Program Overview

Program Overview

The program in question is a PhD research degree focused on an integrated approach for damage identification in composite materials. This program is offered by the School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University.

Qualification(s) Available

• PhD

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Materials, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related subject. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one of these areas will be an advantage.

Fees for Entry

• UK fee: £5,006 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £28,600 Full-time degree per annum

Duration and Start Date

• Full-time: 3 years
• Part-time: 6 years
• Start date: October 2025, January 2026, April 2026

Application Deadline

• April 2026

Project Reference

• UF-KB-2025

Location

• Loughborough

Subject Area(s)

• Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Project Details

Non-destructive inspection based on acoustics is today one of the primary methods for the identification of damage precursors in components and structures. Acoustics-based methods are widely used to monitor material states during manufacturing or in operational conditions, however, there is a need for models that would assist in the interpretation of experimental findings.

The aim of this project is the identification of damage in composite plates through an integrated experimental-computational approach. To this aim, experimental measurements at the micro- and macro-scale using state-of-the-art monitoring techniques (e.g., micro-CT, Digital Image Correlation) will be used to quantify damage states and create inputs for the computational approach. The latter will leverage particle-based and continuum-level numerical techniques (peridynamics, XFEM) suitable to study wave propagation in layered materials and simulation of fracture events. Then, damaged regions will be predicted through modelling of ultrasonic testing. Also, the energy release of characteristic fracture types will be quantified, which is crucial to the design of next-generation sensing technologies.

Supervisors

• Primary supervisor: Dr. Konstantinos Baxevanakis

English Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment, and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment, and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance, and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.

Research Degree Funding

Find out more about research degree funding.

Entry Requirements by Country

The University has specific entry requirements for applicants from different countries. These requirements are based on the standard UK undergraduate degree classifications and are outlined in detail for each country.

