MPhil Mechanical Engineering: The University of Manchester

Course description

Structures, Dynamics and Extreme Loading Group

To ensure a safe society from accidental events (fires, impact, gas explosions, errors in design, etc.), natural occurrences (hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, etc.) or terrorist attacks, there is a need to understand both material and whole structural response under extreme loads.

Manchester has a well-known track record in researching the behaviour of structures under fire, explosions, impact energy absorption, dynamic response, and high strain rate material response.

The design research team is interwoven with the extreme loading investigations through research into risk and reliability methods. In addition, the design team also concentrates on through-life support of systems, equipment and components. This work comprises conditioning monitoring, single processing, damage detection, and project management.

Manufacturing and Management Group

In recent years, the nature of manufacturing research has shifted in response to new drivers resulting in paradigms such as Micro/Nano Manufacturing, Sustainable Manufacturing, Digital Manufacturing and Innovative Material Processing (IMP) technologies. The Manchester manufacturing group is not only active in these fields but takes a leading role in many of them at an international level.

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.

Some students may decide not to write up their research for an MPhil degree, but may instead apply to transfer to PhD as a result of their MPhil work. Responsibility for making decisions about those who are registered for an MPhil and wish to transfer to PhD rests with the School's Postgraduate Committee. Significant factors affecting the decision will be research progress, and the likelihood of successfully completing the project at an appropriate level for PhD.

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. The level of attainment for the Bachelor's degree will normally be equivalent to that of a 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 an 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 usually with 5.0 in the TWE (Computer-based 230 or above or Internet-based 88-89 or above).