MPhil Environmental Engineering: The University of Manchester

Course description

• Energy, Environment and Climate Change Group
  Energy, environment and climate change research are strongly interlinked. The challenges for energy research will increase against a background of climate change, changing energy provision within uncertain world politics, increasing world population, increasing pollution and need for control and remediation. The group's environmental research covers hydro/morphodynamic and geotechnical processes, particularly associated with pollution dispersion/migration and sediment transport, the built environment and urban aerodynamics. There is strong underpinning capability in computational fluid dynamics and soil mechanics, multi-phase flows, sprays, turbulence modelling and heat transfer.

• Nuclear Group
  Nuclear energy is the only large-scale provider of low-carbon electricity in the UK, accounting for 22% of their current electricity production. In 2006 there were 23 nuclear reactors operating the in UK including: eight Magnox reactors, the last due to close in 2010, fourteen Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors (AGRs), the last due for decommissioning in 2023, and one Pressurised Water Reactors due for decommissioning in 2035.

  Before and beyond this the UK Government must not rule out the possibility that new nuclear build might be necessary at some point in the future in order to meet their ambitions on reducing carbon emissions.

• Examples of current and recently completed projects

Course aims

The Degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is awarded by the University in recognition of the successful completion of a period of supervised research and training, the results of which show convincing evidence of the capacity of the candidate to pursue research and scholarship and represent original work that is appropriately located by the candidate within a wider field of knowledge and investigation. The results of this research shall then be embodied in a thesis or other appropriate form.

All candidates for the degree of MPhil must undertake a skills audit at the beginning of their degree, and annually thereafter throughout their degree to determine their research, transferable and generic skills requirements. The audit will provide the basis for a planned programme of skills training and development. The outcomes of the audit and programme of skills development must be agreed by the student and the supervisory team. The supervisory team will be responsible for ensuring that the student has access to the required skills training and development opportunities.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

A student may be admitted to an MPhil degree only if an appropriate research environment is available for the duration of the degree.  This should include the availability of appropriate academic staff to provide supervision and training, other research-support staff, research facilities and learning resources.  Applicants for admission will normally hold a Bachelors degree or equivalent qualification, a Masters Degree or equivalent qualification, or both.  The level of attainment for the Bachelor's degree will normally be equivalent to that of a First or Second Class Honours UK Bachelor's degree.  Professional qualifications other than a Bachelor's Degree and/or relevant and appropriate experience may be taken into account for entry to MPhil degree.

English language:

In addition, all applicants will need to demonstrate competency in the English language. Applicants who do not already posses a recognised English Language qualification will need to take a recognised test such as IELTS or TOEFL and attain a minimum of IELTS 6.5 ( with no sub test less than 5.5), TOEFL 570 with 5.0 in the TWE (Computer-based 230 or above or Internet-based 88-89 or above).