Materials Science and Metallurgy (Research)

The PhD is a research-based course that introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge.

The Materials Science Department in Cambridge leads a wide spectrum of cutting-edge materials research with state-of-the-art facilities. The Department has a thriving postgraduate school with more than 130 research students studying for the PhD degree in areas that address key problems in materials science (see details via the Materials Challenges page on the Department website.)

Up to 40 students are admitted to full-time PhD studies in materials science each academic year. The majority start in October, but a small number are admitted in January and April. Students are fully integrated into the research culture in the Department and join a research group and are supervised by one or two members of our academic staff.

Students wishing to apply for a PhD in Materials Science should investigate opportunities on the Department website. We encourage students to make contact with potential supervisors prior to applying.
Educational aims of the PhD programme

• Give students with relevant experience at master's level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision.
• Give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.
• Give students training in transferable skills to broaden their horizon above and beyond the focus of their research in the Department.

Learning Outcomes

Through completion of a PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgy, students will have:

• gained a comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
• demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
• shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
• demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research;
• followed a comprehensive transferable skills training programme to develop skills and attributes for future careers and;
• produced a thesis for examination.