PhD in
Artificial Intelligence
Registration Currently Closed
This program is not accepting applications at this time.
A fully online doctoral research program grounded in ethics, research, and applied intelligence
Registration will open only once all academic, accreditation, and governance requirements are fully met.
Program Status & Availability
Registration for the PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently closed.
This page is published by Catholic Open University for the purposes of:
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Academic transparency
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Program disclosure
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Future student information
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Institutional planning clarity
The publication of this page does not constitute an offer of admission, enrollment, or degree issuance.
Enrollment will open only after final academic approval, institutional readiness, and regulatory alignment are completed.
Program Overview
The PhD in Artificial Intelligence at Catholic Open University (COU) is a research-intensive doctoral degree designed to train independent scholars capable of advancing the state of the art in AI while applying it responsibly for the common good. Candidates develop deep expertise in a focused area of AI, master rigorous research methods, publish in reputable venues, and defend an original dissertation that makes a substantive scholarly contribution.
The program is delivered 100% online with structured supervision, research seminars, and collaborative labs. Each candidate works with a primary supervisor and (where relevant) a co-supervisor or industry mentor. Doctoral study at COU emphasizes reproducible science, ethical and safe AI, and practical impact through open tools, datasets, or deployable systems.
Key Information
Research Areas and Supervision
Catholic Open University welcomes proposals in foundational and applied AI. Priority areas include (but are not limited to):
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Machine Learning Theory, Optimization, and Generalization
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Deep Learning Architectures and Efficient/Green AI
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Natural Language Processing, Multimodal Models, and Evaluation
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Computer Vision, 3D Perception, and Generative Media
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Reinforcement Learning and Sequential Decision-Making
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Trustworthy AI: Safety, Robustness, Alignment, and Interpretability
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Responsible AI: Ethics, Fairness, Bias Mitigation, and Governance
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Human-Centered AI, HCI, and Assistive Systems
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Autonomous Systems, Robotics, and Edge/Embedded AI
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Healthcare, Biomedical AI, and Digital Public Health
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FinTech, Law/RegTech, Education, and Social Impact AI
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Knowledge-Augmented Models, Retrieval, and LLM Tool-Use
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Privacy-Preserving ML (federated learning, differential privacy)
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MLOps, Evaluation Science, and Reproducibility
Supervision Model
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A primary supervisor (COU faculty or appointed research fellow) and, where applicable, a co-supervisor/industry mentor.
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Individual Supervision Agreement (ISA) detailing the research plan, meeting cadence, deliverables, and authorship expectations.
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Annual Progress Review by an independent panel.
Learning Path and Milestones
Year 1 - Foundations & Proposal
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Advanced Research Methods in AI (design, ethics, statistics, causal inference, experiment design, reproducibility).
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Literature mapping and systematic review.
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Submission and defense of a PhD Research Proposal.
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Open Science setup: code repository, data management plan, and preregistration (where suitable).
Year 2 - Depth & Qualification
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Qualifying/confirmation exam (theory + research readiness).
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Core studies and pilot experiments; preprint or workshop paper targeted.
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Participation in doctoral colloquia and research seminars.
Year 3 - Contribution & Publication
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Main experiments and ablation studies; scale-up and benchmarking.
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Submission of ≥2 peer-reviewed articles (journals or top-tier conferences/workshops).
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Optional teaching/practice component (guest lecture, lab mentorship, or short course).
Year 4 - Integration & Defense
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Thesis integration (introduction, related work, methods, results, discussion, implications).
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Public seminar and closed viva/dissertation defense.
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Deposit of the final thesis and all required research artifacts.
Extensions (up to 6 years total) may be approved for part-time study, field deployments, or unforeseen research needs.
Learning Experience
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Weekly/fortnightly supervision with documented action points and feedback.
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Doctoral Research Seminars & Colloquia featuring invited scholars and industry leaders.
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Methods Clinics & Reproducibility Labs on experimental design, evaluation, and benchmarking.
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Writing Studios & Publication Sprints to develop manuscripts, rebuttals, and camera-ready papers.
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Ethics & Governance Workshops including risk assessment, data protection, and impact statements.
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Global Online Community with collaborative studios, peer feedback, and research reading groups.
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All sessions recorded and supported by dedicated research Slack/Forum channels.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates of the PhD in AI will be able to:
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Formulate impactful research questions and conduct rigorous, ethical, and reproducible AI research.
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Design, implement, and evaluate novel models, algorithms, systems, or frameworks.
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Publish peer-reviewed work and contribute open, well-documented research artifacts.
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Communicate complex findings to technical and non-technical audiences, including policy stakeholders.
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Demonstrate leadership in trustworthy, human-centered, and socially responsible AI.
Assessment and Evaluation
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Research Proposal Defense (end of Year 1).
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Qualifying/Confirmation Exam (Year 2).
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Annual Progress Reviews (portfolio of work, publications, and plan).
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Publication and Artifact Requirements (as defined in ISA; typically ≥2 peer-reviewed outputs).
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Final Dissertation and Viva before an independent examination committee.
Career Pathways
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Tenure-track or teaching-and-research positions at universities and research institutes.
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Principal/Staff/Lead Research Scientist or ML Architect in technology companies.
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AI Safety, Governance, and Policy roles in public sector and international organizations.
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Founders and CTOs of AI-driven startups and applied research labs.
