Subject overview

Programmes

• PhD in Cognitive Science
• PhD in Informatics
• MPhil in Cognitive Science
• MPhil in Informatics

Research students studying for MPhil or PhD degrees are associated with one or more research groups in the Department of Informatics and are allocated space in well-equipped shared offices. They have full access to their research group’s specialist facilities and laboratories. 

The Department is engaged in a wide range of highly rated research, covering many areas of artificial intelligence, computer science and cognitive science. We can supervise research students in all areas in which our faculty specialise. 

Applicants wishing to pursue interdisciplinary research involving artificial intelligence (AI), including computational philosophy of mind or AI of biology, may apply to do research degrees in cognitive science. 

Students admitted to research degrees take a Research Skills Development module in their first two terms, which is specifically designed for students in the School of Engineering and Informatics. In addition, specific MSc modules may be recommended to enhance your subject knowledge where necessary. 

Recent thesis titles

A policy language definition for provenance in pervasive computing 

Adaptive networks for robotics and the emergence of reward anticipatory circuits 

An evaluation of identity in online social networking: distinguishing fact from fiction 

Automatic acquisition of sense examples for word-sense disambiguation: a bilingual approach 

Beyond situated action: a neo-Vygotskian theory of thinking and language internalisation 

Computing multi-scale organisations built through assembly 

Content rendering and interaction technologies for digital heritage systems 

Exploring the emotional experiences of high-school students with a subtle stone technology 

Narrative threads: supporting young people in developing writing skills through narrative-based game creation 

Reasoning about denotations of recursive objects 

Removing and restoring control flow with the Value State Dependence Graph 

Representing archaeological uncertainty in cultural informatics 

STDP, rate-coded Hebbian learning and auto-associative network models of the hippocampus 

Supporting representation selection to improve reasoning: the iterative design of an adaptive system 

The acquisition and representation of knowledge about complex multi-dynamic processes 

Unsupervised and knowledge-poor approaches to sentiment analysis 

Academic activities

Research students make a substantial contribution to the research output of the Department of Informatics, and frequently present their work at conferences and in journals. 

Postgraduate students are also encouraged to attend and give talks in the various specialised seminar series in the Department. In addition to the active seminar series run by each research group, there are seminar series run by other disciplines and the interdisciplinary research centres, which students regularly attend. 

Research/industry links

Research is motivated by social, economic and industrial needs. Strong links have been developed with local and national industry – not least because most practical problems requiring research also demand an interdisciplinary approach. 

These relationships are further exemplified in the University’s Innovation Centre, where several of the companies are involved in research areas pursued by Sussex. 

Entry requirements

MPhil in Cognitive Science

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a subject relevant to your chosen area of research.

Overseas entrance requirements

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EEA student you must obtain clearance by the UK Government Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) for this degree. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for your university application to be considered and processed in time for you to apply for ATAS clearance and your Tier 4 visa.

MPhil in Informatics

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a subject relevant to your chosen area of research.

Overseas entrance requirements

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

PhD in Cognitive Science

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a subject relevant to your chosen area of research.

Overseas entrance requirements

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EEA student you must obtain clearance by the UK Government Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) for this degree. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for your university application to be considered and processed in time for you to apply for ATAS clearance and your Tier 4 visa.

PhD in Informatics

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in a subject relevant to your chosen area of research.

Overseas entrance requirements

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Related subjects

• Engineering and design
• Mathematics

Fees and funding

Fees

MPhil in Cognitive Science

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

PhD in Cognitive Science

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

MPhil in Informatics

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

PhD in Informatics

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £16,200³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

Faculty interests

Research groups 

Research is a core activity of the Department of Informatics and is organised around our interdisciplinary research groups. Our research often entails collaborations between the groups, as well as with other academic schools at Sussex and external academic, institutional and commercial partners. The research groups are briefly described below, for more details, visit the Department of Informatics.

Cognitive and Language Processing Systems

The research of this group addresses the science and engineering of complex systems for cognitively demanding and language-intensive domains, including the application of methods from cognitive science and natural-language engineering. The group focuses on searching and classifying free text (eg medical records) in large quantities, cognitive processes of writing and drawing, cognitive modelling of processes such as attention and graphical production, and cognitively informed interactive tools for complex problem solving, decision making, instruction and learning. 

Faculty research interests include: 

Professor John Carroll Natural language parsing, acquiring knowledge about words from text, sentiment analysis, clinical text mining. 

Professor Peter Cheng The nature of representational systems (diagrams for complex problem solving, discovery and conceptual learning), processes of writing and drawing. 

Dr Bill Keller The use of language technology to support communication and interaction, language-aware technology, applications of distributional models of natural language semantics. 

Dr David Weir Controlling non-determinism in natural language generation, language in pervasive computing environments, efficient parsing, inferring knowledge about words from raw text. 

Dr Sharon Wood Multi-agent systems. Cognitive modelling, in particular information acquisition through cognitively plausible visual attention processes, and knowledge-based reasoning.  

Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems (EASy) 

The EASy group has been internationally prominent since it was established in the early 1990s. It is concerned with the interfaces between the biological and computational sciences, particularly with reference to furthering understanding of brains and minds. The group’s research is highly interdisciplinary and involves many strong links with other departments at Sussex. Research foci include adaptive and cognitive robotics, artificial life, bio-inspired computational methods, computational neuroscience, creative systems, history and philosophy of AI and ALife, clinical applications of neural modelling, machine learning, scientific studies of consciousness, and synthetic neuroethology. It runs the highly successful Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics (CCNR) jointly with Sussex Neuroscience in the School of Life Sciences. Members of the group also direct the Centre for Research in Cognitive Science (COGS) and the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science (SCCS), both important cross-campus initiatives. 

