Department of Engineering / Postgraduates / Postgraduate courses

Department of Engineering

Postgraduate courses

Postgraduate courses

MPhil in Engineering

MPhil in Engineering

The MPhil in Engineering, completed over one year of full-time study or two-years of part-time, is a research degree which gives students the opportunity to complete a 15,000 word thesis which makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in their sub-discipline.

Students can complete a thesis in any of the sub-disciplines in which the Department is able to offer supervision.

This course is ideal for students without extensive research experience who would like to develop their research skills. Students do not need to have completed this MPhil to progress to the PhD, and so students whose ultimate aim is the PhD and who have already completed an MEng or similar should apply to the PhD programme.

The MPhil in Engineering can serve as excellent preparation for the PhD for students without extensive research experience, and also as preparation for careers in industrial or commercial research.

Applying for the MPhil in Engineering

Research MPhil students begin work on their theses as soon as they arrive in Cambridge, so it is important that they have a comprehensive and realistic plan for their project before they arrive.

The first step in the application process is therefore identifying a supervisor who works in your area of interest and is able to supervise a research MPhil. You can find out more about the Department’s research groups here:

Not all supervisors are able to accommodate research MPhil projects and it is therefore important to make contact with potential supervisors before you apply. You should explain why you want to carry out research with them and how your previous studies have prepared you for research, and give a short but comprehensive outline of your proposed project.

You should also be sure to name at least one Cambridge supervisor on your application form: applications which do not name a supervisor will not be considered.

Studying the MPhil in Engineering

In addition to working on your thesis, you will also take two taught modules from a large list offered by the Engineering Department, or, with the agreement of your supervisor and the module leader, from another department of the University.

Each module will include both lectures and practical work and will require around 80 hours of work.

You will also take part in a researcher development programme organised by one of the Department’s sub-disciplinary Divisions. This programme addresses methodological and conceptual issues in engineering and equips you to become an independent researcher.

Further information, including entrance requirements and how to apply, can be found on the online Course Directory. The Engineering Postgraduate Students website contains resources for current students and may also be of interest to applicants: www.graduate.eng.cam.ac.uk.

 Academics accepting MPhil Students for 2025/26 entry can be found via the following links;

Electrical Engineering - https://ee.eng.cam.ac.uk/index.php/graduate-studies/

Mechanics, Materials and Design - http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/academic-divisions/mechanics-materials-and-design/postgraduate-studies-research-students

Civil Engineering - https://civileng.eng.cam.ac.uk/study

Manufacture and Management - https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/education/phd/topics/

Information Engineering - http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/academic-divisions/information-engineering/postgraduate-studies

Part-time study

Part-time study

Both of our research programmes are available for students to study part-time. The MPhil in Engineering is available at 50% of full time study (over two years instead of one) and the PhD in Engineering is available at 60% of full-time study (over five to seven years, instead of three to four years).

The majority of our taught programmes are currently only available for full-time study, however we offer one part-time taught Masters in Construction Engineering.

PhD in Engineering

The PhD in Engineering is also offered via a part-time route, to allow greater flexibility to fit your studies around your career and other commitments.  The requirements for part-time students are exactly the same as for full-time students except that you have two years to complete the standard first year requirements (two taught modules, a researcher development programme and an assessed first year report). Some students find it easier to spend a term in the Department during their first year to complete the modules.

Further information regarding the requirements for part-time students in the Department of Engineering can be found on our website for current Graduate Students.

Part-time PhD students are expected to spend an average of three weeks each term in the Department. The normal period of study for a part-time PhD is five years, which equates to three years of full-time study. Further information about the terms of study for part-time students can be found on the Cambridge Students website. 

If you are interested in pursuing this mode of study there are some additional steps that must be taken in the admissions process;

  • Your proposed topic of research must be suitable for part-time study.
  • You must live close enough to Cambridge, or be able to spend enough time here during the first two years, to be able to fulfil the module and researcher development course requirements, both of which require physical attendance in the department.
  • You will need to provide a letter from your employer (if you are employed) confirming that you may have time off, if necessary, to attend the University as required for the whole duration of your course.

MPhil in Engineering

The MPhil in Engineering is also offered via a part-time route, to allow greater flexibility to fit your studies around your career and other commitments.  The requirements for part-time students are exactly the same as for full-time students except that you have two years instead of one to complete the standard MPhil requirements (two taught modules, a researcher development programme and submitting your thesis).

