School of Engineering

MPhil/PhD Mechanical Engineering

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is awarded for a research study, normally over a three-year period, which makes a significant contribution to knowledge. Candidates must demonstrate that they have made an original personal contribution to the understanding of a problem in a specific field, the advancement of knowledge, or the generation of new ideas.

Candidates normally register for Master of Philosophy (MPhil) with the expectation of transfer to the PhD programme upon acceptance of a Transfer document around the one-year point. MPhil (2 years full-time) or Research Masters (ResM/one-year full-time) are also offered for shorter duration research. These degrees are appropriate where funding for the full duration of a PhD is not available, especially for research in an industrial context. All research degrees can be studied in part-time mode

Key features

  • Mechanical engineering research is embedded in three research groups,Autonomous Marine Systems, Materials and Structures, Engineering and Society, and supports Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport.
  • Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) research group comprises a multidisciplinary team with expertise across artificial intelligence (AI), advanced control systems engineering theory, multi-sensor data fusion, dynamics, thermodynamics and fluids, smart materials, marine power plant, marine vehicle performance prediction, propulsors, integrated navigation systems and marine renewable energy.
  • MAterials and STructures (MAST) research (including Civil and Structural Materials, Composites Engineering, and Structural Integrity) covers many aspects of mechanics in materials and structures. This includes structural integrity focusing on fatigue and fracture of materials, multi-scale and multi-phase modelling of materials, and structural modeling using FEA.
  • Composites Engineering addresses fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composites with specialisations in composites manufacture, process-property-mesostructure relationships, marine composites, natural fibre reinforcements, or smart materials and intelligent structures.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.

    You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. Even if you already have a masters degree, you will normally be registered as an ‘MPhil/PhD’ candidate and may apply to transfer to ‘PhD’ status around 10–22 months after registration, based on your progress.

    You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.

    Your PhD will be assessed via submission of either a written thesis (approximately 80,000 words), and a viva voce (an oral examination).

    For full details of what doing a PhD entails at the University of Plymouth, please visit our Postgraduate Research Degrees pages.

    Core modules

    • GSRMECH4 Research Mechanical Engineering

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have completed a masters level qualification to a high standard (e.g. at 'merit' or 'distinction' level) as well as either a good 2:1 or first class honours undergraduate degree in an area of study appropriate to your project proposal. We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications.

If you do not have a masters level qualification, we recommend you consider applying for our MSc Advanced Engineering Design programme.

You will also need to provide evidence that you are ready to pursue the project you propose in your application. This will take the form of a sample of critical writing, and if relevant, documentation of relevant creative or professional practice.

If English is not your first language, you must have proficiency in written and spoken English (normally a minimum test score of 6.5 for IELTS, or equivalent). Given the nature of the programme, you’ll be expected to read and engage with complex theoretical texts and debates for which fluency in English is essential.

Remote supervision of overseas students is possible subject to identification of a supervisor local to the candidate.

For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the research degrees applicants page.

Fees, costs and funding

Please visit tuition fees for postgraduate research for information about fees. ResM/MPhil/PhD Mechanical Engineering is in Band 2 for fees purposes.

If you are a full time student, you will pay full time fees for three years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional one year writing up period.

If you are a part time student, you will pay part time fees for four years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional 'writing up' period of up to two years.

You are responsible for meeting all of the costs related to your own research project, beyond the resources available in the department.

Please visit our postgraduate research money matters page to find out more about issues related to fees, funding, loans and paying for your programme of study.

Please note that Home/EU fees are reviewed on an annual basis.    

How to apply

In addition to completing the online application form (which includes space for a personal statement), you must also upload a research project proposal of no more than 1000 words in total. Your research proposal should outline your general topic, your key aims and the research question/problem you are addressing, your proposed methodology, key definitions/thinkers/discourses/practitioners you are drawing upon and an explanation of why this topic is significant or important.