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Sector-specific leadership in healthcare, finance, education, security, media, and sustainability.
Admission Requirements closed .
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Academic Preparation:
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A relevant Master’s degree (e.g., AI, Computer Science, Data Science, EE, Mathematics, or related).
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Exceptional candidates with a strong Bachelor’s (honors or equivalent) and a robust research portfolio may be considered.
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Research Proposal (1,500–2,000 words) summarizing topic, motivation, research questions/hypotheses, proposed methods, datasets, evaluation plan, novelty, risks/limitations, and timeline.
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CV/Resume including publications, projects, open-source contributions, and professional experience.
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Transcripts from prior degrees.
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Two academic/professional references.
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English Proficiency (if applicable).
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Interview with potential supervisor/panel.
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Foundational Competencies: programming (e.g., Python), linear algebra & calculus, probability & statistics, and ML fundamentals.
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Applicants missing specific competencies may receive a conditional offer with bridging modules.
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Tuition Fees and Funding
Tuition figures are indicative and published for transparency only. No payments are accepted while registration is closed .
Catholic Open University does not accept payments for programs that are not open for registration.
No fees are collected prior to the official opening of enrollment.
Postgraduate programs designed for full government accreditation
offered with flexible monthly installments at 0% interest*
*These programs will officially commence only after full governmental accreditation is granted. he accreditation process is currently underway. Please stay tuned for updates
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Tuition: USD 279 per month (billed monthly / 48 months).
Total Tuition: USD 13,392.
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Admission Fee: USD 350 (one-time).
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Scholarships/Assistantships: Limited merit-based reductions may be available and are awarded competitively.
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Employer/Partner Sponsorships: COU can provide letters and progress reports for sponsors upon request.
Technical and Study Requirements
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Reliable computer suitable for modern ML development; ability to access cloud GPUs/TPUs when required.
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Stable high-speed internet connection; webcam and microphone for online defenses.
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Familiarity with version control (e.g., Git), Python, and standard ML tooling (e.g., PyTorch/TF, NumPy).
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Commitment to open science practices and secure data management protocols.
Ethical and Catholic Vision
COU’s doctoral education is grounded in a human-centered, dignity-affirming view of technology. The program fosters discernment, prudence, and responsibility in AI research, emphasizing fairness, safety, privacy, and the preferential option for the vulnerable. Candidates are encouraged to consider societal implications, engage with interdisciplinary perspectives, and aim for research that serves the common good.
Your PhD. Your Vision. Your Legacy.
An internationally oriented doctoral program for future AI pioneers.
Affordable, designed for full governmental accreditation and 100% Online.
Pursue your Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Artificial Intelligence entirely online at Catholic Open University, designed for researchers and professionals seeking flexibility, affordability, and global recognition.
Study anytime, anywhere, and earn a distinguished governmentally accredited doctoral degree that transforms your career, research impact, and legacy for life.
Stay Informed
Be among the first to receive updates on cohort dates, supervisor availability, and competitive scholarship windows. Join our Early Notification List to receive program news, application tips, and doctoral research opportunities.
Receive official updates regarding accreditation approval, program activation, and enrollment timelines.
Accreditation, Verification & Academic Framework
Catholic Open University | COU Research & Study Center within a transparent academic and quality-assurance framework consistent with Catholic higher education values and internationally recognized best practices.
Institutional Accreditation & Recognition
Catholic Open University / COU Research and Study Center is currently accredited by the Global Accreditation Council for Online Learning (GACOL), a recognized private international quality-assurance and accreditation body specializing in online higher-education institutions.
Certification ID: GACOL-3257 / Accreditation ID: 3257-001.
Catholic Open University / COU Research and Study Center is also recognized by the World Catholic Online Education Association (WCOEA) as a trusted provider of Catholic higher education that upholds international standards of academic integrity, institutional mission, and educational quality.
Alignment with International Quality Assurance Frameworks
Catholic Open University is accredited by a recognized private international quality-assurance authority specializing in online higher-education institutions and private universities. In parallel, the University actively reviews and benchmarks its internal academic quality-assurance policies against widely respected international higher-education standards.
These benchmark reference standards include frameworks and best-practice guidance associated with bodies such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA, United States) and the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR, Europe), which are cited strictly for comparative and reference purposes only. No claim of direct accreditation, recognition, affiliation, or endorsement by these bodies is made.
Any updates related to external recognition or quality-assurance alignment are communicated only after formal confirmation and official institutional publication.
Status of Postgraduate Programs
It must be clearly understood that any institution claiming to issue officially recognized academic degrees without the required legal authorization and recognition applicable within its jurisdiction may be engaging in misleading or unlawful academic practice. Accordingly, Catholic Open University’s postgraduate degree programs are temporarily closed for admission and will open only after the completion of the required external quality-assurance and recognition processes necessary for postgraduate-level academic offerings.
Ethical Standards for Honorary Doctorate Awards
The programs currently offered by Catholic Open University, including the Research & Publishing Program and the Honorary Doctorate Degree Award, operate fully within the scope of the University’s existing accreditation and recognition status. The Honorary Doctorate Degree Award constitutes an honorary academic distinction granted in recognition of significant scholarly, professional, and publishing contributions and does not represent an earned academic qualification for employment purposes. Under the University’s current accreditation framework, these offerings are academically ethical, legally compliant, transparent, and institutionally appropriate.