PhD Mechanical Engineering

With our close interaction with large companies such as Tata Steel and Ford, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, Swansea University provides an excellent base for your research as a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering.

Across the UK and overseas, there is or has been recent work at Swansea University with companies such as:

• Astra-Zeneca
• British Aerospace
• Qinetiq
• GKN
• Rolls-Royce
• SKF
• Freeport
• One Steel
• Barrick Gold

Research within Engineering at Swansea University is multidisciplinary in nature, incorporating our strengths in research areas across the Engineering disciplines.

Programme Summary

This PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Swansea will enable you to undertake a substantial project led by your own interests. It is a highly respected qualification which can present a career in academia or a wider scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector. A thesis of 100,000 words will be submitted for assessment demonstrating original research with a substantive contribution to the subject area. The PhD is examined following an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination or viva voce). You will acquire research skills for high-level work and skills and training programmes are available on campus for further support. There will be an opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars and conferences. There may also be opportunities to develop your teaching skills through undergraduate tutorials, demonstrations and seminars.

Programme Aims

This PhD programme will provide doctoral researchers with:

1. The opportunity to conduct high quality postgraduate research in a world leading research environment.
2. Key skills needed to undertake advanced academic and non-academic research including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
3. Advanced critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent judgement.

Assessment

Doctoral researchers for the PhD in Mechanical Engineering are examined in two parts.

The first part is a thesis which is an original body of work representing the methods and results of the research project. The maximum word limit is 100,000 for the main text. The word limit does not include appendices (if any), essential footnotes, introductory parts and statements or the bibliography and index.

The second part is an oral examination (viva voce).