Mechanical and Design Engineering

Overview

From the phone in your pocket, to the train you take on your morning commute, much of everyday life relies on the work of engineers.

Our current research in Mechanical and Design Engineering searches for creative and practical engineering solutions to some of society's most-pressing issues – and when you join us to study for a postgraduate research degree, you'll have the opportunity to make your own contribution to the pioneering work we're doing, and play a part in transforming our research into impact.

Our students are already making a positive difference through their research – recent projects include using artificial intelligence to improve powered wheelchairs, creating more efficient solar panels, supporting clinicians at the local hospital, enhancing medical devices, and developing new lightweight manufacturing materials.

And in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014), we were ranked as the 3rd best new university in this area, with 61% of our research outputs rated as either world-leading or internationally excellent.

Support and facilities

When you join us, you'll be supported by our Graduate School, alongside your assigned supervisory team, who'll help you get the most from our facilities. The Graduate School will help you become part of our thriving, collaborative research community, and help grow your skills as a researcher through the Graduate School Development Programme, which offers training, workshops and events.

We have facilities to carry out mechanical testing including tensile testing, fatigue, impact in a temperature controlled environment, and we're equipped with a large suite of 3D printers including a multi material 3D printer and a laser sintering machine. We also have a water jet cutter, a 5 axis CNC machine and can perform 3D X-ray investigation, su-micron resolution (voxel size 70nm), via the Zeiss Xradia 510 Versa and the 520 Versa.

What can a postgraduate research degree do for my career?

Once you complete your postgraduate research degree, you'll be a highly-skilled researcher with the knowledge and skills to make an impact in many different industries.

Your postgraduate research qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you're an intelligent, capable and motivated person, with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership and creativity.