all OII doctoral students have access to regular training in the key professional skills necessary to support their research and future employment. These range from classes on advanced research methods as part of the OII’s option course offerings, to professional development training (provided both by the department and the University) such as presentation skills, academic writing and navigating the process of peer review. You will attend a weekly seminar in which you will present your own work for critique, and critique the work of your peers. The OII also provides opportunities for DPhil students to gain teaching experience through mentored assistantship roles in some of its core MSc courses. The department's busy calendar of seminars and events brings many of the most important people in internet research, innovation and policy to the OII, allowing students to engage with cutting-edge scholarship and debates around the internet and digital technologies.

The course can be studied full-time or part-time with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the  University's Residence requirements.  Part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

The part-time degree offers the flexibility of part-time study with the same high standards and requirements as the full-time DPhil programme. It also provides an excellent opportunity for professionals in industry and civil society to undertake rigorous long-term research that may be relevant to their career.

If you study part-time, you will be required to attend seminars, supervision meetings, and other obligations in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year. Attendance will be required during term-time (a minimum of one day each week). There will be limited flexibility in the dates and pattern of attendance, which will normally be determined by the fixed teaching and seminar schedule during term. Attendance may be required outside of term-time on dates to be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor. You will have the opportunity to tailor your part-time study in liaison with your supervisor and agree your pattern of attendance.

If you are a full-time student, you will be expected to continue working outside of the University terms with an annual holiday of approximately eight weeks.

Whilst many graduate students do undertake employment to support their studies, please remember that students on the full-time arrangement of the OII's DPhil programme are subject to limits on the number of hours that may be worked each week. Part-time student are not subject to these limitations.

Within these limitations, many of the OII's existing full-time DPhil students have been employed on a short or long-term basis as Research Assistants on grant-funded projects gaining valuable research experience. The OII also offers Teaching Assistant positions on the MSc degree for DPhil students who can display the appropriate skills. In addition, there are employment opportunities within the University (such as teaching, translation, and research assistance) as well as within the OII.

For full information on employment whilst on course, please see the University's  paid work guidelines for Oxford graduate students .

Resources to support your study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.

The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.

The DPhil in Social Data Science is offered by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) in partnership with Statistics, Engineering Science, Sociology, and other departments. 

Our doctoral students are provided with hot-desk working space in the department. You will have access to the OII’s computing facilities and dedicated IT support as required for your research project, and may also make use of Oxford’s Advanced Research Computing service. The OII’s library specialises in the social sciences, technology and computing including the texts required for the degree. Additionally, the Social Sciences Library provides valuable additional resources of which many students choose to take advantage of.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Oxford Internet Institute and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.

Supervision for the DPhil in Social Data Science spans multiple departments (please see the full list of faculty members  eligible to supervise DPhil students for this programme). A supervisor may be found outside the list on the course web page, and co-supervision is also possible. All students will have at least one supervisor who is a faculty member of the OII.

Students should normally expect to meet with their supervisor at least three to four times a term. A more typical pattern is weekly or bimonthly, at least until you reach the stage of writing up your thesis.

The first year is a probationary year, soon after which, subject to satisfactory progress, you will be expected to transfer from Probationer Research Student (PRS) status to full DPhil status. The Transfer of Status takes place within a maximum of four terms for full-time students or eight terms for part-time students. A second formal assessment of progress, Confirmation of Status, takes place later in the programme, normally at the end of the third year. The Transfer of Status and Confirmation of Status assessments are conducted by two members of staff other than the student’s supervisor(s) or advisors.

The sequence of milestones for a DPhil student are as follows:

• Admission as a Probationer Research Student (PRS)
• Transfer to DPhil status (‘Transfer of Status’)
• Confirmation of DPhil status for DPhil students (‘Confirmation of Status’)
• Submission of thesis

Students initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS) are required to attend and pass core modules from the OII’s training programme. Students who have already completed similar courses in their past academic career should request an exemption from one or more modules by providing sufficient evidence.  

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require the student to show that their proposed thesis represents a viable topic and that their written work and interview show that they have a good knowledge and understanding of the subject. Students are also required to demonstrate satisfactory completion of the foundational courses by this point.

Following successful transfer, students will need to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status to show that the work continues to be on track. This will need to be completed within nine terms of admission for full-time students and 18 terms of admission for part-time students.

Both milestones involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

Full-time students will be expected to submit an original thesis of not more than 100,000 words three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. If you are studying part-time, you be required to submit your thesis after six or, at most, eight years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Social Data Science you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

The Oxford Internet Institute provides you with skills and opportunities in teaching, research, policymaking and business innovation. Employers recognise the value of a degree from the University of Oxford, and the OII’s doctoral students regularly go on to secure excellent positions in industry, government, and NGOs. 

Alumni who have pursued academic careers have taken up research and teaching positions including notably at the University of Oxford, Cornell University, University of Hong Kong, Imperial College London, and TU Delft. OII DPhil alumni have worked in a wide range of organisations including The World Bank, Open Technology Fund, Oxfam, Cisco, McKinsey, and Google.

The OII Alumni page  features interviews from both MSc and DPhil alumni about their time at the Department and career paths after Oxford.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2025-26

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

We know that factors such as socio-economic circumstances and school performance can make it difficult for students to demonstrate their full potential. This course is taking part in an initiative to use contextual data to help us to better understand your achievements in the context of your individual background. For further details, please refer to the information about improving access to graduate study in the How to apply section of this page.

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. Contextual data may also be used in the assessment of studentships. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a master's degree with a mark of at least 65% ; and
• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours  in any subject.

It is expected that all applicants will hold a taught masters or other advanced degree.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

Strong analytical abilities in understanding the social aspects of the internet, World Wide Web and related technologies, as shown by the candidate’s writing sample and/or the reports of referees, are required. It would be expected that graduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate quantitative aptitude or experience in at least half of the material covered by the MSc in Social Data Science.

