Program Overview

Introduction to the Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures MSc

The Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures MSc is a postgraduate course that equips students with advanced skills in the design of lightweight and composite structures. With strong industrial engagement, this course addresses some of the most pressing sustainability challenges by reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Course Overview

• Start date: October
• Duration: MSc - one year
• Delivery: Taught modules 40%, group project 20%, individual research project 40%
• Qualification: MSc
• Study type: Full-time
• Campus: Cranfield campus

Who is the Course For?

The MSc in Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures is suitable for graduates with engineering, science, applied science, or related degrees who are keen to pursue careers as design engineers, stress engineers, research and development engineers, numerical code developers, consultants, and academic researchers.

Why Choose this Course?

This course will equip students with the knowledge and skills required by leading employers in aerospace, automotive, motorsport, marine, and renewable energy industries to design and develop next-generation environmental-friendly and structural-efficient advanced lightweight materials and components.

Course Details

Group Project

The group project aims to address one of the greatest challenges graduates face, which is the lack of experience in dealing with the complexities of working within a design team. This part of the course takes place from March to May and is student-led, consolidating the taught material and developing both technical and project management skills on an industrially relevant project.

Individual Project

Individual research project topics can vary greatly, allowing students to develop their own areas of interest. It is common for industrial partners to put forward real-life practical problems or areas of development as potential research topics. This section of the course takes place from April to August.

Modules

The course employs a wide range of teaching methods designed to create a demanding and varied learning environment, including structured lecture programmes, tutorials, case studies, hands-on computing, individual projects, and guest lectures. Compulsory modules include:

• Introduction to Continuum Mechanics
• Advanced Composite Analysis and Impact
• Thin-walled Structures
• Finite Element Methods
• Materials Characterisation and Failure Simulations
• Structural Stability
• Advanced Simulation for Impact
• Crashworthiness

Teaching Team

The course will be delivered by Cranfield University's academic staff within the Centre for Aeronautics. The course team works closely with business and has extensive academic and industrial experience.

Accreditation

The MSc in Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for further learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Career Opportunities

Industry-driven research makes graduates some of the most desirable in the world for recruitment by companies competing in the structural engineering sector. Jobs that graduates have gone into include Wing Structure Repair Engineer, Mechanical Integrity Engineer, Composite Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Junior Structures Analyst, Structures Analysis Engineer, and Research Fellow.

Fees and Funding

Course Fees

• Home: Ł13,005
• Overseas: Ł29,025 A non-refundable deposit is required for self-funded students, which is offset against the tuition fee.

Funding Opportunities

To help students find appropriate funding, Cranfield University has created a funding finder where students can search for suitable sources of funding by filtering the results to suit their needs.

Entry Requirements

• A UK lower second-class undergraduate degree with honours, as a minimum, or equivalent international qualification.
• Ideally, applicants will have studied mathematics, physics, computing, or an engineering subject.
• English language requirements: IELTS Academic - 6.5 overall and 5.5 in all skill components, or equivalent.

Conclusion

The Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures MSc at Cranfield University is a comprehensive program designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise needed to succeed in the field of lightweight and composite structures. With its strong industrial engagement, accredited status, and wide range of career opportunities, this course is an excellent choice for those looking to pursue a career in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.