Universities in the UK (and the discussion in this post is based, and most likely limited to, the UK academic sector) accept students with a UG (BSc) degree into their PhD programs. Thus, students in the UK often wonder about the differences between doing a postgraduate taught degree and a postgraduate research degree. But also if you have already your MSc finished (or are close to finishing it) and are considering applying for a PhD programme, it will be useful to understand the differences in the application and selection process.
One of important difference between a taught program and a research program is that a research program is an individual programme: it is all about you (and your supervisor). In contrast, a taught program is mass event (the “mass” can be relatively small, i.e., cohort sizes of postgraduate taught programs are often in the medium double-digit range). This has consequences on selecting the right university (or research group) and strategies for making your application successful.
Let’s start with looking at Taught Postgraduate Programs. When applying for an MSc programme, you are often one of hundredths applicants and decision if your application is successful or not, is often taken by a dedicated admissions team, based on your marks in your undergraduate studies, checking that you satisfy the admission criteria. Only in exceptional cases, when, for instance, you want to replace certain requirements (e.g., an undergraduate degree that teaches programming) by job experience (e.g., if you worked as a software developer), your application is read carefully by an academic.
Of course, you want to study at a university with a good reputation. But, most importantly, you want to learn the topics that really motivate you and that build the basis for your envisioned career path. Hence, carefully check the description of the programmes you are applying for (and for the modules offered) to avoid disappointments. For example, not every programme that has ``cybersecurity’’ in its title, will cover those areas of cybersecurity that you are interested in. This will also help you, if you are considering a PhD after your MSc: PhD supervisors consider it an advantage, if they have already supervised the M.Sc. Research Project of a student. And, if the M.Sc. Research Project and your PhD topic are aligned, it gives you a head-start for your PhD.
While, in the following, I am focusing on PhD programmes, similar consideration are valid for the much less common degree “MSc by Research” (a one-year MSc degree that is purely based on an individual research project). A postgraduate research program, as the name suggests, focuses on research. There are usually only a few taught modules (e.g., in the UK it is very common that research students need to complete a module on research methodology). Hence, both the application process and the PhD studies are centered around you, our research topic, and your relationship to your PhD supervisor. This observation should guide both the selection of the best suitable supervisor and the documents that your application process
If you want to do a PhD in a certain topic (and, if you want to do a PhD, you should have an idea, in which area you want to do it), look out for potential supervisors that are knowledge in your area of interest, e.g., they have published papers that are, broadly speaking, relevant to your PhD topic. For example, even though I am doing a lot of research in cybersecurity, there are many areas of cybersecurity, I am not supervising students on, because I lack the necessary expertise.
In your application, you should demonstrate that the expertise of your future supervisor is useful for your PhD topic. Ideally, your application refers to one or several papers written by the research group you are applying at. In a certain way, the reputation of the university is less important (compared to a taught programme). Rather, try to understand if your research topic and your personality fits well into the research area and supervisory style of your week/month: some supervisors meet their PhD candidates at least weekly, others future supervisor. For example, how many supervisory meetings are planned per only every other week or less often. Similarly, some supervisors are more involved in the actual research than others. What is best for you, depends on your personal needs and your research topic. Some topics require a closer supervision than others. If accepted, you will need to work with this supervisor for the next 3 to 5 years. Also, at the end of your PhD, your individual work will be assessed both by the PhD committee and by future employers (that will also look at your publications and your PhD thesis).
]]>As part of their fourth year of their integrated Masters degree, our computer science students are working on a group software development project. This means a team of five to seven students (equating to an effort of 1500 to 2100 hours in total) develops a piece of software for a client. Which client? Maybe you!
The main goal of this software development project is to give our students the experience to work on a real software project for a real client. While in previous years, clients were members of the university, we are this year actively searching for clients from outside the university.
The student teams will be supervised by an academic from the computer science department. And, as a client (project owner), you will decide what the students will build. For this, you will be asked to regularly attend meetings with the student team to ensure that the final results satisfy your needs.
If you have an idea of a project, and are unsure if it is the right git, just contact us. We need your ideas until Friday, 23 September 2022 to allow the teams to start in October 2023 with their work. The students will aim for having a first prototype finished in early January 2023 and the handover of the final product should happen before Easter 2023.
For example, last year our students developed a social platform the economists for which further development has been taken on by an external software company or research prototypes for the Engineering Department.
]]>Several fully funded PhD scholarships for UK applicants are available in the Security and Trust of Advanced Systems Group (Prof. Achim Brucker and Dr. Diego Marmsoler) at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Exeter, UK.
We are looking for enthusiastic and outstanding Computer Science or Mathematics students with a strong background in at least one of the following topics:
This award provides annual funding to cover UK tuition fees and a tax-free stipend. For students who pay UK tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full, plus at least £15,009 per year tax-free stipend. The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit for 3.5 years of full-time study.