Applicants may demonstrate this aptitude/experience in a variety of ways including:

• graduate and undergraduate transcripts;
• on-the-job training and practical experience;
• evidence of the successful completion of online courses.

Applicants are not expected to have published academic work previously, although publication may help the assessors judge your writing ability and thus could help your application.

Academic research related to data science or experience working in related businesses is not required, but may be an advantage.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are held as part of the admissions process.

All applications are reviewed by at least two members of faculty with relevant experience and expertise. Applicants are shortlisted based on the quality of the written application. Those who are shortlisted will usually be interviewed.

Interviews are typically held three to six weeks after the application deadline. There is usually only one interview held, which lasts 30 to 40 minutes and can be held via a video conferencing platform. You will be asked questions about your academic background, your research plan, and why you think the Oxford Internet Institute would be the best place to conduct your studies. The interview panel will consist of at least two interviewers which will normally include the potential supervisor.

If you are applying for part-time study and invited to attend an interview, you may be asked about your ability to commit sufficient time to study and fulfil all elements outlined in the course description (eg completing coursework, assessments, and attending course and University events and modules).

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Some postgraduate research students in science, engineering and technology subjects will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to applying for a  Student visa (under the Student Route) . For some courses, the requirement to apply for an ATAS certificate may depend on your research area.

Evidence of ability to study for employed part-time applicants

If you are applying for part-time study and are currently employed, you may be asked to provide evidence that your employment will not affect your ability to study and that you can commit sufficient time to fulfil all elements outlined in the course description. You may be asked to provide details about your pattern of employment and provide evidence to show how you will fulfil your commitment to make time available to study, to complete coursework, and attend course and University events and modules.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the About section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Oxford Internet Institute

The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) is a dynamic and innovative department for research and teaching relating to the internet, located in a world-leading traditional research university. The multidisciplinary OII offers the opportunity to study academic, practical and policy-related issues that can only be understood by drawing on contributions from many different fields.

The OII is the only major department in a top-ranked international university to offer multidisciplinary courses in the social sciences dedicated to understanding the impact of the internet, data, and information technologies on society. The department offers masters and doctoral level education across several degrees focused on social data science or the social science of the internet and technology.

The department prides itself on providing a stimulating and supportive environment in which all students can flourish regardless of gender identity, sexuality, physical mobility, ethnicity, or racial background.

Digital connections are now embedded in almost every aspect of our daily lives, and research on individual and collective behaviour online is crucial to understanding our social, economic and political world. As a fully multi-disciplinary department, the OII offers students the opportunity to study academic, practical and policy-related issues and pursue cutting-edge research into the societal implications of the internet and digital technologies.

The academic faculty and graduate students are drawn from many different disciplines: the OII believes this combined approach is essential to tackle society’s big questions and to positively shape the development of our digital world for the public good.

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For entry in the 2025-26 academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.

If you apply by the January deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, your application will automatically be assessed against the eligibility criteria, without needing to make a separate application. There are further Oxford scholarships available which have additional eligibility criteria and where you are required to submit a separate application. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

To ensure that you are considered for Oxford scholarships that require a separate application, for which you may be eligible,  use our fees, funding and scholarship search tool  to identify these opportunities and find out how to apply. Alongside Oxford scholarships, you should also consider other opportunities for which you may be eligible including  a range of external funding ,  loan schemes for postgraduate study  and any other scholarships which may also still be available after the January deadline as listed on  our fees, funding and scholarship search tool .

Details of college-specific funding opportunities can also be found on individual college websites:

Select from the list:

Please refer to the College preference section of this page to identify which of the colleges listed above accept students for this course.

For the majority of college scholarships, it doesn’t matter which college, if any, you state a preference for in your application. If another college is able to offer you a scholarship, your application can be moved to that college if you accept the scholarship. Some college scholarships may require you to state a preference for that college when you apply, so check the eligibility requirements carefully.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the institute's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2025-26

Full-time study, part-time study, information about course fees.

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this programme that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

Living costs for full-time study

For the 2025-26 academic year, the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between £1,425 and £2,035 for each month spent in Oxford. We provide the cost per month so you can multiply up by the number of months you expect to live in Oxford. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for the  costs of a student visa and immigration health surcharge and/or living costs for family members or other dependants that you plan to bring with you to Oxford (assuming that dependant visa eligibility criteria are met).

Living costs for part-time study

Your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you will still need to cover your cost of living on a full-time basis for the duration of your course, even if you will not be based in Oxford throughout your studies. While the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student living in Oxford is between £1,425 and £2,035 per month, living costs outside Oxford may be different.

Part-time students who are not based in Oxford will need to calculate travel and accommodation costs carefully. Depending on your circumstances and study plans, this may include the  cost of a visitor visa to attend for short blocks of time (assuming that visitor visa eligibility criteria are met).

Further information about living costs

The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. For study in Oxford beyond the 2025-26 academic year, it is suggested that you budget for potential increases in living expenses of around 4% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. For further information, please consult our more detailed information about living costs , which includes a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . 

If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide. 

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

• Blackfriars
• Campion Hall
• Christ Church
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Linacre College
• Nuffield College
• Reuben College
• St Antony's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Hilda's College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

Before you apply

Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under the January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines and when to apply in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £20 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You are recommended to contact a potential supervisor (or supervisors) in the first instance to get feedback on the fit of your proposed research with the expertise of the supervisor before you apply. The full list of faculty members eligible to supervise DPhil students for this course, including their research interests and contact details, can be found on the departmental website. Please note that the Oxford Internet Institute will only admit students where appropriate supervision is available.

Improving access to graduate study

This course is taking part in initiatives to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

Socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used as part of an initiative to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

If known, under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) whom you would like to supervise your research. Otherwise, leave this field blank.

Referees: Three overall, academic and/or professional

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Professional references are acceptable, particularly if you have been out of education for some time, but should focus particularly on your intellectual abilities rather than more narrowly on job performance.

