Postgraduate research

The School of Engineering is proud of its reputation for conducting world-class research and advancing knowledge across a wide range of disciplines.

We offer a wide range of postgraduate research opportunities across the core disciplines of civil, electrical and electronic, and mechanical engineering. Within these disciplines, there are many specialist areas such as communications, energy and the environment, medical engineering, materials and nanotechnology.

Find out more about our postgraduate research programme.

View current funded research opportunities.

Our reputation for a vibrant research-led culture has currently attracted more than 450 postgraduate students from the UK and around the world to study and undertake research in the School.

Our research degrees

We offer PhD and MPhil degrees on a full-time or part-time basis. As a partner in the Engineering Doctorate Centre in Steel Technology, the School also supports candidates for the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) award.

The MPhil can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two years and leads to the degree of Master of Philosophy. The PhD programme can be studied full-time over three years or part-time over five years and leads to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

The School admits students to both programmes on four occasions during the year: 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October.

You can also choose to undertake your full-time PhD study on a three or four-year basis. The four year PhD is an integrated research degree aimed at international students which incorporates an initial year of training in research skills and methodology and allows you to choose some taught modules in your specialist area.

Supervision for PhD and MPhil programmes is available across all of these research areas, and postgraduate researchers are assigned both primary and secondary supervisors to support their work. Prospective applicants are welcome to contact members of academic staff working in their area of interest to discuss ideas for their proposed research project.

I chose Cardiff University because of the opportunity to work in an inspired research environment with people who care not only about the quality of the work they are doing but its greater impact. The level of support fosters a positive learning environment and encourages research students to step out of their comfort zones, embrace their abilities and be impactful with their work.

Jon, PhD Engineering

Applying

We welcome applications for PhD study from students who would like to apply for Commonwealth Scholarships or China Scholarship Council Funding. You'll find application information and much more detail on the engineering postgraduate programme page.

The application process for funded opportunities differs and can be found on each funding opportunity's page. Search current funded research opportunities now.

Research careers

Dr Agustin Valera-Medina from the School of Engineering talks about his career journey to date in an inspiring video for current and prospective postgraduate research students.

Watch Careers and Employability video