Interested candidates should contact the potential supervisors Prof. Achim Brucker or Dr. Diego Marmsoler to discuss their application.
For more details, please consult the official advertisements:
The closing date for applications is midnight on the 24th of January 2022.
]]>I am happy to announce that Amy Stell will join the Software Assurance & Security Research Team as a PhD student.
Amy got her BSc in Computer Science from the University of Exeter. In her BSc project, she formalized neural networks in Isabelle/HOL, and she will continue to develop formal methods for improving the security, safety, and correctness of machine learning during her PHD studies.
]]>A warm welcome to Dr Avik Chakraborti. Avik is joining the Security and Trust of Advanced Systems Group at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Exeter as a Lecturer in Cyber Security.
Avik is a world-renowned expert in applied cryptography. Our students will already meet him after Easter, when he starts teaching, as part of your MSc Cyber Security Analytics, the module on Security Assessment and Validation.
]]>For the first time, we are welcoming students in our brand-new MSc Cyber Security Analytics degree. In the taught modules, the students will improve their skills in cyber security, data analytics, and machine learning.
In their research project, the students will refine their skills by applying their newly acquired knowledge to a project in the intersection of data science and cyber security. This could, e.g., a project using data science techniques for analyzing a security problem or analyzing the security of data science or machine learning techniques.
]]>Two fully funded PhD scholarships for EU/UK applicants are available in the Security and Trust of Advanced Systems Group (Prof Achim Brucker or Dr Diego Marmsoler) at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Exeter, UK.
We are looking for enthusiastic and outstanding Computer Science or Mathematics students with a strong background in some of the following topics:
This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU tuition fees and a tax-free stipend. For students who pay UK/EU tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full, plus at least £15,009 per year tax-free stipend. The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit for 3.5 years of full-time study.
For more details, please consult the official advertisement.
The closing date for applications is midnight on 1 May 2020. Project-specific queries should be directed to the supervisors, Prof Achim Brucker or Dr Diego Marmsoler.
]]>As part of the expansion of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Exeter, we are recruiting for a Lecturer in Cybersecurity. The lecturer will be part of the newly formed Security and Trust of Advanced Systems Group.
We are looking for a candidate with an outstanding research record in any area related to cybersecurity (information security) such as (but not limited to):
You will have a PhD or equivalent in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or a related area. Please refer to the job description for full details.
We understand security and safety entangled concepts: in most modern systems one cannot be achieved without the other. Hence, we encourage also candidates working in related domains such as safety, dependability, resilience, or reliability to apply.
Please apply by 8th of April 2020! See the [full announcement](https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=803965SHQd&WVID=381759 1jNg&LANG=USA) for all details.
]]>After three and a half years in Sheffield, it is, again, time for new challenges. After starting the security group in Sheffield by both making the business case for a security group and being its first member, I am doing it again: I am building a new Cybersecurity Group in Exeter: This time as Professor and Head of Group.
Today, I am starting a “new life” as Full Professor (Chair for Cybersecurity) and Head of Group Cybersecurity Group (in creation) at the Computer Science Department at the University of Exeter (and, yes, there is a outdoor swimming pool next to my new office).
Personally, I plan to continue my research in both a deep understanding of theory and practice and, thus, being able to bridge the gap between theory and practice as well as between industry and academia. My team will continue to work on all kinds of aspects of developing secure, reliable, and resilient software (and hardware) systems.
On a wider perspective, the Cybersecurity Group will include several lecturer positions (the first offer has already been made, and the next call for applications will be out soon). The team will grow fast and support the already excellent and world-leading computer science department in Exeter with their security expertise in research and education.
Having worked for eight years in the global security team of SAP SE, I have a strong understanding of industrial needs and strengths. I am looking forward not only to collaborate with my new colleagues at the university, I am also looking forward to all kinds of collaborations with local industry in Devon, Cornwall, and elsewhere.
Let’s stay in touch and I am looking forward to collaborations opportunities with all of you – regardless if you are working in industry or academia and regardless if we already worked together or not!
]]>Do you want to join a world-class computer science department and help us to establishment of an information and computer security research group? Then now is the right time to apply.
The Department Of Computer Science of the University of Exeter is currently hiring for a new cybersecurity group. The new lecturer will join a growing department and will contribute to a new research focus in cybersecurity.
This is a unique opportunity to join a new cybersecurity group as founding member and to influence its future development.
Application in all areas of cybersecurity are welcome, and we are particularly encouraging people working in the intersection of security and formal aspects (e.g., formal methods, verification, type systems, programming languages, logic) to apply. Please apply by 4th of April 2019!
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