Your references will be assessed for:

• your intellectual ability;
• your academic achievement; and 
• your motivation and interest in the course and subject area.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Personal statement and research proposal: Statement of a maximum of 500 words and a proposal of a maximum of 2,500 words

Your statement of purpose/personal statement and research proposal should be submitted as a single, combined document with clear subheadings. Please ensure that the word counts for each section are clearly visible in the document.

Personal statement

Your statement should explain your motivation for applying for the DPhil course at Oxford and the specific research areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in. It should focus on your academic achievements and research interests rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations. You should also include details of any relevant experience in engaging in social data science related research.

Your statement should be written in English and be a maximum of 500 words.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Your statement will be assessed for:

• interest and commitment for the study of social data science;
• evidence of aptitude for working with data-driven research; and
• alignment of your areas of interest with the availability of supervision, as all students will be assigned a supervisor to guide their research
• your ability to commit sufficient time to study and fulfil all elements outlined in the course description if you are applying for part-time study. 

Research proposal

A coherent thesis proposal is required in an area of study covered by at least one member of the research staff within the Social Data Science programme. Your proposal should focus on specific research you propose to undertake rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations.

The proposal should be submitted in English only and be a maximum of 2,500 words. The word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

Your research proposal will be assessed for:

• the coherence of your proposal;
• the relevance of the topic as it relates to the research of the Oxford Internet Institute and collaborating department;
• the clarity of research question(s), and the knowledge gap the proposal intends to fill;
• the appropriateness of the methods and research design as related to the research question(s); and
• the overall quality of the project proposed.

It is normal for your ideas to change in some ways as you commence your research and develop your project. However, you should make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method at this moment.

Written work: One essay of a maximum of 2,000 words

An academic essay or other writing sample from your most recent qualification, written in English, is required. If you have not previously written on areas closely related to the proposed research topic, you may provide written work on any topic that best demonstrates your academic abilities. The written work does not need to be data science related, but should demonstrate your critical and analytical capabilities and ability to present ideas clearly. 

The word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes. Extracts of the required length that originally come from longer essays are also acceptable.

This will be assessed for:

• a comprehensive understanding of the subject area, including problems and developments in the subject;
• your ability to construct and defend an argument;
• your aptitude for analysis and expression; and
• your ability to present a reasoned case in proficient academic English.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice .

Apply - Full time Apply - Part time Continue application

After you've submitted your application

Your application (including the supporting documents outlined above) will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. Whether or not you have secured funding will  not  be taken into consideration when your application is assessed. You can  find out more about our shortlisting and selection process  in our detailed guide to what happens next.

Find out how to manage your application after submission , using our Applicant Self-Service tool.

ADMISSION STATUS

Open to applications for entry in 2025-26

12:00 midday UK time on:

Thursday 9 January 2025

Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2025-26

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2022-23 to 2024-25)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Oxford Internet Institute

• Course page on the institute's website
• Department open days
• Funding information from the institute
• Academic and research staff
• Research at the institute
• Social Sciences Division
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 287210

Application-process enquiries

Application guide

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DPhil in Social Data Science

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Key information, student experience, supervisors, fees and funding.

The DPhil in Social Data Science provides an opportunity for students to formulate and address novel research questions at the intersection of the computational and social sciences, supported by the multidisciplinary faculty at the OII, Engineering Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science and other departments across the University of Oxford.

Students are expected to pioneer new approaches to study the design and use of technology, exploiting fast expanding possibilities in large-scale data collection, artificial intelligence, and statistical modelling. This degree will train students to develop and adapt techniques such as network science, machine learning, experimental studies, and algorithm auditing to inform the deployment and regulation of technology, and understand its impact on individuals and society.

Beyond the technical skills, the programme will also provide students with a solid grounding in social science theory and research design, and critical thinking about the impact and ethics of AI and technology. Ordinarily, students will be expected to have training similar to that offered within the MSc in Social Data Science , or from disciplines as applied mathematics, computer science, and human-computer interaction, but gaps may be filled with courses from the MSc curriculum as well as other existing courses at the University.

Our DPhil students’ research spans a wide range of topics, normally linked to the research of one or more of our faculty supervisors. Students will be supervised by at least one academic, although some students will have more than one supervisor—for instance one from the computational sciences and one from the social sciences.

This system allows doctoral students to dig deeply into research questions at the intersection of disciplines while also being able to place these questions within the broader disciplinary contexts.

Over the course the programme, you are expected to produce an important and original piece of scholarship that will make a significant contribution to the study, design, or regulation of computing and communication technology and information systems. On completion, you will have the qualities and transferable skills necessary to excel in teaching, research, policy-making or business.

Whilst every doctoral project will follow a unique path, broadly there are 3 stages:

• Formulating a research question: You will focus on developing your research questions, and research skills. All doctoral students take five foundation courses designed to give the necessary foundation for undertaking interdisciplinary research.
• Research and Analysis: You will outline the structure of your thesis, which includes data gathering, experiments, and other steps. Students will use this time to prepare conference and journal articles, present their work at seminars and conferences, in direct collaboration with their supervisor(s).
• Writing up your thesis and submitting:  You will concentrate on any final data gathering, analysis, experimentation and writing up the final chapters for submission of your thesis.

In addition to the formal requirements of the DPhil thesis, all doctoral students receive regular training in the key graduate skills necessary to support their research and future employment. These range from classes on specific tools or skills to more generic training such as presentation skills, academic writing and peer review.

