Program Overview

MSc by Research in Engineering Science

The MSc by Research in Engineering Science is a research-based course offering advanced study in areas like biomedical, energy, civil, materials, and information engineering, with interdisciplinary training in modelling, design, and data.

About the Course

A key aspect of your research experience in the department will be exposure to the broad sweep of today's engineering research. In the first year, you will develop research skills in two ways. Firstly, you will read the current literature, often in reading groups, and attend relevant research seminars and lectures to gain insight from world-class experts in your area of investigation, and attend appropriate training courses to develop skills for your project and future career. Secondly, you will design and build apparatus, develop software, or both to address your own research topic. Often there is external involvement and you will develop your work in collaboration with researchers from industry and other research organisations.

Attendance

The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements. Provision exists for students on some courses to undertake their research in a well-founded laboratory outside of the University. This may require travel to and attendance at a site that is not located in Oxford.

Resources to Support Your Study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services. The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

Supervision

You will join your supervisor's research group which normally has post-doctoral researchers and other research students working on broadly similar research themes. Typically you would interact daily with members of the group and have weekly contact with your supervisor. Many groups have weekly meetings where members discuss their research or perhaps present other published work. The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Engineering Science and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.

Assessment

As well as ongoing assessment by your supervisor, you will be required to write a report and give a presentation on your research at the end of the first year, and to present a detailed and coherent plan for the second and final phase in the second year of your masters. At the end of the second year, you will be required to submit a thesis which is read and examined viva voce by experts in the field, one from the department and one from elsewhere.

Graduate Destinations

Graduates from the MSc by Research in Engineering Science are well-equipped for careers in engineering in their specialisms and most enjoy engineering-related careers ranging from consulting to R&D, both nationally and internationally. Others enter the spectrum of professions which value a high ability in mathematical modelling, systems analysis and design.

Research Areas

Youll have the opportunity to undertake research within the specialised themes of this course, which include:

• Biomedical engineering
• Chemical and process engineering
• Civil and offshore engineering
• Electrical and opto-electronic engineering
• Energy
• Information, vision and control engineering
• Solid mechanics and materials engineering
• Thermofluids and turbomachinery

Entry Requirements

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown.

• Degree-level qualifications: As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent: a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in engineering or a related discipline relevant for the proposed area of research.
• GRE General Test scores: No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
• Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience: Prior publications may be an advantage when applying for graduate study in engineering science.
• English language proficiency: This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level.

Funding

For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses. If you apply by the December deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.

• Home: Ł10,470
• Overseas: Ł34,700

Living Costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course. The range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between Ł1,405 and Ł2,105 for each month spent in Oxford.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. The following colleges accept students on the MSc by Research in Engineering Science:

• Balliol College
• Christ Church
• Exeter College
• Harris Manchester College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Mansfield College
• New College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. If it is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline, we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance.

Application Fee Waivers

An application fee of Ł20 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• Applicants from low-income countries
• Refugees and displaced persons
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds
• Applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria

Completing Your Application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.

• Proposed field and title of research project: Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known.
• Proposed supervisor: Under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) whom you would like to supervise your research.
• Referees: Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete.
• Official transcript(s): Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.
• CV/résumé: A CV/résumé is compulsory for this course.
• Research proposal: You should submit an outline of your proposed research, written in English. The overall page count should not include any bibliography.