Your personal statement should briefly explain why you have chosen to apply to our programme and what you feel you can offer our research community.

You will also need to submit a sample of your critical writing (3000 words maximum) and, if relevant, evidence of your ability to undertake the practice-led research you are proposing (e.g. a DVD, portfolio, links to website, reviews, catalogue, etc.). It should take no longer than 30 minutes to view all the visual material that you provide.

For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the research degrees applicants page.

Our facilities

Autonomous Marine Systems Research Group (AMS)

The Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) Research Group is a focal point for inter disciplinary studies and inter-school collaborations particularly with the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Laboratory within Plymouth University, as well as externally with other universities and several industrial partners within the UK and globally.

People

Materials and Structures Research Group

The research carried out in this area covers many aspects of mechanics in materials and structures. This includes structural integrity focusing on fatigue and fracture of materials, durability of marine reinforced concrete (RC) structures, multi-scale and multi-phase modeling of materials, and structural modeling using finite element analysis.

People

Success story – Amandeep Virk

Amandeep Virk’s doctoral thesis contributed to 8 refereed research papers, 3 journal review papers and one book chapter.

Read about his project description here.


Engineering and Society Research Group

The Engineering and Society Research Group is a unique cluster of academic staff, research students and collaborating partners, all united by a collective ambition to deepen and engage engineering knowledge for the long-term and sustainable betterment of society. 

People

Research degree candidates

Mohammed Al-Bahrani
Investigating the effect of nanomaterials added to some selected material on its mechanical properties and corrosion
Director of studies: Dr Alistair Cree

Muhsin Aljuboury
Co-bonded composite flange for oil/marine pipelines
Director of studies: Dr Jahir Rizvi

Venkat Bakthavatchaalam
Motivation to Conduct Research in a Rapidly Evolving Academic Environment: A study of Coimbatore's Engineering Institutions
Director of studies: Mr Michael Miles

Benjamin Bryant
Contaminates within Ultra Violet Polymers with reference to Additive Manufacturing
Director of studies: Dr Jasper Graham-Jones

Jak Chaos
Fatigue-induced precipitation in engineering materials
Director of Studies: Dr Alistair Cree

Dayang Habibah A.I.H. 
Fatigue properties of novel recycled rubber compounds
Director of studies: Dr Frank Abraham

Aitor Hernandez Michelena 
Natural Fibre Reinforced Composite Materials
Director of studies: Professor John Summerscales

Casper Kruger
Effect of complex geometry on closed form FRP analytical methods i.e. CLT, CBT, plate and shell deflection
Director of studies: Dr Jasper Graham-Jones

Adam Kyte
Microarterial anastomosis in reconstructive surgery; a numerical study of the factors affecting anastomosis patency
Supervisor: Dr Richard Pemberton

Riccardo Polvara
An intelligent integrated marine observation system
Director of studies: Dr Sanjay Sharma

Rabiu Mohammed Rabiu
Predictive Maintenance of a Liquefied Natural Gas liquefaction process unit
Director of studies: Dr Jian Wan

Yogang Singh 
Cooperative Swarm Optimisation of Unmanned Surface Vechicles
Director of studies: Dr Sanjay Sharma

Jihad Taha 
Development of an ingrated approach for smart virtual factories based on Model Bases Systems Engineering and Cyber Phyxial Systems Approach
Director of studies: Professor Vahid Salehi (Munich Node)

Ulysse Vautier
Navigation, guidance and control of autonomous sailing boats with robustness for long duration missions
Director of studies: Dr Jian Wan

Matthias Wimmer
Production of high quality carbon fibre reinforced plastic parts on a pin-type tooling system
Director of studies: Professor Christoph Maurer (Munich Node)

Do you need funding for a research degree?

If you cannot fund your own PhD research project then please look at the advertised studentships as they become available throughout the year. Please check the advert carefully to ensure you are eligible and what funding and support is available. 

The Graduate School: postgraduate research studentships