We also provide opportunities for DPhil students to gain teaching experience through mentored assistantship roles in some of the MSc courses. There are also opportunities for taking part in organising student-run conferences dedicated to sparking exchange between disciplines and showcasing emerging Internet research.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the DPhil programme, it is expected that you will:

• Demonstrate in-depth research experience in at least one of the social data science areas
• Be able to generate impact on the policy and design of socio-technical systems based on social data science research
• Have an in-depth knowledge of specific contemporary social and political science theories and data science approaches to tackling research questions related to these theories
• Have made an original contribution to the current state-of-the art for analysing large-scale human behavioural data and information systems, and either have developed new methods and approaches to better study human or algorithmic behaviours in socio-technical systems
• Design, execute, document, and disseminate research that applies tools and methods from computational science to address interdisciplinary research question about the use, design, and impact of technology and information systems
• Have the qualities and transferable skills necessary to excel in teaching, research, policy-making or business in your studied field, including abilities to design new technologies and to predict and analyse their impacts

How to Apply

All applications must be made through the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions site . Please ensure that you start the online application process as early as you can, to ensure plenty of time to complete your application. We particularly advise applicants to contact their referees as early as possible, and register their details in the draft application form well in advance of the deadline.

Both the full-time and part-time DPhil programmes have one application deadline in January. Only applications that are complete by the deadline, including receipt of references, can be considered by the admissions team.

The Oxford Internet Institute is part of the University of Oxford’s pilot on selection procedures which aims to explore actions aimed at better contextualising admissions procedures for graduate students while minimising conscious and unconscious bias. For all our courses, the socio-economic data you provide in the application form will be used to contextualise the shortlisting and decision-making processes. For details about the pilot and the actions we are taking, please see the University’s page on the Pilot selection procedure.

• Full-time: 3-4 Years
• Part-time: 6-8 Years

Start date:

• October 2025

12 noon UK time (midday) on:

• Thursday 9 January 2025

Dr Luc Rocher

DPhil Programme Director (SDS), Lecturer

Luc is Course Director of the DPhil.

Laura Maynard

DPhil Coordinator

Laura is the DPhil Co-ordinator, and administrates the course.

Our induction programme is usually held in the first week of October, the week preceding the start of Michaelmas Term (also referred to as 0th week). During Induction Week students will be formally introduced to the OII’s Director, Director of Graduate Studies, Programme Directors, Graduate Studies Support team, as well as our faculty and administrative team. In addition students will be offered a full tour of the OII’s facilities and introduced to IT and library resources, followed by several informative DPhil induction sessions. There is also ample opportunity to get to know fellow students and staff through student-led social activities and an afternoon drinks reception. During October the Social Sciences Division also holds a welcome event for all new research students.

Work space and facilities

Our doctoral students are provided with hot-desk working space in the department. We are equipped with advanced video conferencing facilities and high-speed network access. OII students have access to IT infrastructure at both the departmental level and at the University level. This includes access to shared collaborative software, server space, and computing resources, including but not limited to ARC, Oxford’s high-performance computing cluster. The OII’s library specialises in the social sciences, technology and computing, and our students also have access to the Bodleian Libraries, the University’s main research library.

Opportunities for teaching and training

We provide opportunities for DPhil students to gain teaching experience through mentored assistantship roles in some of the MSc courses. Students will have the opportunity to attend the Introduction to Learning and Teaching at Oxford programme run by the Social Sciences Division, an interactive and discursive course in which attendees will explore common teaching formats (lectures, small groups, tutorials) and common experiences (for example, group management, preparation, presentation and delivery). Students must complete this programme if they wish to undertake a teaching assistant position at the Oxford Internet Institute.

Pastoral and Welfare Support

In addition to the pastoral support provided your college, as a department the OII seeks to support students by various means. Each degree programme has dedicated administrative support and the administrators in question will be able to help and advise students on a range of matters relating to their studies, or point them towards dedicated sources of support elsewhere in the University. Supervisors and the Director of Graduate Studies can also serve as a source of support, in addition to our dedicated disability lead and several Harassment Advisors who can assist with connecting students with the appropriate support.

Whilst every doctoral project will follow a unique path, there are common milestones that every DPhil student must pass. The information below gives a broad indication of the general milestones, but all students are advised to discuss the timeline with their supervisor.

During the programme you will move through three different stages:

• Probationer Research Student (PRS)
• DPhil Status
• Confirmed DPhil Status

DPhil Milestones

(You can find detailed information on scheduling in the OII DPhil handbook.)

Stage 1: Formulating a Research Question

Stage 1 usually occurs in Year 1 for full-time students and Years 1 and 2 for on the part-time programme.

All doctoral students are required to take courses which give the necessary foundation for undertaking research in this multi-disciplinary field. Courses must be passed in order to transfer from PRS to DPhil status.

Social Data Science students take five compulsory foundation papers, designed to provide students with core skills, methods, theories and concepts required to undertake the remainder of the degree. These include laboratory and practical exercises to ensure that students are competent with particular techniques.

DPhil students will also complete other training as agreed with their supervisors and the course providers. This may include content from the MSc in Social Data Science , the MSc in Social Science of the Internet , or partner departments involved in the Social Data Science programme.

In addition to these classes, students will be required to work on their thesis, and will meet regularly with their supervisor to this end. By the end of this stage, students will be expected to have formulated clear research questions and identified appropriate theoretical and methodological frameworks for addressing these questions.

Transfer of Status

As most students will enter the DPhil programme as Probationer Research Students (PRS), they will be expected to gather materials and draft a research proposal for transfer to DPhil Status between their third and fourth term in Oxford. Assuming the normal three-year programme, we expect students to complete the transfer interview by the end of their fourth term. Most students successfully transfer in the third term. Details of the Transfer of Status process can be found in the DPhil Graduate Studies Handbook.

Stage 2: Research and Analysis

Stage 2 usually occurs in Year 2 for full-time students and Years 3 and 4 for students on the part-time programme.

This stage of the DPhil will normally be devoted primarily to research, including for instance data gathering, method development, experiments, and mapping the outline structure of your thesis. However, students will also need to make significant progress in writing their thesis, drafting at least two chapters in preparation for the Confirmation of Status milestone. This may include a period of fieldwork and travel away from Oxford. During this time, students are expected to work on conference presentations and journal articles, learning scientific writing in direct collaboration with their supervisor(s).