If you are interested in pursuing this mode of study there are some additional steps that must be taken in the admissions process;

  • Your proposed topic of research must be suitable for part-time study.
  • You must live close enough to Cambridge to be able to fulfil the module and researcher development course requirements, both of which require physical attendance in the department.
  • You will need to provide a letter from your employer (if you are employed) confirming that you may have time off, if necessary, to attend the University as required for the whole duration of your course.

MSt in Construction Engineering

The Construction Engineering Master's (CEM) programme is a 2 year Master of Studies (MSt) course offered by the Department of Engineering in association with the Cambridge Judge Business School and the Institute of Continuing Education.

The course is a unique leadership programme designed to transform the construction industry and is aimed at future leaders of the industry.

Teaching is delivered through a series of seven intensive residential weeks in Cambridge, interspersed through the two years of the course. These weeks involve lectures, workshops, seminars with industry experts, group project work, and individual supervisions.

Visit the website to find out more about the application process and what you need to do and consider as a potential applicant. Enquiries about this course should be directed to: centre.manager@construction.cam.ac.uk

Healthcare Innovation: Engineering, Systems and Improvement

The Healthcare Innovation Programme is a set of three successive part-time courses designed to fit with the demands of full-time employment. The programme is delivered through a combination of face-to-face sessions requiring attendance in Cambridge, online sessions, and self-directed learning, and is supported through a virtual online environment.

The objective of the programme is to provide knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system and the technologies applicable to this sector, giving students the expertise and skills needed to innovate successfully in healthcare. The course is suitable for those with a background in medicine, engineering, or a related area. Students will be equipped with the skills necessary to understand how biomedical engineering impacts upon populations, health conditions and clinical outcomes, and learn how to work across the boundaries of engineering, design and healthcare in an effective manner.

The programme is structured such that students can progress from the PgCert, through the PgDip and then on to the MSt in a flexible manner, enrolling each year for the corresponding award if they choose to progress, with breaks allowed along the way.

Further information regarding part-time study can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website.

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)

There are eight Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) associated with the Department of Engineering. Students on these programmes follow a four year course - one foundation year and then three years of research towards the PhD degree. During the first year, students follow a taught programme designed to prepare them for further study and research. In most cases, this foundation year leads to the award of a Masters degree (MRes or MPhil). Students that have successfully passed the first year will continue on to the PhD degree, either within the department of Engineering, or with a collaborating department or institution. A key feature of the CDTs is the financial support available. If eligible, students may be provided with funding to cover their fees and maintenance for the duration of the course. 

Our CDTs were developed in collaboration with other research institutions and/or industry partners, and are funded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council). Centres run with interdisciplinary themes, fostering collaborations across departments, institutions and with industry, enabling students to develop both their cross-discipline skillset and their PhD project research themes in a novel and innovative way. For many students, they will have the chance to develop connections within the academic and work environments that will shape their future careers.

CDTs based within the Department of Engineering

Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems

A four-year PhD course in collaboration with University College London. The course comprises an initial year undertaking the MRes in Connected Electronic & Photonic Systems, followed by a three-year PhD programme. The programme is designed to produce engineering leaders with a high level of understanding and skills in photonic and electronic systems, in particular, the fundamentals of the field together with the necessary research expertise, and technology, systems and applications knowledge.

Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero (FIBE3)

This four-year course comprises an initial MRes year, followed by a three-year PHD programme. The FIBE3 CDT, in close partnership with its industry partners, aims to develop the next generation of PhD graduates to champion the urgent, complex, inter-connected and cross-disciplinary transition to net zero infrastructure. The following inter-linked 'net zero enablers' form the focus of the FIBE3 CDT's training and research activities: existing and disruptive/new technologies; radical circularity and whole life approach; AI-driven digitalisation and data and risk-based systems thinking and connectivity.

Future Propulsion and Power

A four-year PhD course in collaboration with the Universities of Oxford and Loughborough; at the end of the first year, successful students are awarded an MRes degree in Future Propulsion and Power before proceeding to the doctoral programme. The course benefits from the team of universities (Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and  Loughborough) and companies (Rolls-Royce, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Siemens, Dyson) that are collaborating to deliver the CDT. This team enables the course to provide students with an advanced course in the aero-thermal engineering of propulsion and power devices, particularly the gas turbine (compressors, combustors, and turbines), as well as the skills (experimental, computational, and transferable) required to become an expert practitioner and future leader in the field.

CDTs associated with the Department of Engineering

Students on these courses may undertake the PhD element of the programme within the Department of Engineering, however applicants for these courses do not apply directly to the Engineering Department for admission. Further information can be found via the links below, and any queries should be directed to the contact details found on the websites.