Faculty research interests include: 

Dr Luc Berthouze Motor development in infants and in machines, EEG-based brain-machine interfaces, epigenetic robotics, and modelling cognitive development with robotic systems. 

Professor Margaret Boden Computational approaches in the philosophy of mind and psychology, purpose and creativity, philosophy of AI and ALife, and social implications of AI. 

Dr Ron Chrisley Non-conceptual representation; philosophy of cognitive science, AI, mind, consciousness, computation; computer/robotic models of visual experience, emotion, creativity. 

Professor Phil Husbands Evolutionary and adaptive robotics, evolutionary computation, ALife, computational neuroscience, adaptive systems, neuromodulation, history of AI, creative systems. 

Dr Thomas Nowotny Information processing in nervous systems, sequence learning in neuronal systems, accurate conductance-based neuron models, and hybrid systems. 

Dr Andy Philippides Computational neuroscience and neuroethology, evolutionary robotics, insect visual homing strategies, and gaseous neuromodulators in neural networks. 

Professor Anil Seth Theoretical neuroscience and evolutionary and adaptive systems; time-series analysis of neural dynamics, neurorobotics; and evolutionary theory and ecological modelling. 

Dr Chris Thornton Computational learning using symbolic algorithms and connectionist mechanisms, and theories of creativity.  

Foundations of Software Systems

This group is interested in the theory and practice of future computation and communication. We build mathematical theories of computation and use such models to inform the design of programming languages and compilers. We design and evaluate distributed applications and services that provide the foundations of the pervasive computing infrastructure and other software systems. We model and analyse data representing system configurations, social networks, trust, and provenance. 

Faculty research interests include: 

Dr Martin Berger Concurrency theory, semantics and pragmatics of programming languages, program logics, metaprogramming, computer science methods in theoretical biology. 

Dr Dan Chalmers The design of pervasive computing systems, particularly those which process and consider emotion, social networks, trust and context to enable efficient and usable system behaviour. 

Dr Ian Mackie Foundations of programming languages and models of computation. Applying techniques from mathematical logic and quantum mechanics to programming language implementation. 

Dr Bernhard Reus Mathematical semantics of programming languages and their foundations; constructive logic; and techniques and tools supporting program analysis, design and verification. 

Dr Ian Wakeman Networks and distributed systems, emphasis on design from the user perspective, pervasive computing, computational trust. 

Interactive Systems

This research group operates at the intersection between people and digital technology. We are interested in interaction in the broadest sense and consider it in relation to both traditional desktop-based technologies and more novel digital technologies, including mobile, immersive, ubiquitous and pervasive technologies. 

We are interested in users of all kinds, ranging from experts using technology in their work (such as medical professionals) and experts developing technology for their work (such as programmers) to novices of all kinds (from children using educational technology through to adults using social technology). 

Our research focuses on human-computer interaction, accessibility, music informatics, learning with and through technology (including social networks), technology-enhanced social interaction, new models of e-business, e-government and e-citizenship, tangible and embodied interaction, motion capture techniques, building virtual worlds for digital heritage and other applications, real-time animation, digital content creation and digital video. 

Faculty research interests include: 

Dr Natalia Beloff New models of e-business, business models for small and medium digital enterprises, adver-gaming, advertising for social networks, education and social networks. 

Dr Judith Good Constructivist learning environments, game-based learning, technology toolkits for learning, visual programming languages, learner-centred and participatory design methodologies. 

Dr Paul Newbury Multimedia systems, in particular virtual prototyping, ubiquitous systems and digital content creation. Technology-enhanced learning and video techniques for distance learning. 

Dr Phil Watten Software development; virtual prototyping; high-level design; system modelling; display systems; interface design; and media production, new media and web broadcasting. 

Dr Martin White 3D graphics; virtual, augmented and mixed reality; animation; motion sensing; motion gaming; digital heritage systems; interaction; work flows. 

Interdisciplinary research centres 

The Department of Informatics plays a central role in the following major interdisciplinary research centres: 

Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics (CCNR) 

CCNR is a collaboration between the Department of Informatics and the School of Life Sciences. This thriving centre seeks to explore and exploit the interfaces between the biological and computational sciences. CCNR is jointly run with the Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems group. 

Centre for Research in Cognitive Science (COGS) 

COGS is an internationally recognised centre for interdisciplinary investigation into the nature of cognition, be it natural or artificial. Staff in Informatics and Psychology, as well as Sussex linguists, focus on teaching and research. 

Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science (SCCS) 

SCCS is a venture between the Department of Informatics, the School of Psychology, and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The Centre’s aim is to unravel the complex neural mechanisms underlying conscious experience by bringing together computational modelling, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical applications. 

Careers and perspectives

Many of our graduates have continued in academia as research fellows, lecturers and assistant professors at institutions throughout the UK and worldwide. Other graduates have embarked on careers in industry as scientific officers, project leaders, managers, developers and system analysts in a diverse range of businesses from small specialist outfits to multinational companies such as Morgan Stanley and Microsoft. 

School and contacts