Postgraduate Qualifications
There are many modes of studying for postgraduate degrees in Engineering - the Department offers both PhD and MRes programes, where MRes can form part of a longer PhD study in some circumstances.
Such qualifications can improve knowledge of an area and increase practical and/or theoretical skills.
Key facts
- A PhD is a 'research degree' (a doctoral degree).
- PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy.
- Tens of thousands of students start PhDs each year in the UK alone, in all manner of subjects.
- The Department offers around 10 PhD scholarships each year.
- PhD scholarships provide funds for student fees and living expenses (an untaxed stipend).
- PhD scholarships can last for 3 to 4 years, depending on the scheme.
- A list of PhD projects offered by the Department will soon be available here.
What is a PhD like?
Studying for a PhD is very different to undergraduate lectures. No longer is there a curriculum to follow. Instead you will be expected to forge your own path through the landscape of knowledge, with some general guidance from your supervisor, hopefully discovering new pastures and creating new paths towards the end of your study. You will be expected to;
- Form a good working relationship with your supervisor.
- Search and read the literature.
- Become proficient in techniques relevent to your discipline.
- Synthesize what you have learnt to develop your understanding.
- Be creative; develop new ideas (techniques, theories, etc).
- Design strategies to investigate your ideas, often on the basis of statistical analysis.
- Disseminate your ideas through presentations and writing journal papers.
- Write a thesis and pass your viva (oral exam).
Why should you do a PhD?
There’s plenty of advice to be found online about the benefits of a PhD. Just be sure that if you do decide to do a PhD, your reasons are the right ones for you. Some personal experience can be found here. Our undergraduates can take advantage of Summer Research Project Bursaries and final year research projects to see if research is right for them. Reasons for studying a PhD include;
- You really enjoy learning and discovering more about your chosen subject.
- You want to ‘make a difference’ – after all the future is in innovation (see the excellent video on the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s website www.epsrc.ac.uk).
- You want to maximise your potential by learning new skills and knowledge.
- You want to pursue your own ideas.
- You enjoy a challenge.
- It can improve your career opportunities and earnings potential.
How to apply?
For information on making an application, please go to www.strath.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduateresearch/. For current funding opportunties for postgraduate research, please go to www.strath.ac.uk/pgrfunding/.