Aerosols Science

Computational Methods for Materials Science

Sensor Technologies and Applications

2D Materials of Tomorrow (2DMoT)

Decision-making for Complex Systems

Developing National Capacity for Materials 4.0

Superconductivity: Enabling Transformative Technologies

PhD in Engineering

PhD in Engineering

The PhD in Engineering is awarded to students who complete and are successfully examined on a 60,000-word thesis which makes an original contribution to knowledge. This thesis will normally be completed over three years if students study full-time, and five-seven years if they study part-time. The PhD equips students for careers in research in universities and research institutes, industry, and government, and for a wide variety of careers which value the ability to think deeply and rigorously and solve problems.

Applying for the PhD in Engineering

In Cambridge students commence preliminary work on their theses as soon as they begin their studies, so it is important that they have a well-developed proposal for a project by the time they submit their application.

We welcome applications to work on projects across the whole range of engineering sub-disciplines which build on the research being carried out here. To learn more about our research, and to see if you might want to study here, we recommend that you read the websites of the research groups in the Department, the papers our academics are publishing, and the titles of PhDs currently being completed under their supervision. This will help you identify supervisors whom you might wish to work with.

It is important to consider not only the topics a potential supervisor works on, but also their approach: a supervisor who does not have expertise in the methods you want to use, or who takes a different position to yours on the questions animating your field, will not be a good match.

Once you have identified a potential supervisor or supervisors, we strongly encourage you to contact them by e-mail to discuss the possibility of working together. You can explain why you are interested in their research and how your previous studies have prepared you for the PhD and provide a concise but cogent outline of your proposed PhD project.

Applicants are expected to name at least one supervisor on their application forms: applications which do not list a Cambridge supervisor will not be considered.

Further information on applying, including entrance requirements, can be found in the University’s course directory.

Studying for the PhD in Engineering

In order to prepare them for success in their studies, the Department requires its PhD students to complete a Researcher Development Course offered by one of its sub-disciplinary Divisions. These courses examine methodological and conceptual issues which confront researchers in engineering today and help students to become independent researchers.

Students will also select, with the advice of their supervisor, two taught modules which will support their research. An indicative list of modules can be found here:

These modules involve both lectures and practical work, and each will require approximately 80 hours of work. It is sometimes possible to replace an Engineering module with one from another Department of the University, if this is supported by your supervisor and the module co-ordinator.

Over the course of your PhD you will be an active member of the research group of which you are a part, collaborating with other PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and, most importantly, your supervisor, who is responsible for your academic progress. You will meet with your supervisor at least eight times a year, but often much more frequently.

In addition to your supervisor, you will also be assigned an advisor, who will provide additional support and guidance as needed.

The majority of your research will be conducted in laboratory facilities at the University of Cambridge, but our supervisors’ links with universities around the world, and with industry, mean that there may be opportunities to carry out research elsewhere after your first year.

At the end of your first year, you will write a 15,000 word report on your progress to date, and discuss this with two assessors. If your report is deemed satisfactory, you will be permitted to continue with the PhD.

PhD students may also have opportunities act as laboratory demonstrators for the Department, and to teach small groups of undergraduate students.

Further information, including entrance requirements and how to apply, can be found on the online Course Directory. The Engineering Postgraduate Students website contains resources for current students and may also be of interest to applicants: www.graduate.eng.cam.ac.uk.

 Academics accepting PhD Students for 2025/26 can be found via the following links;

Electrical Engineering - https://ee.eng.cam.ac.uk/index.php/graduate-studies/

Mechanics, Materials and Design - http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/academic-divisions/mechanics-materials-and-design/postgraduate-studies-research-students

Civil Engineering - https://civileng.eng.cam.ac.uk/study

Manufacture and Management - https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/education/phd/topics/

Information Engineering: http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/academic-divisions/information-engineering/postgraduate-studies

Taught courses (MPhil and MRes)

MPhil programmes

We offer five full-time one year taught programmes in various specialist areas of Engineering. These Masters' programmes are assessed by a combination of coursework, examinations and dissertations and lead to the award of an MPhil degree. Further details about each of the programmes can be found on the individual courses' websites, and on the University's online course directory.

MPhil in Energy Technologies

The world faces major challenges in meeting the current and future demand for sustainable and secure energy supplies. The MPhil in Energy Technologies course is designed for graduates who want to help tackle these problems by developing practical engineering solutions, and who want to learn more about the fundamental science and the technologies involved in energy utilisation, electricity generation, energy efficiency, and alternative energy.