Confirmation of Status

Confirmation of DPhil Status is an essential stage on the way to the doctorate and confirms that the student is capable of producing a thesis of the necessary standard and within an appropriate timescale. It is not possible to submit a thesis for examination until DPhil status has been confirmed: this applies to students who have transferred to the DPhil from an Oxford MLitt, MSc or MPhil as well as to those who enter as a PRS student.

The OII’s Graduate Studies Committee expects students to complete the confirmation interview by the end of the third year of study for full time students; and by the sixth year of study for part-time students.

Stage 3: Writing Up and Thesis submission

Stage 3 usually occurs in Year 3 for full-time students and Years 5 and 6 for students on the part-time programme.

Stage 3 will concentrate on any final empirical work, and on writing up the final chapters for submission of the thesis. The thesis must be submitted within four years (full-time) and eight years (part-time) from the date of admission as a graduate student. In special circumstances, you may apply for an extension of time through the Graduate Studies Committee. The maximum extension permitted is two years, making six years (full-time) or ten years (part-time) of study in all.

Once the thesis has been submitted, two examiners are appointed and the examination by viva voce (an oral defence of the thesis) is scheduled.

As a graduate student you will be assigned an academic supervisor, who is responsible for your academic well-being and progress. In addition to academic supervision, you will also have a college advisor who can help with issues of student support and welfare.

You should expect to meet with your supervisor at least four times a term. In the early stages of your doctoral studies, your supervisor will assist you in settling into the pace of academic life, narrowing down your research direction, as well as help you identify your training needs in order to fulfil your research and facilitate appropriate networking across the University. As your research progresses, your supervisor will advise you on research design, provide guidance on any data collection and experiments, and comment on your written drafts. In the final stages of your doctoral studies, your supervisor will provide comments on your thesis drafts and help you prepare for milestones and the final examination of the thesis. Your supervisor may also provide career guidance as you plan your future beyond your period of study.

The following faculty members are eligible to supervise DPhil students.

Dr Adam Mahdi

Professor Andrew Przybylski

Professor Bernie Hogan

Professor Brent Mittelstadt

Professor Carl-Benedikt Frey

Professor Chris Russell

Professor Ekaterina Hertog

Professor Greg Taylor

Professor Joss Wright

Professor Kathryn Eccles

Professor Mariarosaria Taddeo

Professor Mark Graham

Professor Ralph Schroeder

Professor Renaud Lambiotte

Professor Sandra Wachter

Dr Scott A. Hale

Dr Stefan Zohren

Professor Victoria Nash

Professor Viktor Mayer-Schönberger

Professor Vili Lehdonvirta

Dr Xiaowen Dong

There are a number of sources of funding for postgraduate students at Oxford. Details of all scholarships for which candidates may be eligible can be found on the University’s Fees and Funding website.  The scholarships are all highly competitive and are awarded on academic merit.

Common OII Funding Options

Clarendon scholarships, economic and social research council (esrc) funding, black academic futures scholarships, refugee academic futures, care-experienced academic futures, oii shirley scholarship.

Clarendon is one of the biggest of the University’s scholarship schemes, offering around 170 new scholarships each year to academically outstanding graduates. Clarendon scholarships are competitive, prestigious and highly sought-after. As well as providing for fees and living costs Clarendon aims to enhance the Oxford experience by offering students the chance to form lasting social, academic and professional networks. Students can apply by completing the funding sections of the graduate admissions form. As part of the admissions process, the Oxford Internet Institute Scholarship Committee will decide which applicants to nominate to the University for consideration. Further details of this scholarship can be found on the University’s Clarendon Scholarships page.

The ESRC is the UK’s largest organisation for funding research on social and economic issues. The University, in collaboration with Brunel University and the Open University, hosts the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) – one of fourteen Doctoral Training Partnerships accredited by the ESRC as part of a new Doctoral Training Network.

The Oxford Internet Institute’s graduate degree programmes are a recognised doctoral training pathway in the partnership and our Digital Social Science pathway is provided through two routes, MSc-to-DPhil (known as 1+3) and DPhil-only (known as +3), and is available to students studying part-time as well as those studying full-time.

In order to be considered for a Grand Union DTP ESRC studentship, you must select ‘ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences’ in the University of Oxford scholarships section of the University’s graduate application form. You must complete a Grand Union DTP Application Form and upload it, together with your graduate application form, in order to be considered for nomination for the studentship.

Information about ESRC studentships at Oxford can be found on the Grand Union DTP website . Please ensure you have read all of the guidance available on the website before completing the ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentship Application Form . Questions can be directed to the Grand Union DTP Office at: [email protected]

ESRC studentships are open to both Home (UK) and International candidates, read more about the eligibility criteria here . 

The Black Academic Futures programme offer scholarships to UK Black and Mixed-Black students starting doctoral study at Oxford. A pplicants need to apply to an Oxford department by the relevant programme deadline to be considered for the scholarship and ensure they include the ethnicity information in their application.

The Refugee Academic Futures scheme offers financial support to pursue graduate study at Oxford to students who are refugees or other people with lived experience of displacement. The scholarships are open to all academic subjects. Each scholarship will cover your course fees and will provide you with a grant for living costs. Awards are made for the full duration of your fee liability for your course. Scholars will be offered opportunities to receive mentoring and a bespoke programme of pre-arrival and on course support.

The Care-Experienced Academic Futures scholarships offers financial support to students who have experienced being in care in the UK to pursue graduate study at Oxford. The pilot will include the inaugural award of the Oxford-Rees Graduate Scholarship, which supports care-experienced Social Sciences candidates.

The OII awards a limited number of DPhil Scholarships covering course fees each academic year, supported by the Shirley Scholars Fund which was established in honour of OII founder donor Dame Stephanie Shirley. These scholarships are open to both full- and part-time students (from any country) and all applicants who are offered a place on our programme are automatically considered for an award. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit.

DPhil Handbook 2024-25

Download the handbook for study at the OII in the academic year 2024-2025

You can find general FAQs about applying to our courses, studying at the OII, and choosing a college on the study FAQs page .

