Cyber Security and Software Technology Doctoral Programme

Overview
Application Process
Teaching
Supervisors
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Programme Overview

At De Montfort University (DMU) we are recognised as world leaders in cyber security and software technology research. We advise governments on it, we help to develop the leading international standards in the field, deliver the most prestigious cyber security

and software engineering courses, publish our exciting research in worldrenowned journals and organise ground-breaking international conferences in the area, which integrate students into the global research community.

The Cyber Security and Software Technology Doctoral Training Programme run at DMU is led by a world-class team of academics from many disciplines across all faculties, including Psychology, Law, English and Computer Science.

This unique programme will meet the needs of the public and private sector and will provide skilled, flexible and knowledgeable researchers who will be fully able to meet the challenges associated with providing a safe, secure and prosperous environment that encompasses smart systems, critical infrastructures as well as cyber space.

We have a well-deserved reputation for nurturing leading experts who are passionate about protecting the human experience in the cyber world and advance thinking and technologies that are world leading in the design and analysis of future computing systems. If you share this passion this is the ideal starting point for your research career. 

Based in Leicester city centre, at the heart of England, we pride ourselves in being a university of creativity and innovation.

The university’s pioneering research, driven by more than 700 research students and supported by 500 staff, is internationally renowned and addresses some of the most critical issues affecting our world.

Demonstrating the significance of this work, three key pieces of research are listed among the UK’s top 100 projects that will have a profound impact on the future.

DMU’s Cyber Security and Software Technology Doctoral Training Programme offers students the chance to attend modules from specialist MSc courses across the faculties along with a bespoke lecture series in aspects of cyber security and software technology from DMU specialists and world-leading experts in the field.

Application Process

Applicants should complete the  Application Form  and submit it to De Montfort University. Reference forms should be passed to the two referees for completion.

The admission points onto the Doctoral Programme are 1 October, 1 January and 1 April.

Applications are accepted for full time (typically 36-48 months) and part-time (typically 56-66 months) modes.
It is possible for students based overseas to study on the 'International Programme' where the students spends almost all their time in their home country. However, the admission requirements for such students are higher than they are for students who study in Leicester, an experienced local supervisor to the student is also required.

Teaching

Supervision in the Cyber Security doctoral programme is carried out in teams consisting of at least a first and second supervisor. In many cases we will have an additional second supervisor and external advisors. This is due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, which often requires different areas of expertise.

The structure of the training programme is designed to be flexible and to fit with both full-time and part-time PhD study. The components and course schedule of the programme are as follows:
Modules offered (this is an indicative list and not exhaustive):

• Foundations of Cyber Security
• Cyber Threat Intelligence
• Cyber Engineering
• Professional Practice in Forensics and Security
• Approaches to the Study of Wellbeing
• Cyber Law and Ethics
• Research Methods

Supervisors

All DMU students have at least two supervisors, sometimes three. The first supervisor should be your first port of call for any queries. We typically meet with all supervisors about once a month for full time students.

It is important to realise that ownership of the research project lies with the research student. Your supervisors do not tell you what to do or how to do it. They provide guidance and give input to shape your thinking. Responsibility for accepting or rejecting this guidance lies with the student. 

Your first supervisor is also your personal tutor: the member of staff in the University who you should go first to if you have personal, emotional, family, health, money or other welfare issues. Do not worry about going to the same person who comments on your academic work: indeed if they know the personal issues going on, they might be more sympathetic about you not having done as much work as they were hoping.