EngD (Engineering Doctorate)
Suitable for graduate research engineers who expect to progress to industrial positions at senior management or chief executive level. The programme combines research in engineering at doctoral level with training in the skills needed to develop, assess and market technological products or processes.
Takes you on to a range of careers in industry or in some cases academia. Opportunities are excellent, either with industrial sponsors or elsewhere, and up to a third of EngD graduates are subsequently employed by their sponsors.
You will be taught by Cranfield engineering and management staff, together with industrialists and consultants. Research topics are from one of the following areas: aerospace; manufacturing systems engineering; advanced computational engineering; water science and environmental engineering.
EngD Course Description
Taught component
The taught component is accredited and is undertaken mainly in the first 18 months. It includes core and specialist engineering courses, and students also receive a thorough grounding in the basic elements of business management by courses within our School of Management.
The first year project report covers literature surveys, design studies and preliminary experimental work related to the doctoral topic.
Research component
Undertaken mainly in Years Two to Four, the engineering research topic chosen relates directly to the interests of your industrial sponsor and includes an analysis of the business and commercial implications of the topic.
Each student is supported by engineering and management academic supervisors and an industrial supervisor from the sponsoring organisation. The thesis must demonstrate an original contribution to knowledge, and will also contain interdisciplinary material. By the end of the programme, you will have a detailed understanding of the technical area involved in the project and a broad grasp of the management, economic and marketing considerations.
Company-based research engineers
If you are a well-qualified engineer who has been in suitable employment for at least 12 months since graduation, you may take the programme while remaining in employment. The majority of your time is spent with the company, with required attendance at Cranfield for taught courses. Company-based engineers continue on a salary and the EPSRC maintenance allowance is paid to the company. A few company-based engineers undertake the programme without EPSRC support, but with additional funding from their employers.
Organisations currently supporting the programme include:
- Anglian Water
- Airbus UK
- BAE Systems
- BP Exploration
- Civil Aviation Authority
- England and Wales Cricket Board
- First Hydro Company
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Meggitt
- QinetiQ
- Rolls-Royce plc
- Siemens
- Thales Optics Ltd
- Thames Water.
- Download EngD presentation in PDF format
- Sample posters from EngD student presentations
Entry Requirements
Candidates must possess a 1st or 2nd class UK honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. Other relevant qualifications, together with considerable experience, may be considered.
Duration
4 years, full-time
Start date
October preferred, though entry possible at other times.
Assessment
Examinations, course work, case studies, group and individual project work, thesis and oral examination.
Contact
Dr Sarah Fletcher
T: +44 (0)1234 758234
E: soe_engd@cranfield.ac.uk
