PhD Mechanical and Design Engineering drafted draft

Program Overview

If you're ready to take your existing expertise and knowledge in Mechanical and Design Engineering into a postgraduate research degree, Portsmouth is the perfect place to do it.

From the phone in your pocket, to the train you take on your morning commute, much of everyday life relies on the work of engineers.

Our current research in Mechanical and Design Engineering searches for creative and practical engineering solutions to some of society's most-pressing issues – and when you join us to study for a postgraduate research degree, you'll have the opportunity to make your own contribution to the pioneering work we're doing, and play a part in transforming our research into impact.

Our students are already making a positive difference through their research – recent projects include using artificial intelligence to improve powered wheelchairs, creating more efficient solar panels, supporting clinicians at the local hospital, enhancing medical devices, and developing new lightweight manufacturing materials.

And in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014), we were ranked as the 3rd best new university in this area, with 61% of our research outputs rated as either world-leading or internationally excellent.

What can a postgraduate research degree do for my career?

Once you complete your postgraduate research degree, you'll be a highly-skilled researcher with the knowledge and skills to make an impact in many different industries.

Your postgraduate research qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you're an intelligent, capable and motivated person, with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership and creativity.