Fully Funded EPSRC CDT PhD Studentships in Cybersecurity

Call for applications for 4 year funded research studentships.

Do you already see cybersecurity as more than a technical problem? If you’re interested in working across disciplines and sectors to research creative solutions to real challenges, read on.

It has become increasingly apparent that the challenges that arise from the integration of emerging technologies into existing social, commercial, legal and political systems will not be resolved by specialists working in isolation. Rather, these complex problems require the efforts of people who can cross disciplinary boundaries, communicate beyond their own fields, and comprehend the context in which others operate. Computer science, information security, encryption, criminology, psychology, international relations, public policy, legal studies, and economics combine to form the ecosystem within which cybersecurity problems and solutions are found but training people to think and work across these boundaries has proven difficult.

We are now accepting applications for *fully funded places on the interdisciplinary UCL Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Cybersecurity funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC). The focus of this CDT is to develop the next generation of cybersecurity leaders in industry and government. These will be highly qualified specialists working across engineering, public policy and crime science who can pull together research and practice that spills over traditional boundaries.

UCL is a world-leading centre for information security and our Department of Computer Science was ranked first by research output in the latest UK REF. UCL is recognized by Government Communications Office (GCHQ) as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research and our MSc in Information Security is accredited by GCHQ and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). UCL Computer Science is the host of the national Research Institute on the Science of Cyber Security, an initiative of strategic national importance to the NCSC directed by Professor Carr. UCL STEaPP leads the PETRAS National Centre of Excellence for IoT Systems Cybersecurity. Professor Johnson directs the Dawes Centre for Future Crime, located in the department of Security and Crime Science, which also hosts the first European data lab certified to hold classified data.

Eligibility

We are seeking applicants with a strong background in either STEM (e.g., Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Physics) or Arts and Social Sciences (e.g., Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, International Relations, Public Policy, Crime Science, Economics, and Management), either recent graduates or mid-career. Candidates will be trained in research and innovation skills in all the multidisciplinary facets of cybersecurity, (computing, crime science, management and public policy) and then specialize within a discipline, with experience gained through projects jointly designed with industrial / government / law enforcement partners. The minimum entry requirement is a 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent.

This year we have approximately 10 fully funded places (fees plus enhanced stipend set at the UKRI rate, currently £19668 (plus enhanced stipend of £2000) per annum for 2023/24 for full-time students, updated each year. Places are also available for those in receipt of four-year external funding. Fully funded studentships are available to overseas students – please note these are limited.

We particularly welcome applications from under-represented and minority groups.

Funding

These studentships cover the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend currently £19,668 (plus enhanced stipend of £2000) per annum for 2022/23 for full-time students, updated each year.

How to apply

To apply, please visit our website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cybersecurity-cdt and complete your application online via UCL admissions system

Deadline for first round of applications: 31st January 2023

Deadline for second round of applications: 14th May 2023

Although we have two admissions cycles listed year to year, we may fill all available funded places in the first round. We do not hold back spaces for the second round – they will only be available if we have not found the right applicants earlier in the year. If you’re interested in joining us, apply early.

For enquiries, please contact CDT Cybersecurity Manager,  (cybersecuritycdt@ucl.ac.uk)