Program Overview

Composites Manufacture

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 5-10% 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 Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in Composites Manufacture is a four-year postgraduate research programme, which integrates an industry-based 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. Each EngD research project is designed around the sponsor company's research priorities.

The EngD programme is run by the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering. The CDT is led by Bristol Composites Institute and the Composites Research Group at the University of Nottingham. EngD students benefit from the use of cutting-edge equipment and expertise at the universities and at the National Composites Centre, which provides a world-class facility to bridge the gap between research and industrial application. A highly skilled workforce and technical leadership are required to support industry. Our programme promotes the development of a radical and innovative mindset that is necessary to make composite materials and structures one of the key enablers in a sustainable future.

The CDT aims to provide the UK composites sector with EngD graduates equipped with the advanced technical and leadership skills required for effective adoption of new knowledge and technologies in composites manufacture. The relevant industry areas include aerospace, automotive, marine, wind energy and construction. The research component is carried out in industry, with students spending 75% of their time located with their industrial sponsor. An integrated transferable skills training programme is included, covering communication, career development, innovation, management, and translational research skills. We have produced an exciting integrated programme enabling graduates to become leaders in sustainable composites engineering.

Key Information

• Programme duration: Up to four years full-time (75% in industry)
• Start date: Not fixed
• Application deadline: See the ISCE CDT website for current application deadline
• Delivery method: On-Campus
• Location: Clifton
• Awards available: EngD

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.

Career Prospects

Students follow a structured professional development programme that prepares EngD students for industrially based research. As the research programme is based in industry, graduates will be ready to apply for chartered status with an appropriate learned institution and are expected to take up leadership positions within the composites manufacturing industry. Recent graduates have taken up employment at Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and the National Composites Centre.

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.