Posted: 1st November 2016

The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Cyber Security has been awarded £3.5m in government funding, starting from October 2016. 

The Centre admits up to 16 students each year to undertake advanced study and research in cyber security. Students come from all over the world to study on this four-year programme, and graduate with a DPhil degree, having made a significant research contribution towards addressing one of the many challenges which arise in this fast-moving area of study. The Government funding, together with University funding, supports 12 of these students, paying their full fees and a stipend.

The Centre was established with a similar grant in 2013, and presently has around 45 students in progress, undertaking research in areas ranging from cryptographic and internet protocols through to international cyber policy and the laws around computer misuse. It is formed from a collaboration of several University Departments, including Computer Science, the Oxford Internet Institute, and the Department of Politics and International Relations. The work is strongly academic, but the CDT has regular interactions with leading businesses which create or use cyber security solutions.

Centre Director, Professor Andrew Martin, said, ‘Cyber Security affects everyone’s lives today. It is crucial that the leading thinkers of the next generation are well-versed in its challenges, and able to pre-empt new problems before they arise. The renewal of our funding is a great endorsement of our inter-disciplinary approach to education in this area.’

The new grant was awarded after a review from industry leaders and academics from outside the University. It is part of the funding for the UK Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy launched today by The Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Notes

1. The CDT website is here:  www.cybersecurity.ox.ac.uk/cdt. Applications from well-qualified individuals for entry in 2017 are welcome, with a deadline early in 2017 - see the website for details.
2. The Cyber Studies Programme in the Department of Politics and International Relations is here:  http://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/centre/cyber-studies-programme.html  It is supported by the European Social Fund.
3. The University is one of 13 recognised by EPSRC and GCHQ as Academic Centres of excellence in Cyber Security Research.  Research in Cyber Security is carried out across around a dozen Departments of the University.