PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgy

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 postgraduate research degrees 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 department's research culture, 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. The educational aims of the PhD programme are: to give students with relevant experience at master's level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests to give students training in transferable skills to broaden their horizon above and beyond the focus of their research in the department

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Pass). Students should have achieved at least a good upper second-class honours degree in a UK four-year master's degree or a UK three-year bachelor's (honours) degree plus a relevant one- or two-year master's degree or equivalent. Students graduating from a master's level programme that has a range of pass levels should usually be in possession of a 'merit' before embarking on their PhD studies. On occasion, a period of research experience in a relevant area may be taken into account when the academic background of prospective students is considered.