Research
The School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science is a centre of cutting-edge and world-class research. As a PhD student in the School you're not only in that environment, but part of it.
We received excellent results in the RAE2008. At the time of submission the Electronic Engineering and Computer Science departments were separate entities, coming together to form the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science in August 2008.
Both Computer Science and Electronic Engineering jumped more than 10 places from their previous ratings, and combining the RAE2008 results for the School, we have 32 members, or 64%, of academic staff rated at three or four star and have an overall grade point average 2.80.
Electronic Engineering RAE2008 Results
Twenty-two members, or 90%, of academic staff were submitted to the Electronic Engineering unit of assessment. With 50% of staff rated at three or four star (four being the highest possible), we can claim confidently to offer internationally-leading research in the area of Electronic Engineering. Over the assessment period, the department had 126 new research grants valued at £15.2 million; a current EPSRC portfolio of 18 grants worth £6 million; a current EU research portfolio of 8 grants valued at £4.4 million. The department was praised for having 77 PhDs awarded during the assessment period.
Computer Science RAE2008 Results
A total of 28 members, or 80%, of academic staff were submitted to the Computer Science assessment unit. With 75% of assessed staff rated at either three or four star, we can claim confidently to offer internationally-leading research in Computer Science. In addition to 80% of research output evaluated to be three or four star, new grant awards increased dramatically to £5.4 million in 2007 alone. This RAE raiting firmly places us in the top 20% of UK universities undertaking computer science research. We have continued this impressive performance in the period after the RAE with five members of staff funded by prestigious external five-year fellowships.
EECS Post-RAE
The School has continued to build upon its research with a number of major successes. We have a community of more than 150 PhD students and 60 postdoctoral researchers, a current active grant portfolio of 28 million, with £9 million announced in the last year. Three of our research groups have been awarded prestigious EPSRC Platform Grants. These grants are only awarded to groups with an internationally-leading reputation and a high international profile.
- Theory (2008): "Extreme Reasoning", £0.8 million
- Antennas and Electromagnetics (2008): "Antennas for Healthcare and Imaging", £1 million
- Centre for Digital Music with Interaction, Media and Communication (2007), £1.2 million
The Centre for Digital Music and Interaction, Media and Communication have also recently received £5 million to establish a doctoral training centre for Media and Arts Technology. This innovative programme provides 10 4-year PhD scholarships to home students for five years and is part of a £250 million strategic initiative funded by EPSRC.
Our leading performance has been recognised by the College with a major HEFCE CIF (Capital Infrastructure Funds) research facilities investment of £1.4 million for the Antennas Measurement Laboratory and £440 thousand for the Centre of Digital Music. This funding will provide enhanced facilities for both goups to maintain their world-class status.