Overview

Current vacancies

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The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in Large Scale Complex IT Systems (LSCITS) is an innovative, world-leading, doctoral-level training programme. The Universities of Bristol, Leeds, Oxford, St Andrews and York are involved in this programme, all of whom have international reputations in this research field.

The programme is a full-time, four-year, doctoral-level research degree which includes a research component and a taught component that is similar in scope to an MSc. The taught element comprises bespoke core modules delivered at the University of York and optional technical modules offered by the Universities of Bristol, Oxford, St Andrews and York. Non-technical optional modules are also offered by The York Management School. The research component of the programme involves students, known as Research Engineers (REs), working closely with a sponsoring organisation in industry or the public sector; the majority of the research project work will be undertaken at the sponsoring organisation.

Studying for a research degree at York

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There are six core modules on the Engineering Doctorate in Large Scale Complex IT Systems (LSCITS) :-

• Systems Engineering for LSCITS
• Empirical Methods for LSCITS
• Socio-Technical Systems
• Predictable Software Systems
• High Integrity Systems
• Technology Innovation

Each module is taught over one week at York and is designed and delivered by senior faculty of the Universities of Bristol, Leeds, Oxford, St Andrews, and York.

For further details of these core modules and the optional modules associated with the EngD programme please refer to the modules tab.

Funding

The programme is supported by a grant of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and by industrial sponsors, which together will cover the fees for the programme. Studentships are available to those applicants who are not already employed by their industrial sponsor. The studentship will provide a stipend of £16,705 p.a. for the academic year 2011/2012 and will increase annually during active study; it should be noted that this is an enhancement of approximately £3,000 p.a. over the standard EPSRC PhD stipend.

Applicants applying for EPSRC funding must be able to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate settled status in the UK and
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate a relevant connection with the UK, usually through being ordinarily resident in the UK for a period of three years immediately prior to the date of application for an award, excluding any period of residence wholly or mainly for the purpose of full time education

Further information on eligibility requirements can be found in the Student Eligibility section of the EPSRC website.

Learning Outcomes

The LSCITS EngD offers you a unique opportunity to become a member of a new generation of specialised engineers and scientists dedicated to meeting the challenges inherent in dealing with current and future large scale complex IT systems and systems-of-systems.

Competencies

The primary educational aim of the Programme is to significantly extend your abilities in the range of competencies required to address current and forthcoming challenges in the science and engineering of large scale complex IT systems : from mathematical and formal theoretical methods, to high-integrity systems and software engineering, to socio-technical systems engineering and studies of complexity in organisations.

Learning Outcomes

By the time you graduate you will have developed a detailed understanding of technology innovation, development and deployment in relevant applied industrial, organisational and business contexts. This should enable you to innovate by creating new technology solutions to existing problems and innovative uses or business models for existing technologies, thereby improving the state-of-the-art in the understanding of how to analyse and design, and deploy and manage, current and future LSCITS.

As an Engineering Doctorate student you can use the work you do and your experience gained during the programme to provide evidence of relevant competence towards professional Chartered Engineer registration.

Job Prospects

Following graduation we anticipate you will find employment as researchers, research managers or other senior positions in research-led organisations, ranging in scale from major blue-chip multinationals or national public-sector organisations, through various small or medium-sized enterprises, to entrepreneurial start-ups.

Modules

 

Core Modules	University	Date
Technology Innovation (TINS)	York	26/27 Mar, 30 Apr, 1 May 2012
Systems Engineering for LSCITS (SELS)	York	17, 18 Nov, 6,7 Dec 2011
Predictable Software Systems (PSSY)	York	12-16 March 2012
Empirical Methods for LSCITS (EMML)	York	Next Available 2012/2013
Socio-Technical Systems (SOTS)	York	14-18 May 2012
High Integrity Systems Engineering (HISE)	York	11-15 June 2012

Optional Modules (Strand 1)	University	Date(s)
Advanced Concurrency Tools/ Model Checking (MCH)	Oxford	12-16 March 2012
Complex Dynamincal Biosystems (CDBS)	York	16 Jan-6 Feb 2012  (4 weekly sessions)
Concurrent and Real Time Programming (CRTP)	York	21 Nov-12 Dec 2011 (4 weekly sessions)
Emergence (EMER)	York	20 Feb-12 Mar 2012 (4 weekly sessions)
Evolutionary Computation  (EVCO)	York	17 Oct-7 Nov 2011 (4 weekly sessions)
Human Factors for Safety (HUFS)	York	09 Jan 2012
Software Measurement & Testing  (SMAT)	York	20 Feb-12 Mar 2012 (4 weekly sessions)
Topics in Privacy & Security (PSEC)	York	16 Jan - 6 Feb 2012 (4 weekly sessions)
Foundations of System Safety Engineering (FSSE)	York	3 October 2011
Mathematics for Systems (MFS)	Oxford	14-18 May 2012
Performance Modelling (PMO)	Oxford	5 September 2011 13 August 2012
Software Implementation (SIP)	York	Delivered on a Biannual basis - Next available Autumn 2012
Systems Engineering 1 (GSE1)	York	10 October 2011
Systems Engineering 2 (GSE2)	York	25 July 2011 (Delivered on a Biannual basis - Next available Autumn 2013)
Software Requirements & Architectures (SWRE)	York	31 October 2011
Software Testing Analysis & Review (STAR)	York	13 February 2012
User Centred Design  (UCDE)	York	21 Nov-12 Dec 2011 (4 weekly sessions)

Optional Modules (Strand II)	University	Date(s)
Advanced Systems Engineering (ASY)	Bristol	30 Jan-3 Feb 2012
Financial Management (FIM)	York	TBA
Safety Case Development & Review (SCDR)	York	30 January 2012
Management of Human Resources (MHR)	York	TBA
Operations and Project Management (OPM)	York	TBA
Organisational Analysis (ORA)	York	TBA
Process Quality and Improvement (PRO)	Oxford	30 January 2012
Qualitative Research: Design Enthnography (QUAL)	York	21 Nov-12 Dec 2011   (4 weekly sessions)
Quantitative Research Methods (QUAN)	York	16 Jan-6 Feb 2012 (4 weekly sessions)
Safety Management Systems (SMSY)	York	20 February 2012
Strategic Management & Organisational Change (SMOC)	York	TBA
Understanding Users (UNUS)	York	17 Oct-7 Nov 2011 (4 weekly sessions)
Advanced Research Methods in Human-Computer Interaction (ARMH)	York	20 Feb- 12 March 2012 (4 weekly sessions)

Further Info

Applicants must have at least a 2.1 degree in Computer Science or a cognate discipline (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry), or equivalent experience. You must also have a good knowledge of Computer Science mathematics and programming, such as may be taught in undergraduate degree programmes in Computer Science.

Applicants may complete and submit their application electronically using the University’s online application system.

Details of the EngD programme, including information on current research projects available can be found on our dedicated website

For details of how to apply visit http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/engd/-How-to-Apply-.

Details of the wider UK LSCITS Initiative to which the EngD contributes can be found at www.lscits.org.

For an informal discussion contact Prof. Richard Paige, EngD Co-Director.

For general enquiries contact the Engineering Doctorate Administrator, Mrs Dawn Forrester, Telephone: +44 (0)1904 325415, Fax: +44 (0)1904 325599, Email: dawnforrester@cs.york.ac.uk