Computer Science
Fribourg profile
Fascinated by software, logic, computing infrastructures or artificial intelligence? Take your career to the next level with a PhD in Computer Science!
Why study Computer Science?
Computer Science is today at the heart of our society. Computational techniques are transforming all aspects of our daily lives, from Smart Cities infrastructures to transportations, banking, the media or the manufacturing industry. Demand for highly qualified computer scientists is high, both in Switzerland and around the world. With a PhD in Computer Science, you will be able to face the tsunami of data that we are confronted to and help both our society and companies evolve towards a more efficient digital society.
Our PhD Programme in Computer Science
The University of Fribourg is proud to offer a PhD programme in Computer Science that will make you ready to tackle key scientific problems both for academia and the industry. Computer Science has a transformative impact on many facets of our society. Research topics that can be explored as part of a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Fribourg are quite diverse, and include:
- Applied Statistics and Modelling
- Decision Support and Operations Research
- Document, Image and Video Analysis
- Data Science and Big Data Infrastructures
- Foundations of Dependable Systems
- Digitalisation and Information Systems
- Software Engineering
- Human Computer Interaction
- Smart Cities and Cognitive Computing
Apart from detailed knowledge in the field, PhD students will also learn to conduct independent research projects, to guide bachelor and master students, to interpret and present scientific data, and to put their work into a general context. We also actively promote exchanges and interactions with other universities and with companies by organising workshops and research visits. We give all our PhD students the opportunity to present their work at international conferences and to meet people working on similar questions from close and far.
PhD students also have the opportunity to take graduate courses, by following free courses and workshops organised by the CUSO Doctoral Program in Computer Science in Western Switzerland. Funding for PhD projects is available in two main ways: 1) through project funds attributed to individual research groups. Interested candidates are encouraged to select a research group in which they would like to carry out their PhD (see Contact for a current list) and contact the group leader directly to ask for a possible opening; 2) through funds acquired by the PhD candidate (including Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists: http://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-swiss-gov-scholarships).
Before applying for funds, candidates should contact the group leader they would like to work with.
Studies organisation
Structure of studies
No ECTS credits can be earned.
Doctoral school
Admission
In order to be admitted to a doctorate the candidate must have been awarded an academic bachelor's and master's degree or an equivalent qualification from a university recognised by the University of Fribourg.
Before applying for a doctorate the candidate must contact a professor who would be willing to supervise the thesis work.
There is no general right to be admitted to a doctorate.
The respective conditions of admission for each doctoral study programme are reserved.