• Afghanistan: Masters, 95%
• Albania: Diplomë e Nivelit të Pare, 9.5
• Algeria: Licence, 16
• Argentina: Licenciatura, 8.5
• Armenia: Bakalavri Kochum, 90% or 3.9
• Australia: Honours degree, First Class, 80%
• Austria: Degree/Diplomstudium, A (or 1.5) mit Auszeichnungbestanden
• Azerbaijan: Bakalavr Diplomu, 4.5 or 90%
• Bahamas: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bahrain: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Bangladesh: 4 Year Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 1st (70%)
• Barbados: University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Belarus: Specialist Diploma, 9
• Belgium: Bachelor degree, 80% or 17
• Belize: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Benin: Maitrise, 18
• Bermuda: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bolivia: Licenciado, 8.5 or 85%
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja, 10
• Botswana: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Brazil: Brazil, 8.5
• Brunei: Brunei, First
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie, 6
• Burundi: Masters or Diplôme d'Études Approfondies, 18
• Cambodia: Masters, 80% or B+ or 3.5
• Cameroon: Bachelor degree or Diplome d'Etudes Superiures, 1st or 3.6 or 15/Tres Bien
• Canada: GPA 4.0/Percentage, 3.7/85%
• Chile: Grado de Licenciado, 6
• China: Students are required to have a bachelor degree (4 years) for entry to a postgraduate programme.
• Colombia: Licenciado, 4.5
• Costa Rica: Licenciado, 9
• Croatia: Baccalaureus, 4.5
• Cuba: Titulo de Licenciado, 5
• Cyprus: Cyprus, 8.5
• Czech Republic: Bakalár, 1
• Denmark: Candidatus, 12
• Dominican Republic: Licenciado, 3.8
• Ecuador: Título de Licenciado, 8.5 or 85%
• Egypt: Egypt, 3.5
• El Salvador: Licenciado, 8.5 or 85%
• Estonia: Bakalaureusekraad, 5 or 91% or A
• Ethiopia: Masters, A or GPA 4.0
• Finland: Kandidaattii, 3 (out of 3) or 4.5 (out of 5)
• France: Licence, 14
• Georgia: 4-year degree, 5 (95%)
• Germany: German Bachelor, 1.5
• Ghana: Ghana, First
• Greece: Universities, 8.5
• Grenada: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Guatemala: Licenciado, 90% (public university) / 95% (private university)
• Guyana: Master's, GPA 4
• Honduras: Título de Licenciado, GPA 5 or 90%
• Hong Kong: 1st or 3.5/4
• Hungary: Alapfokozt, 4.5
• Iceland: Baccalaurreatus degree, 8.5
• India: Institutions listed on the National Institutional Ranking Framework, 65% (First)
• Indonesia: Sarjana I, 3.3
• Iran: Iran, 17
• Iraq: Iraq, 80%
• Ireland: Republic of Ireland, First (70%)
• Israel: 3 yr Bachelor Degree, 90%
• Italy: Diploma di Laurea, 109/110
• Ivory Coast: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 16
• Jamaica: For degrees studied at The University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Japan: Gakushi, 85% or A or 3.5
• Jordan: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Kazakhstan: GPA 5.0/percentage scale, 4.5 or 90%
• Kenya: Kenya, First / 70% / A
• Kosovo: Kosovo, 10
• Kuwait: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.6
• Latvia: Latvia, 9
• Lebanon: American, 90% (3.5)
• Liberia: Master's, 4.0 or 90%
• Libya: BSc Engineering, Architecture, Medicine, 85 (3.6)
• Lithuania: Lithuania, 9
• Luxembourg: Luxembourg, 18 (excellent)
• Macau: Macau, 1st or GPA 3.7
• Macedonia: Magistar Дипломиран, 10
• Malawi: Master's, MSc 75%
• Malaysia: Classification, First Class
• Malta: Malta, 1st (80%)
• Mauritius: Mauritius, 1st or 70%
• Mexico: Licenciado, 8.5
• Moldova: Diploma de Licenţă, 9
• Mongolia: Диплом Специалиста, 90% or 3.5
• Montenegro: Diploma of Completed Undergraduate Studies, 10 (or 5.0)
• Morocco: Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État, 16
• Mozambique: Mestrado, 16
• Myanmar (Burma): 2 year Master's degree, 5 or 85%
• Namibia: 4-year Bachelor Honours, 80% or A
• Nepal: 4 -year professional degree, 80% or 3.7 GPA
• Netherlands: Netherlands, 8
• New Zealand: 4 Year Honours degree, First (7.0)
• Nicaragua: Licenciado, 90%
• Nigeria: 7 point Scale, 6
• Norway: Norway, A / 1.8
• Oman: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Pakistan: 4 Year degree, A- or GPA 3.7
• Palestine: Bachelor (4-years), (85%) 3.5
• Panama: Licenciado, 91 (A)
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor (Honours) Degree, 1st
• Paraguay: Título de Licenciado, 4.5 (85%)
• Peru: Título de Licenciado, 14
• Philippines: Degree from prestigious state universities, Summa Cum Laude 4.0 / 96% / 1.0
• Poland: Bachelor Degree, 5
• Portugal: Diplom de Estudos Superiores Especializados, 18
• Qatar: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Romania: Diploma de Licenta, 9
• Russia: Bakalavr, 4.5
• Rwanda: 4 year bachelor (Hons) degree, 1st, 16/20 (80%)
• Saudi Arabia: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Senegal: Maitrise, 16/20 or Tres Bien
• Serbia: Diplomirani, 9
• Sierra Leone: Honours degree or masters, 1st (70%)
• Singapore: Bachelor (Hons), First
• Slovakia: Bakalár, 1.5 or B
• Slovenia: University Diplom, 9
• South Africa: Bachelor (Honours) or B Tech, 1st or 75%
• South Korea: GPA out of 4.5, 3.8 / B+
• Spain: Licenciado, 8.5
• Sri Lanka: 4 year Professional degree, 90%, GPA 3.70
• Sudan: 4 year degree, 1st, 70%, B+
• Sweden: Kandidatexamen, Overall grade of VG
• Switzerland: Bachelor Degree, 10 / 5.5 / 1
• Syria: State universities, 80%
• Taiwan: Category 1 (4 year degree), 80%
• Tajikistan: Диплом специалиста, 5
• Tanzania: Tanzania, 1st
• Thailand: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Trinidad and Tobago: For degrees studied at The University of West Indies, 1st or GPA 3.6
• Tunisia: Licence, 16 (tres bien)
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi, 3.5
• Turkmenistan: 4 Yr Bakalavr, 5
• Uganda: Uganda, 1st or 4.4
• Ukraine: Dyplom Magistra, 4.5
• United Arab Emirates: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• United States of America: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Uruguay: Licenciado, 9
• Uzbekistan: Majistr Diplomi, 90% or GPA 4.5
• Venezuela: Licenciado, 18/20 or 8/9
• Vietnam: 10-point scale, 8.0
• Zambia: Master's, A or 4.0 or 80%
• Zimbabwe: 3/4 year degree, 1st or 75%