Speech and Language Technologies (SLTs) are a range of Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches which allow computer programs or electronic devices to analyse, produce, modify or respond to spoken and written language. They enable natural interaction between people and computers, translation between all human languages, and analysis of speech and text.

SLTs are underpinned by a number of fundamental research fields including acoustics, signal processing, speech processing, natural language processing (NLP / NLProc), computational linguistics, mathematics, machine learning (ML), physics, psychology, and computer science. If you're interested in any of these topics and are looking to do a PhD, we could be the place for you!

SLTs are established as core scientific/engineering disciplines within AI and have grown into a world-wide multi-billion dollar industry, with massive application potential.

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) bring together diverse areas of expertise to train engineers and scientists with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle today’s evolving issues, and future challenges. 

They also provide a supportive and exciting environment for students, create new working cultures, build relationships between teams in universities and forge lasting links with industry.

Students are funded for four years and doctoral programmes include technical and transferrable skills training, as well as a research element. We are funded by UKRI, the University of Sheffield as well as industry.

The UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Speech and Language Technologies (SLT) opened in 2019 and will host more than 50 students over a period of eight years.

The CDT goes far beyond standard research training. Students undertake a unique Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with Integrated Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in SLT Leadership programme.

Students and industry work with a team of over 20 internationally leading SLT researchers, covering all core areas of modern SLT research within the context of a PhD project. These projects are underpinned by a real world application defined by our industry partners.