University of Surrey
Industrial Doctorate Centres

Overview

In 2009, the University of Surrey was awarded a £12m grant from the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council to launch two of only nineteen prestigious Industrial Doctorate Centres in the UK. The Centres for 'Micro-and Nano-Materials and Technologies' and 'Sustainability for Engineering & Energy Systems' provide a supportive and exciting environment for students, or 'Research Engineers', to carry out challenging Engineering Doctorate (EngD)  research projects in collaboration with industrial sponsor organisations.

Our EngD in Environmental Technology was one of the most established UK programmes, running from 1993 to 2009, and our EngD in Materials has been similarly successful since 2005.

Our EngD Programmes

The EngD is aimed at providing exceptional graduates with an intensive, broadly-based research programme which is designed to address the needs of the industry sponsor. It provides the Research Engineer with the knowledge, skills and ability to innovate and implement new ideas in practice, enabling them to reach senior positions in industry in their careers. Our Engineering Doctorate programmes are four years in length and the majority of that time is spent at the sponsor organisation conducting your research. During the four years you will frequently return to the University campus, and attend other venues, to take part in short courses, conferences, seminars and team events.

There are key stages throughout the programme. One of the first stages is the reporting process. Every six months, you are expected to produce a report to chart progress and to ensure your research is on track. The report is an opportunity to refine and restate objectives and the reports are expected to be submitted in October and April of each year. The reports are retained and make up what is known as your Portfolio.

At final submission stage, you may chose to present a thesis or the portfolio as a collection of works. Another stage of the programme is the element of taught short courses. The taught element of the programme comprises a number of mandatory and elective short courses. The courses are normally a week in duration. The scientific courses have associated course work undertaken in the week following the course. Courses must be passed in order to proceed to the next level of the programme.

Fees and funding

Our EngD projects are funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, the University of Surrey and the sponsor organisations. Successful candidates for the programme are provided with a generous annual stipend of at least £19,500 per year (usually tax-free). University fees are covered, along with travel expenses, conference fees etc.

In order to be eligible for a funded place on the programme, applicants will need to meet the following criteria:
Minimum of upper second class degree or Masters degree in a relevant subject normally in an engineering or natural science degree (although there are often opportunities for other subjects) and enthusiasm for working on interdisciplinary subject.

Applicants will also need to meet the EPSRC's eligibility criteria:

• Settled status in the UK (no restrictions on how long you can stay)
• Have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years prior to the start of the grant (i.e. with only temporary or occasional absences for holidays, business trips etc)
• Not been residing in the UK for wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education (this does not apply to UK or EU nationals).

Research

Research at the University of Surrey is constantly pushing boundaries and bringing direct benefits to many spheres of life - helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy.

We have forged an independent approach to research and enterprise. Academic and technological excellence is strengthened by our ambitious approach, ensuring innovation and inventive engagement with industry and the professions providing distinct competitive advantage for those studying and working with us.

At Surrey we think it is important to provide support and guidance to research students at every stage of their work. Each student, whether working on their own or as part of a research team,  has a personal supervisor to provide guidance in developing relevant lines of enquiry and ensuring that the programme progresses at the right pace in the right direction.
The University continues to be a strong advocate of multidisciplinary research, allowing researchers from different fields to work closely together, focusing on a key research initiative. These centres include: Advanced Technology Institute; Centre for Environmental Strategy; Digital World Research Centre; Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre; Healthcare Workforce Research Centre; Surrey Sleep Research Centre; Research Group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment (RESOLVE); Centre for Research on Nationalism, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism; and Surrey Materials Institute.

Surrey in the RAE

In the 2008 RAE, 88% of Surrey's research activity was rated either 'world class' or 'internationally recognised' with four areas of research activity in the top ten and a total of nine areas ranked in the top 20. 55% of Surrey's units of assessment were rated as 'internationally excellent' or 'world class', with a further 44% ranked as 'recognised either nationally or internationally'.

Facts and figures

How to apply

If you are considering applying for an EngD at Surrey or would like to find out more information, please visit our web pages via the links below:

• Sustainability for Engineering & Energy Systems (SEES)
• Micro- and Nano-Materials and Technologies (MiNMaT)

Contact details

To discover more about the EngDs at Surrey

EngD in Micro- and Nano-Materials and Technologies (MiNMaT)

Mrs Noelle Harley
MiNMat Industrial Doctorate Centre Manager
T: 01483683467
E: n.hartley@surrey.ac.uk

EngD in Sustainability for Engineering & Energy Systems (SEES)

Miss Nicki Ledger
SEES Industrial Doctorate Centre Manager
T: 01483689076
E: n.ledger@surrey.ac.uk

Visit our website for more information.