Engineering and product design are driven by the need for constant improvement. You’ll learn from – and will be inspired by – the engineers who are making these industry improvements happen.We foster strong links with industry to support collaborative research and to provide routes to knowledge transfer and commercialisation of the outcomes of our research.Areas of studyAs a research student, you're associated with one or more research groups in the Department of Engineering and Design:Centre of Advanced Communications, Mobile Technology and IoTCreative Technology Research GroupDynamics, Control and Vehicle Research GroupIndustrial Informatics and Signal Processing Research GroupRobotics and Mechatronic SystemsSensor Technology Research CentreThermo-Fluid Mechanics Research Centre.We welcome research proposals in all of the areas our faculty specialise in.You can choose to study for a PhD or an MPhil. PhD and MPhil degrees differ in duration and in the extent of your research work.For a PhD, your research work makes a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field.For an MPhil, your work is an independent piece of research but in less depth than for a PhD. You’ll graduate with the degree title Master of Philosophy. You might be able to change to a PhD while you study for an MPhil.