Program Overview

Introduction to the UKRI AI CDT PhD in Decision Making for Complex Systems

The PhD is the primary research degree that can be taken in the Department of Computer Science and Technology. The Cambridge PhD is a three to four-year full-time (or part-time equivalent) programme of individual research on a topic agreed by the student and the Department, under the guidance of a staff member as the student's supervisor.

Overview of the UKRI AI CDT Programme

The UKRI AI CDT in Decision Making for Complex Systems is a programme offered in conjunction with the University of Manchester that aims to enable students to develop new fundamental AI capabilities in the context of a diversity of complex systems. Rather than working in isolation, as is usual in AI, the students will learn to develop these in a collaborative manner tied to a specific application domain. The CDT is focused on three areas:

• Uncertainty in complex systems
• Decision-making with humans in the loop
• Decision-making for ML systems Model interpretability and explainability will be transversal to the three topics. Decision making with AI needs to be interpretable and explainable to facilitate interrogation of decision processes such that trust can be built by the human, and it is essential for understanding and meeting ethical and legal implications.

Programme Structure

This CDT programme requires students to complete one year of training at the University of Manchester leading to award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence, followed by research for a PhD degree at either the University of Manchester or Cambridge.

Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to the CDT programme are made to the University of Manchester in the first instance. Successful applicants who chose a research project at the University of Cambridge will be invited to apply for admission to this PhD.

Continuing Requirements

Students are required to pass the Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Manchester undertaken as the first year of this CDT programme.

Open Days and Events

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. These include:

• Discover Cambridge: Masters and PhD study webinars
• Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

Departments Involved

This course is advertised in the following departments:

• Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
• Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
• Department of Physics
• Department of Engineering
• Department of Computer Science and Technology

Key Programme Information

• Duration: 3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time
• Study Mode: Research
• Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
• Department: Department of Computer Science and Technology (advertised in multiple departments)

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Applications open: September 3, 2025
• Application deadline: January 15, 2026
• Course starts: October 1, 2026
• Funding deadlines:
  • Course funding deadline: December 3, 2025
  • Gates Cambridge US round only: October 15, 2025