How does the DPhil in Social Data Science differ from the DPhil in Information, Communication and the Social Sciences?

The DPhil in Social Data Science is designed for students with core quantitative and computational skills who wish to develop their skills further, using computational techniques (such as, e.g., machine learning, statistical learning, and network science) and large-scale data analysis for the study of information systems and technology. Theses in Social Data Science might also develop new computational approaches for analysing human behavioural data online. The DPhil in Information, Communication and the Social Sciences is instead designed for students to dig deeply into disciplinary questions in, for instance, politics or sociology, while also being able to place these questions into a broader picture of how the Internet can be theorised and researched. Theses in this programme might include quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods applied to a broad range of social science questions about digital phenomena and could address questions about technology policy or practice.

Should I apply for the MSc or the DPhil in Social Data Science?

A substantial amount of training in our programmes happens at the MSc level. It is therefore expected that applicants to DPhil programmes already hold a taught masters or other advanced degree. For Social Data Science, applicants should examine the content covered in the  MSc in Social Data Science  and are advised to apply for the MSc if their current experience covers less than half of the content taught within the MSc programme. DPhil students will work with their supervisors and the Programme Director to identify any further areas of specialised training that is needed for their theses and opportunities to meet these needs from across the University. DPhil students will usually take the Foundation courses from the MSc Social Data Science programme unless they already have equivalent training.

When should I apply?

The DPhil programme has one deadline in January.

Please ensure that you start the online application process as early as you can, to ensure plenty of time to complete your application. Only applications that are complete by the deadline (including letters of reference) can be considered by the admissions team. All applications must be made through the  University of Oxford Graduate Admissions  site.

How do I choose a supervisor?

Our students are supervised by faculty from the OII and partner departments in the University. Please note that we will only admit students where appropriate supervision is available; please see the full list of  faculty members eligible to supervise students on this programme.

Please note that it is strongly advised that DPhil applicants should contact a potential supervisor before they submit an application to check that there is appropriate supervision for their research proposal. Once DPhil applicants have identified an appropriate supervisor they should email them directly with a brief overview of the proposed research topic. The faculty member will then indicate whether they would be suitable to supervise the proposed topic.

Is the 2,000 word limit on the written work a minimum or maximum?

2,000 words is a maximum. Many students who find that their best work exceeds this length choose to submit a 2,000-word extract from that longer piece of work. We recommend that your chosen piece: demonstrates your capacity for independent or original thought; is systematically analytical rather than purely descriptive; addresses a clear question or problem; where relevant, draws on data or literature sources to support its main arguments; expresses its arguments with clarity and precision.

If I need to submit English Language Test results, when are they due?

You can read more about the English language requirements for graduate study applications in the graduate application guide.   This course requires proficiency in English at the University’s higher level. If you already have English language test scores at the required level achieved within two years of the start of the course to which you are applying, please include them in your application. However, you are not required to provide test scores when you submit your application.   

What does a good DPhil application look like? Do you have any examples?

Here is some great advice from OII DPhil alumni Bertram Vidgen on how to write your DPhil application proposal .  You can also read OII Professor Vili Lehdonvirta’s advice about picking a research topic for a DPhil application.  

What fees do I have to pay?

Course fees cover your teaching, and other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. They do not cover your accommodation or other living costs. You may have seen separate figures in the past for tuition fees and college fees. We have now combined these into a single figure.

See the University’s  guidance on fee status  and fee liability for information on  Home/Republic of Ireland ,  Islands  and  Overseas  student classification. As well as covering University and College fees, students will also have to support their maintenance costs. As Oxford is a relatively expensive place to live, it is recommended that students consult the University’s  guidance on living costs  when planning their budget, to cover accommodation, meals and other living expenses.

Do you offer any intensive, online or distance-learning courses?

We do not normally offer any of our MSc or DPhil programmes in an intensive, online, or distance-learning modality. Although we do make use of virtual learning environments and various other online components of study, both full and part-time students are required to attend in person during term time due to the collaborative and multi-disciplinary nature of our programmes, and the principles that underpin Oxford education as a  collegiate university.  We strongly believe that the face-to-face element of the programme is vital in providing a multi-disciplinary peer network for students to engage in ideas, discussion and debate.

We do, however, offer this programme on a part-time basis. The part-time DPhil is substantively identical to the full-time degree, but distributes the workload over five to six years for those who must fit study around work, family, or other outside commitments.

What does the schedule look like for a part-time DPhil student?

Part-time students can typically expect to spend at least 30 days physically in Oxford each year, and will be expected to commit approximately 20 hours per week to their studies. Part-time DPhil students will be expected to take core courses in Michaelmas Term of Years 1 and 2. These courses have been scheduled to allow part-time students to take them on a single day, so students will need to be able to attend classes in Oxford one day a week for the eight consecutive weeks of Michaelmas Term, as a minimum. In addition, part-time students will need to be present in Oxford in their first year for the full Induction Week (normally held the first week of October).

There are provisions to attend DPhil seminars and supervision meetings via video conference, the latter at your supervisor’s discretion, particularly from Year 3 onwards. However, classes for the core courses and any corresponding examinations in Michaelmas Term of Years 1 and 2 can only be attended in person.

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Computational social science

Computational Social Science research targets the enhancement of critical societal issues through the use of Artificial Intelligence solutions. This research aligns to the core values of The Open University, and has contributed to urgent and vital topics, such as misinformation detection, online radicalisation and extremism, crisis management, and climate change.

In the last few years, our research on Computational Social Science has attracted funding for five European projects (HERoS, Co-Inform, Trivalent, DecarboNet and COMRADES), and has led to the publication of more than 100 scientific articles. Among the technologies developed, CREES (Crisis Event Extraction Service), an advanced Artificial Intelligent method that identifies crisis events in social media streams, is being used by various humanitarian organisations.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English .

