Communication Systems

PhD

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Full time 3 - 4 years, Part time 4 - 7 years
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Overview

We welcome applications from well-qualified and motivated students for PhD study (three years full-time, four to six years part-time).

You’ll work under individual supervision to become a leading expert in your area, while research training courses will support your learning and help you realise your maximum potential. Annual progress review panels keep your work on track and our seminar programmes and state-of-the-art facilities provide access to ideas and technologies to stimulate your development as a research scientist.

There will be numerous opportunities to collaborate and to present your research nationally and internationally via our extensive research and industrial partnerships. Also, you will have the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant on our taught programmes; a valuable source of experience and income.

We recommend that you visit our website to read the latest information about our research interests and projects. Here you will also find details on preparing PhD proposals, on contacting individual staff and on funding.

How to apply

We offer a number of different routes to beginning your PhD study.

  • Develop your own self-funded PhD proposal

    If you have your own research idea, we can help you to develop it. To begin this process you will need to find a PhD Supervisor from one of our research groups, whose research interests align with your own.

  • Apply for a funded PhD position

    Every year we offer a range of PhDs funded by a number of different sources, including research councils, industries or charities. Browse the list of latest funded opportunities here.

  • Doctoral Training Centres

    You can also apply for a PhD from one of the Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships that work with the School of Computing and Communications. Details of each of the Training Centres are provided here.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in communications systems engineering, or its equivalent, in an engineering or associated discipline.

We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

The first step if you are interested in studying for postgraduate research in Computing or Communications is to find a PhD Supervisor or funded opportunity.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Fees and funding

The tuition fee for students with home fee status is set in line with the standard fee stipend provided by the UK Research Councils. The fee stipend for 2025/26 has not yet been set. For reference, the fee stipend for 2024/25 was full-time £4,786 and part-time £2,393.

The international fee for new entrants in 2025/26 is full-time £27,550 and part-time £13,775.

General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Before you apply

Admissions policy

Applicants are expected to have a First Class or Distinction BSc level degree in computer science, communication science, or relevant disciplines such as mathematics. Candidates who have additional academic or technical experience as evidenced by MSc, or equivalent degree, or industry experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Fees and Funding

Information on the funding available, tuition fees and living costs in Lancaster are at Postgraduate Fees and Funding.

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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