Our partnership with Brunel University London began with what is known as the ‘two plus two’ programme involving a single academic School at Brunel. This humble beginning soon led Ahlia and Brunel to launch the PhD without residence in 2007. The PhD without residence was an instant success as it met the aspirations of many young men and women in the GCC region, who are looking to attain skills in doing high quality research. The PhD without residence is a great opportunity offered locally by a highly reputable and an international institution. 13 years after its inception, the programme is well recognized in the region including recognition by the Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Bahrain. The PhD without residence has produced graduates in many fields of study who contributed to the local economy. Ahlia, in affiliation with Brunel, has made important strides in the area of research through this programme in this region. Our rationale for the PhD without residence is simple: Brunel is a well-established, research-led university with an international reputation whereas Ahlia is a young, visionary institution with research being an integral part of our policy and philosophy. One of the main benefits of the PhD without residence is of course that it offers someone who is unable to travel the chance of researching and achieving a PhD in Bahrain. The benefits for Bahrain and the Middle East as a whole go wider. In my opinion, we have not been very good at addressing some of the problems we face in the Middle East and I believe university research can definitely make a contribution. We are therefore delighted to be working alongside such a well-known research-led university and we consider our partnership to be an excellent example of genuine collaboration between the Middle East and the West which will serve the interests of our region. I am confident that the programme will expand and we will be able to offer PhDs in other areas of research.

I am pleased to inform you that I have been assigned as a “Student Representative” for the batch. My main role is to ensure that any issues raised by PhD students are addressed and where necessary and resolved.  For effective feedback, regular follow-ups will be made through various methods including Brunel PhD Committee, SEC, and the joint Program Board. My role also entails sharing decisions with you for your information.

I very much value your feedback and welcome your suggestions. Please feel free to contact me through email husain.abdulla@brunel.ac.uk or mobile no. (00973) 32233448

Wishing you a successful and enjoyable PhD Journey.

Kind Regards,

Husain Abdulla

Computer Science PhD Student

The PhD WR aim to graduate PhD holders who are able to make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences. It is expected that graduates will continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level. They will have the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

• Three to four years full time research program with no taught credit bearing courses
• Students will be based at Ahlia University and have full access to all of Ahlia’s facilities including its extensive library.
• Students will be assigned two academic supervisors who will support and guide them during the PhD program.
• Students will be nominally attached to a research centre within the department of Computer Science at Brunel University London
• Students will be encouraged to attend conferences and to disseminate their research.
• Department of Computer Science at Brunel regularly runs seminars and workshops in Bahrain to help students with their study and research skills
• The only time students will need to go to Brunel will be for their viva voce at the end of the PhD.

We expect you to study for around 44 weeks each year, during which time you’ll carry out research work that leads to a full thesis. You’ll be supervised by two members of academic staff in your specialist area with whom you will meet with regularly to discuss progress.

• Doctoral degree in Information Systems and Computing issued by Brunel University London.
• Discovery of novel findings – which should be of a standard sufficient for publication in peer-reviewed academic journals.
• A broad and in depth understanding of the research field including relevant methodologies, an ability to conduct research studies independently.
• Prepare a well written and presented thesis in English language describing the background to their work, the methods used, observations made and critical discussion in the context of the broader field.

• LO 1: The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
• LO 2: A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
• LO 3: The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
• LO 4: A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry.

In your thesis, you must meet the criteria set out in Senate Regulation 5 and the Quality Assurance Agency’s National Qualification Framework. You must also satisfy university regulations and show a sound knowledge and critical appreciation of your discipline. The thesis submitted for the award of PhD must include the creation and interpretation of new knowledge in that discipline. It may take the form of a wholly written dissertation or one that comprises original, creative work supported by a written commentary indicating how the creative work contributes towards the requirements for the award. You must complete the major part of your thesis during your period of registration with the university, under supervision arrangements approved by the university. You usually present your thesis at a viva voce examination. A candidate may present a less substantial piece of work for the award of an MPhil. Additional guidance on the standard of awards is given in the Quality Assurance Agency’s National Qualifications Framework at www.qaa.ac.uk and in Senate Regulation 5.

• 100% individual research
• Periodical non-credit bearing research skills support sessions
• Annual doctoral symposium

• Farzana Maraghi
  • A study of some M[x]/G/1 type queues with random breakdowns and bernouilli schedule server vacations based on a single vacation policy
  • https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5540
  • Entry: April 2005
  • Graduated: 12/08/2008
• Soloman Al Madi
  • Converged IP-over-standard ethernet progress control networks for hydrocarbon process automation applications controllers
  • https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8365
  • Entry: May 2007
  • Graduated: 11/04/2011
• Rudolf J Holzhausen
  • A clinical patient vital signs parameter measurement, processing and predictive algorithm using ECG
  • https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6466
  • Entry: May 2007
  • Graduated: 01/09/2011
• Rehab Khalaf
  • On some queueing systems with server vacations, extended vacations, breakdowns, delayed repairs and stand-bys
  • http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6416
  • Entry: October 2008
  • Graduated: 06/03/2012
• Sameera AlShaiji
  • The development of a fuzzy expert system to help top decision makers in political and investment domains
  • https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6977
  • Entry: October 2008
  • Graduated: 06/09/2012
• Ammar Sami Mohamed Al Dallal
  • Enhancing recall and precision in web search using genetic algorithm
  • https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7379
  • Entry: May 2007
  • Graduated: 11/11/2012
• Humoud A Alqattan
  • An estimation model for private rate of return on education in high income petroleum based developing countries: The case of Kuwait
  • https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7650
  • Entry: May 2007
  • Graduated: 25/06/2013
• Madina Taha
  • Investigating the success of E-learning in secondary schools: The case of the Kingdom of Bahrain
  • https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/9237
  • Entry: October 2008
  • Graduated: 28/07/2014
• Hasan Razzaqi
  • Factors determining e-government security
  • http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/14640
  • Entry: May 2007
  • Graduated: 04/04/2017

• Your research proposal (1500 words)
• Your CV
• Your Passport
• Authenticated copies of your academic qualifications (Master’s and Bachelor’s degree certificates and transcripts)
• Proof of English Language proficiency
• Two references, one of which must be from an academic

Contact points

10 formal supervision meetings (which are recorded at Brunel on the students’ formal University record) are required in each academic year.

Autumn and Spring Schools

The skills training schools held at Ahlia University by Academic and Professional staff from Brunel University. Attendance is compulsory for the research students and the sessions ensure students are fully trained (e.g. in research techniques, literature review skills, methods of statistical analysis and writing skills). 4weeks – 30 Months

Symposium

This annual conference held in Bahrain where students are given the opportunity to present their work in a form of a conference presentation accompanied by an academic article that would later be submitted for publication.

SEC

The students are given the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas via a committee (Staff Student Liaison Committee) which is dedicated to support the students and cater for their needs.

Formal Progress Points

Annual progress reviews are carried out by academics from both Brunel and Ahlia Universities, who are independent of the supervisory team.