Potential research projects

• Artificial Intelligence and the impact of the gender data gap
• Bias in financial AI models
• Online harm
• Online misinformation
• Role of social media in disaster situations

Current/recent research projects

Potential supervisors.

• Professor Harith Alani
• Dr Gregoire Burel
• Dr Tracie Farrell
• Professor Miriam Fernandez

Some of our research students are funded via a  Doctoral Training Partnership ; others are self-funded.  For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships .

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships .

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Ms Ortenz Rose (KMI Senior Services Assistant) Email: KMI PHD enquiries Phone: +44 (0)1908 654774

Please review the  application process  if you want to apply for this research topic.

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PhD Computer Science

Our Computer Science PhD programme offers advanced training and research opportunities in various areas of computer science. It offers rigorous training, opportunities for collaboration, and the chance to make meaningful contributions to advancing technology and knowledge.

Key course information

April 2025 - full-time, april 2025 - part-time, july 2025 - full-time, july 2025 - part-time, october 2025 - full-time, october 2025 - part-time, january 2026 - full-time, january 2026 - part-time, why choose this programme.

Our PhD research programme provides you with the opportunity to study a wide range of computer science topics. These include technologies and systems for securing online businesses and our lives, technologies inspired by nature for solving complicated real-world problems in areas such as transport and health, and real-world applications of advanced technologies in cyber security and machine learning. Our expert supervisors, highly rated research activities and excellent facilities mean you’ll be a specialist in your field by the time you complete your PhD.

Surrey Centre for Cyber Security (SCCS), led by the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering , is one of only 19 Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research recognised by the UK government. It is particularly strong in interdisciplinary research with subject areas including electrical and electronic engineering, biomedical sciences , psychology , business , sociology  and law . We also have strong ties with global research institutes, such as the University of Oxford, Microsoft Research Cambridge, KU Leuven (Belgium), McMaster University (Canada) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) for joint PhD projects.

Many PhD projects are undertaken in collaboration with industrial partners. We strive to excel in our research, with many members of staff publicly recognised as experts in their respective fields.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranks Surrey 7th in the UK for research outputs in computer science, with 100 per cent of those outputs recognised as either world-leading (57.1 per cent) or internationally excellent. 100 per cent of our computer science postgraduate research students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA ).

Programme details Open

What you will study.

Our PhD in Computer Science will give you the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for a career in academia, research and development work in industry, and a wide variety of professional opportunities elsewhere.

It normally takes around three to four years to complete a full-time PhD. You’ll be assigned at least two supervisors, a principal and a secondary, who’ll guide you through your studies. You’ll learn how to conduct literature reviews, how to develop your research ideas and verify them with experiments, and how to collaborate and perform interdisciplinary research.

Exactly what your studies will look like will depend on your choice of topic: most of our PhD students conduct their research on computers in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, but some need access to special hardware in a lab setting. We’ll make sure you’ve got everything you need to conduct your research.

We offer a diverse programme of academic and social activities, including monthly tea parties between PhD students and staff, and bespoke workshops and social events.

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.

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

Research areas Open

Research themes, distributed and network systems themes.

• Complex network analysis, including controllability and criticality
• Concurrency control
• Development of control policies
• Distributed coordination
• Distributed trust
• Edge networks and cloud computing
• Fault-tolerance
• Formal verification
• Information processing in networks
• Resource management
• Social computing and computational social science
• Web tracking and privacy
• Social networks and online harm
• Resilient architectures and organisations
• Resilient and trustworthy data replication
• System reconfigurability, recovery and resistance
• Algorithms for consensus, fault-tolerance and reliability.

Nature-inspired computing and engineering themes

• Computational intelligence
• Optimisation algorithms
• Machine learning, including deep learning
• Computer vision/pattern recognition
• Reinforcement learning (rule-based, deep)
• Reconfigurability, recovery and resistance in learning
• Machine learning and biologically inspired approaches to cyber-resiliency
• Adversariality, resilience and robustness
• Resilient frameworks for hate speech detection
• Post-compromise analytics
• Morphogenetic engineering
• Neural information processing
• Developmental and cognitive neuroscience
• Time series analysis
• Security and resilience of digital ecosystems
• Signal processing
• Bayesian inference
• Medical image processing
• Systems biology
• Control theory
• Prediction and learning in complex networks
• Data mining
• Natural language processing
• Knowledge extraction.

Secure systems themes

• Hardware security
• Security analysis of critical infrastructure systems
• Quantum-resilient authentication and encryption schemes
• Technologies for trusted components, devices and sensors
• Post-compromise security
• Resilience and security across the cloud-edge-fog-things continuum
• Connected and autonomous vehicles and transport systems
• Cyber crime
• Game theory for security
• Mathematical models and frameworks for resilience
• Intrusion detection
• Digital forensics
• Human factors
• Data loss prevention
• Concurrent and distributed systems
• Applied cryptography
• Security protocols
• Internet of things security and privacy
• Security visualisation
• Trusted computing
• Privacy-enhancing technologies
• User authentication
• Secure communications
• Network and mobile security and privacy.

Research centres and groups

• Nature Inspired Computing and Engineering Research Group
• Surrey Centre for Cyber Security

Academic staff Open

See a full list of all our  academic staff  within the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.

Support and facilities Open

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.

We have a range of highly capable computing resources to support your research, including our own high-performance computing clusters, and a modern seminar room with teleconferencing and video recording facilities.

We have GPU facilities for parallel programming and deep learning and an applied laboratory with new machines, and an array of internet of things equipment.

There’s a virtual network to support cyber security research, and a 200-seat computing facility for students where each seat offers access to a dedicated Raspberry Pi and TPM.

Entry requirements Open

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

International students in the united kingdom, 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
• Being shortlisted through the application screening process
• Completing a successful interview
• Providing suitable references.

Fees and funding Open

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.

• Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
• 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).

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Application process

Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our  application guidance .

