Welcome to MPhil/PhD Engineering

Engineers provide the critical link between scientific discovery and the practical application of knowledge to meet the needs of business and society.

Researchers in the School of Engineering can benefit from the expertise of our academics and award-winning industry links. Opportunities are available in a variety of areas relevant to today's engineering industry.

Opportunities are available in a variety of areas relevant to today's engineering industry including health monitoring and diagnostics, robotics and automated systems, communications, networks, and embedded systems, power systems, sustainable energy systems, combustion and fuels, big data, material manufacturing, computational modelling in computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis, and laser diagnostics.

The School of Engineering is a Centre of Industrial Research and Development Excellence, with expertise centred on core disciplines of industrial digitalisation and system intelligence, and sustainable energy and power systems. Throughout these programmes, students will have the chance to collaborate with industry on projects that can deliver tangible benefits to employers, the sector, and society.

A range of training programmes are offered to support students' development and enhance their skills. Research students are supported in publishing their work in conference proceedings and international learned society journals, and are encouraged to present their work as part of the University's research seminar series.

How You Study

Research students will be allocated two academic supervisors and the College Research Degrees Board will monitor their progress throughout the programme. Students will be encouraged to participate in our research seminar series and in the University's Doctoral School and training programmes. The School will also support students in applying for funding to attend conferences, and in publishing their work in conference proceedings and refereed journals.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the vast majority of students' time will be spent in independent study and research. They will have meetings with their academic supervisors, however the regularity of these will vary depending on their own individual requirements, subject area, staff availability, and the stage of their programme.

How You Are Assessed

Students will be required to demonstrate adequate and appropriate progress on an annual basis. Final assessment is by an oral examination (viva voce) of a research thesis. Students are also expected to demonstrate how their research findings have contributed to knowledge or developed existing theory or understanding.

Career and Personal Development

Highly skilled engineers are in demand in the UK and overseas, and through teaching methods and high levels of employer collaboration, our programmes aim to prepare graduates for careers across this dynamic and challenging sector. Completion of this research programme may assist you in developing your career as a professional engineer. Graduates may also choose to pursue a range of career opportunities in academia.