Engineering Doctorate Research Projects

The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) is a four year doctoral level programme combining academic research and scholarship with industrial problem-solving and project management. It is based mainly in industry and provides a more vocationally-oriented study. The scheme incorporates the industrial relevance, team leadership and application of the best German Dr Ing degrees and the concept of a taught component within the degree as found in many US Universties. The EngD scheme carries enhanced payments to students together with contributions by industry.

Engineering Doctorate degree in Steel Technology
This degree scheme represents an award winning partnership between the University of Wales, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Corus Group together with their Customer / Supplier Forum covering the automotive, construction, packaging, domestic appliance and related industry sectors.

Recruitment of Research Engineers
Recruitment for research positions available for each years intake typically involves advertising in relevant publications in February and March. In addition, the EngD website hosted by University of Wales, Swansea is available for information and enquiry (www.swan.ac.uk/engd/). Advertisements, research project details and brochures were circulated to all university careers centres. Corus Group hosts an additional information day at the Welsh Technology Centre in March. The day is aimed at allowing prospective Research Engineers to gain a greater appreciation of the EngD scheme by formal presentations by University and Industry staff, tours of the research facilities at WTC and informal discussions with staff and current research Engineers.

Applicants selected for interview are assessed by two panels. The first panel aims to assess the general suitability of the candidate for the scheme, with the second panel evaluating the candidates’ project specific scientific and engineering capabilities. The interviewing panels are comprised of key personnel from University and Industry.

Research Programme
The project selection procedure allows candidates to select preferred projects from the list distributed. It is these projects on which they are interviewed. Candidates are chosen purely on basis of expertise and suitability for projects. Thus in any year the number of projects exceeds the number of candidates and some remain unfilled.

Coursework
First Year Research Engineers (REs) begin the EngD scheme by undertaking modular coursework from September until January. The topics cover a broad range of technical, professional and managerial skills with each course being assessed by formal examination or written assignment.

Year two REs undertake two mandatory courses.

Year four REs currently undertake five modules aimed at honing skills prior to REs completing their courses and taking up full time employment.