Prospective Students
The Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Photonics offers a four year programme combining industry focused research and technical and professional skills courses.
We offer a number of flexible pathways through our programme to support student’s circumstances and needs, for example those with caring responsibilities or medical issues. If you would like to apply for the programme, please speak to us about how we can help support you through the programme.
About the Programme
Our four-year programme combines industry focussed research with aligned masters-level technical courses, business courses, and skills training. All of our students work on industry inspired research projects. Typically our Engineering Doctorate (EngD) students complete their research phase embedded in the industrial workplace whereas our PhD students work on industry sponsored projects hosted in one of our University research groups. Our students spend 75% of their time working on their research project and 25% on courses, and their research project benefits from having both academic and industrial project supervisors.
An Engineering Doctorate (EngD) is an alternative to the traditional PhD for students who want to experience research in an industrial setting. The EngD recognises the fact that the research must meet industry and commercial needs and has an increased emphasis on industrially relevant innovation.
Our graduates continue to make an impact across a wide sector. To find out more why not have a look at our recent Annual Report which includes details of the current employment of many of our graduates.
How to Apply
Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a Masters level first-degree (e.g. MPhys or MEng) at minimum 2.1 classification (or equivalent), or an MSc at minimum Merit classification (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. Candidates with a BSc at 1st class classification and with additional research experience will also be considered.
Applicants from outside the UK should contact us for further information regarding funding options. Candidates from outside the UK must apply for a Visa in order to be eligible for the programme.
Non-native English speakers must ensure they meet the English language requirements.
Project Work & Supervisors
Each of our student research students has two supervisors, an academic based at one of our university partners, and an industrial, from the company sponsoring the research project.
The supervisors keep in regular contact with our students (termed Research Engineers in the industrial setting) who help to ensure the work is of a high academic quality and industrially relevant.
At the end of the programme, our students are assessed by a thesis and a viva. This is common for both EngD and PhD qualifications, although with an EngD the focus is on innovation rather than creation of new knowledge.