MPhil in Sustainable Development

The Engineering for Sustainable Development MPhil course is designed for graduates who want to help tackle pressing global problems by developing practical engineering solutions. The course is about recognising that engineers have to operate within an increasingly complex set of constraints, and therefore must be capable of dealing with a range of challenges. The subject is based on some very straightforward principles: it is about living within Earth’s finite limits and resources, helping everyone on the planet to achieve an acceptable quality of life; acting as stewards of the environment for future generations; dealing with complexity; and handling the many trade-offs which have to be made.

MPhil in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management

The MPhil in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management offers unparalleled preparation for a career in industry by combining academic teaching material with a wide-ranging programme of industrial visits, seminars, skills development and projects in companies. A very intensive 11-month programme, ISMM aims to give recent STEM graduates the knowledge and experience to make an impact in a range of different industries and types of business; from automotive to AI, start-ups to state-of-the-art factories. The four industrial projects task students with real challenges in businesses and help to develop problem solving, team working and critical thinking skills. The taught modules and industrial activities are concluded with a 12-week individual research project supervised by a member of academic staff. Please note that this course runs outside of the standard University term dates and involves significant travel away from Cambridge. ISMM is designed for early-career graduates rather than those seeking a mid-career change.

MPhil in Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence

This is an 11 month MPhil programme, taught from within our Information Engineering Division, with a unique, joint emphasis on the expanding areas of machine learning and machine intelligence, including speech and language technology, computer vision, robotics, and human-computer interaction. The course aims to teach the state of the art in machine learning and machine intelligence; to give students the skills and expertise necessary to take leading roles in industry; and to equip students with the research skills necessary for doctoral study.

MPhil in Nuclear Energy 

The MPhil programme in Nuclear Energy, offered by the Department of Engineering in collaboration with the Cambridge Nuclear Energy Centre and co-sponsored by a Nuclear Energy Industry Club, is a one-year full-time nuclear technology master's programme for engineers and scientists who wish to make a difference to the problems of climate change and energy security by developing nuclear power generation. The course gives a thorough education in technical aspects of nuclear energy, includes a grounding in the wider policy environment in which nuclear energy sits.

MRes programme

In addition to the MPhil programmes, we also offer three full-time one year taught MRes programmes, which are part of our Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs). Only one of these is available as a standalone Masters course, the others are only available as part of the CDTs.

MRes in Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems

This programme is designed to begin to equip students for engineering leadership positions, developing a high level of understanding and skills in photonic and electronic systems, in particular, the fundamentals of the field together with technology, systems and applications knowledge, and some research experience.

Overview of postgraduate courses

Postgraduate courses in the Department of Engineering

The Department offers taught and research programmes which between them encompass all the principal sub-disciplines of engineering and novel interdisciplinary approaches to the subject. Our programmes can prepare you for a career at the cutting edge of research and for leading roles in the engineering profession.

Taught courses

We offer six full-time one-year taught programmes, leading to the award of a master’s degree (Master of Philosophy or Master of Research).

These programmes offer you the opportunity to deepen your subject knowledge, to broaden it by undertaking the interdisciplinary training needed to solve today’s most pressing engineering challenges, and/or to reflect on and develop your professional practice.

They can serve as suitable preparation for a PhD, at Cambridge or elsewhere, or equip you for careers as professional engineers, or in consultancy, policy-making and related fields. Some of these programmes offer professional accreditation.

Research study

The Department’s PhD programme aims to produce engineers who will be equipped to lead the development of their discipline through their theoretical, computational, experimental, and interdisciplinary research.

Students work with an expert supervisor to produce a thesis which, as an original contribution to knowledge, is the foundation for a research career, whether in academia, government, or the private sector.

Our PhD programme can be studied both full-time and part-time.

The MPhil in Engineering is a research degree which enables students to complete a thesis which will make a substantial contribution to their discipline. It can serve as preparation for the PhD for students without extensive experience of research, or offer those working in or seeking positions in industrial or commercial R&D an opportunity to further develop their research skills.

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) offer a combined taught and research-based programme, leading to both a master’s and a PhD degree. In addition to three CDTs based in the Department of Engineering, we are also partners to eight CDTs based either in other departments at the University of Cambridge, or in other institutions.

Part-time study

Both of our research programmes are available for students to study part-time. The MPhil in Engineering is available at 50% of full-time study (two years instead of one) and the PhD in Engineering is available at 60% of full-time study (five to seven years, instead of three to four years). The majority of our taught programmes are currently only available for full-time study, but we offer a Master of Studies (MSt) in Construction Engineering for experienced professionals looking to make a tangible contribution to the positive transformation of the construction sector.

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