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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Computer Science PhD

Full-time, April 2025

Part-time, April 2025

Full-time, July 2025

Part-time, July 2025

Full-time, October 2025

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Full-time, January 2026

Part-time, January 2026

About the University of Surrey

Accommodation

We have a range of housing to suit all requirements and budgets. There are more than 6,000 rooms available (en-suite, single-sex, studio flat, shared or single).

Student life

At Surrey we offer a friendly university campus set in beautiful countryside, with the convenience and social life of bustling Guildford on your doorstep.

Need more information?

Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.

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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.

Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF) .

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

• First when we make an offer.
• Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

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.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .

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Computational Social Science

• Cornwall Research Hub
• Find a Data Scientist
• Seed-Corn Funding
• The Turing Institute
• Partnerships
• Special Interest Groups

Computational Social Science Theme Leads :   Dr Chico Camargo .

The Computational Social Science theme at the IDSAI brings together researchers interested in developing or applying computational approaches to the social sciences. The theme spans across different disciplines, including (but not limited to) political science, sociology, social psychology, education, law, economics, cognitive science, linguistics, criminology, anthropology, cultural evolution, as well as mathematics and computer science.  

  Researchers in this theme employ a range of methodologies, often combining qualitative approaches with computational methods drawing from network science, natural language processing, computer vision, agent-based modelling, as well as machine learning. The theme links with research programmes at the Alan Turing Institute in  Public Policy ,  Defence & Security , and  Data Science for Science and the Humanities .  

We welcome enquiries from doctoral, postdoctoral and faculty researchers in all disciplines interested in this theme. For any questions, or to join the IDSAI Computational Social Science mailing list, please contact the Theme Lead above, or email [email protected] .

Related Centres of Excellence in Exeter

Exeter Q-Step Centre

Exeter has been chosen as one of only fifteen universities to host a Q-step Centre, developing specialist undergraduate programmes including work placements as well as pathways to postgraduate study.

Building on the University's core disciplines of Sociology, Criminology, Politics, and International Relations,   Exeter Q-Step   brings together a range of activities related to training as well as curriculum development in quantitative methods. The Centre has recruited academics for the delivery of undergraduate courses focused on endowing students with quantitative literacy and applied data analysis skills, so it offers challenging, exciting and career-enhancing programmes.

View website

Centre for Social Mobility

The Mission of the University of Exeter's   Centre for Social Mobility   is to help students realise their potential through higher education.  

The Centre is open to academic faculty, professional service staff and students who share an interest in enhancing research and practice in widening participation policy and practice.

The Centre aims to bring researchers and practitioners together to promote evidence-based practice, nurture new ideas and support a whole institution approach to social mobility.

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Computational social science

The Data Innovation Research Institute was open between 2015 and 2021. This page shows the Institute’s past work. It is not monitored or updated.

As humans increase their use of technology for both business and pleasure, so does the size of the digital footprint they leave behind. This data is a rich source for study as it provides a unique perspective on social and human behaviour.

Broadly known as computational social science, it includes aspects of anthropology, ethnography, business, journalism and other humanities.

Arts, humanities and social sciences

It is envisaged that many future discoveries in the arts, humanities and social sciences will have a data-driven component. Our institute is currently working closely with colleagues in the Cardiff Business School , Law School and WISERD to exploit opportunities for data-driven innovation in computational social science. Interacting with key researchers, we work closely and collaboratively, focusing on their unstructured data driven problems.

Research Institute seedcorn funding

Our Research Institute seedcorn funding and Research Software Engineers have contributed to a number of projects over the last three years including:

• Social Data Science Lab
• EU SOCIALNETS and RECOGNITION projects
• "Lost Visions" project

These projects emphasise the importance of putting social scientists in close collaboration with computer scientists and Research Software Engineers to ensure that the outcomes of the work are relevant to both communities.

Work undertaken in this area also identifies the necessity to bring in empirical studies of offline analysis into online behaviours to undertake comparative analysis. Research here will lead to new algorithm development that can be used for the analysis of emerging online data.

Data Innovation Research Institute

The Data Innovation Research Institute has been set up to conduct fundamental research into the aspects of managing, analysing and interpreting massive volumes of textual and numerical information.

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• 30 Year Anniversary
• Methods surgery
• Methods Short Courses
• Seminar series
• Software tutorials

Dr Blake Miller

Assistant professor of computational social science, department of methodology.

"I am a huge fan of mixed methods research. I think that research becomes richer and more credible when one can deploy multiple methods to solve the same problem. For example, [using randomised experiments along with observational data] can balance precision in estimating causal effects with a rich view of how things work in the real world, outside of the confines of an experimental setup." - Dr Blake Miller shares their favourite research method as part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations. Read the full close-up with Methodology faculty .

Blake Miller is an Assistant Professor of Computational Social Science in the Methodology Department at the London School of Economics. They received their PhD in Political Science and Scientific Computing from the University of Michigan in 2018 where they were also a graduate research affiliate in the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies. Before coming to LSE, they were a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Dartmouth College Program in Quantitative Social Science. For more information, please visit www.blakeapm.com .

Research interests

Blake's methodological research develops methods in machine learning and natural language processing, especially supervised learning, to facilitate large-scale text analysis in the social sciences.

Blake's substantive research explores China's political communication under authoritarian rule, focusing on how the Chinese Communist Party has built a new surveillance-driven security state in an often bitterly contentious partnership with tech giants. Blake’s coauthored work also explores how the Chinese state manages social organizations in China trading off the costs and benefits of civil society through mechanisms of party supervision and repression.

In addition to work on China, Blake researches how illiberal political actors manipulate media to politically mobilize social and religious conservatives, often through provoking outrage and disgust at perceived norm-violations of minorities. Blake's current research explores how these methods of political mobilization can lead to increased support for violence and punitive policies against LGBT+ individuals and other vulnerable minority groups.

Expertise Details

Methodological: Text as Data Methods ; Machine Learning; Substantive: Chinese Politics ; Information Control ; Comparative Political Behaviour ; Political Psychology ; Conflict and Political Violence.