Cyber Security (Cyber Secure Everywhere)

Program Overview

Overview

The Cyber Secure Everywhere Centre for Doctoral Training offers a four-year PhD program in Cyber Security, focusing on challenge-led training and interdisciplinary research. The program aims to address the shortage of skilled cyber security professionals by providing students with a holistic understanding of cyber security problems across complex IT, OT, and IIoT systems.

Key Information

• Programme duration: Four years full-time
• Start date: September 2025
• Application deadline: Round 1 (January 9, 2025) and Round 2 (March 31, 2025)
• Delivery method: On-Campus
• Location: Clifton
• Awards available: PhD

Programme Structure

The program consists of a four-year training program with emphasis on challenge-led approach combined with collaborative teamwork. The first year includes taught units, masterclasses, placements, sandpits, and guided self-study. The second year focuses on research, allowing students to perform their own research at an internationally publishable standard.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of an upper-second class honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Cyber security is an interdisciplinary challenge, and the CDT focuses on both social and technical challenges of cyber security.

Fees and Funding

• Home: full-time (£4,850 per year), part-time (£2,425 per year)
• Overseas: full-time (£26,700 per year)
• Alumni discount: 25% reduction in tuition fees for University of Bristol students and graduates
• Funding and scholarships: The Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber Security offers a number of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) studentships to eligible applicants covering tuition fees, maintenance stipend, and research travel expenses.

Career Prospects

Graduates will be prepared for a variety of careers all over the globe, including world-leading research. Others could work as consultants or as part of large-scale engineering industries, software development organisations, telecommunication and infrastructure providers.

Research Groups

• UKRI National Research Centre on Privacy, Harm Reduction and Adversarial Influence Online (REPHRAIN)
• UKRI Digital Security by Design Hub+ (Discribe)
• CyBOK, the Cyber Security Body of Knowledge
• Bristol Cyber Security Group
• Applied Digital Behaviour Lab

Supervisors

A list of potential supervisors for this programme is available, including:

• Dr Nirav Ajmeri
• Dr Sana Belguith
• Dr Jonathan Bober
• Professor Seth Bullock
• Professor Andrew Charlesworth
• Dr Barney Craggs
• Dr Francois Dupressoir
• Dr Matthew Edwards
• Professor Mike Fraser
• Dr Joe Gardiner
• Dr Joseph Hallett
• Dr Ana Javornik
• Professor Weiru Liu
• Professor Genevieve Liveley
• Dr Chloe Martindale
• Dr Ryan McConville
• Dr Ola Michalec
• Dr Sveta Milyaeva
• Dr George Oikonomou
• Dr Inah Omoronyia
• Dr Alma Oracevic
• Professor Richard Owen
• Dr Daniel Page
• Dr Eleonora Pantano
• Dr Claudia Peersman
• Professor Robert Piechocki
• Dr Marvin Ramokapane
• Professor Awais Rashid
• Professor Dimitra Simeonidou
• Dr Emma Slade
• Professor Theo Tryfonas
• Bogdan Warinschi

How to Apply

Recruitment information and application deadline dates for this programme can be found on Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber Security. Early application is advised as the programme will close once places are filled.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Cyber Secure Everywhere Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) offers a 4-year research program that emphasizes a challenge-led approach combined with collaborative teamwork. The program brings together students from diverse backgrounds to learn as a cohort in a flipped classroom mode and regular group work. The program's objectives are to:

• Train highly skilled professionals to proactively anticipate and address the implications of cyber security and resilience through innovative fundamental research.
• Develop future research leaders with the capability to anticipate challenges and develop innovative solutions.

Outline:

The program's content and structure are designed to provide students with a holistic understanding of cyber security challenges across complex IT, OT, and IIoT systems.

Year 1:

• Taught units to build knowledge and ignite curiosity.
• Transferable skills training.
• Participation in public engagement activities.

Years 2-4:

• Research component.

Teaching:

The program employs a unique co-creation approach to training that involves:

• Learning from leading experts within multiple disciplines, including psychology, management, engineering, sociology, and computer science.
• Collaborative teamwork that brings students from different backgrounds together.
• Flipped classroom mode and regular group work.

Careers:

Graduates of the program will be prepared for a variety of careers all over the globe, including:

• World-leading research.
• Consulting.
• Large-scale engineering industries.
• Software development organizations.
• Telecommunication and infrastructure providers.

Other:

• The program is ranked 5th for research in the UK by Times Higher Education.
• 94% of the program's research is assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
• The program offers a number of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) studentships to eligible applicants covering tuition fees, maintenance stipend, and research travel expenses.
• The program is supported by a team of world-leading researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Bath, as well as industry experts.

UK: full-time £4,758 per year Overseas: full-time £26,000 per year For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.