Program Overview

Overview

The use of composites offers many benefits to the functionality of both materials and structures, making them integral to many engineering design considerations, including cost, sustainability, fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, and improved operational performance. As such, composites are replacing traditional materials for lightweight structures at an unprecedented rate due to global demand (for example in the aircraft, wind turbine, construction and automotive industries). The sector growth is expected to be rapid, in the region of 5 to 10% each year. With the already encroaching effects of climate change, composite materials and structures have an important role to play in contributing to reductions in CO2 emissions and the growing need for a more sustainable future.

The PhD in Advanced Composites is a four-year postgraduate research programme, which integrates an industry relevant research project with a taught programme in technical subjects related to composites materials, design, mechanics and manufacturing, as well as business skills and transferable skills training.

Key Information

Programme Duration

Up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time.

Start Date

September 2025

Application Deadline

See the ISCE CDT website for current application deadline.

Delivery Method

On-Campus

Location

Clifton

Awards Available

PhD

Programme Structure

The taught component comprises six units to provide an intellectually stimulating and inspiring educational framework that encourages innovation. In first year, you will study the fundamentals of composite materials, manufacturing and mechanics. Sustainability is included to encourage a holistic examination of the impact of the industry and future strategies for adopting composite materials in a framework of NetZero.

In year two, you will study units that cover innovation and business skills as well as design for manufacture and non-destructive evaluation techniques.

In year three, the Technology Transfer in Practice unit offers an opportunity to reflect on your research experience and its wider ranging impact on society through a secondment to a different sector. The units are designed to engage you and provide an interdisciplinary view of composites, from materials chemistry to combining analytical and experimental techniques with modelling and practical application in a manufacturing context. The assessments are designed to encourage independent work, to make you inquisitive about the topics and to encourage your personal development as a research student.

World-Leading Research

• The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum 2:1 MEng or merit at master's level or equivalent in engineering, physics or chemistry. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree.

Fees and Funding

• Home: full-time £4,850 per year
• Home: part-time (two years) £2,425 per year
• Overseas: full-time £26,700 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

Alumni Discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.

Funding and Scholarships

Enhanced EPSRC studentships with a tax-free stipend include allowance for activities that support research.

Career Prospects

Students follow a structured professional development programme that prepares students for a career in academia and industrially based research. Recent graduates from the programme have gone on to careers within aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, engineering consultancy, and wind energy sectors. Some have also taken up academic and research positions in UK and international universities, such as MIT.

Research Groups

All CDT students are based in the Bristol Composites Institute, which is within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Its vision is to be a world-leading institute for composites research, combining cutting-edge fundamental science with strong industrial links for exploitation and technology transfer. It is a focus for collaboration – internally, nationally and internationally – and led to the establishment of the UK's National Composites Centre, which is now a recognised focus of national capability in composites.