PhD Mechanical Engineering

About the course

Our research expertise in Mechanical Engineering specialises in areas including applied mechanics of structural integrity, surface engineering, polymer nano-composites, fracture mechanics, condition monitoring, vibration and noise control, diagnostic methods for fuel cells, advanced powertrain, material characterisation, biomaterials, CFD, two phase and multiphase flow, heat transfer and heat exchangers, and micro-fluid mechanics. Mechanical research at the University of Hertfordshire has been supported with grants from the EPSRC, InnovateUK and industry.

Teaching methods

Each student will be assigned a Principal and a second supervisor who are experts in the research topic. The research will be conducted in our labs which are well-equipped for research in the topics of our expertise. Students studying on Full-Time mode are expected to submit their registration and progression reports in the first and second years of the research programme respectively and are formally assessed in the form of a viva by (usually) an internal examination panel. In completion of their 3rd year students are expected to start the preparation for their final assessment and to submit their thesis which is examined in the form of a viva by an external and an internal examiner (Part-Time mode assessment deadlines are extended accordingly).

What’s next for my career?

Our PhD programmes enable students to develop specialist research skills and knowledge. We aim to provide research projects that will challenge and in some cases even inspire our students. If you are self-motivated and want to improve your ability to understand and solve engineering problems, then a PhD with us may be right for you.