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Postgraduate Programs: Engineering and Production
Find postgraduate programs in ENGINEERINGA postgraduate program in engineering will give the students the skills necessary to design and build structures, machines, systems and/or materials. Students will learn how to employ a variety of methods to achieve their aim, including scientific and mathematical skills, as well as economic, social, and practical knowledge.
A postgraduate course in engineering could concentrate on a variety of different aspects of engineering, including:
- Civil Engineering
- Transport Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Structural Engineering
Postgraduate programs in production vary enormously depending on what element of production they are specialising in – specialisms can include clothing production, food production and the motor industry.
There is a vast selection of engineering and production courses available in the UK, so you should be able to find one offering exactly what you want. However, make sure you find out exactly what your preferred course entails, as similarly titled courses often offer quite different modules of study.
What courses in engineering & production are on offer?
Generally speaking, there are two types of postgraduate programs in the UK: taught and research.
Taught programs are those in which a large proportion of the learning is facilitated through classroom, seminar, tutorial and supervised laboratory work, and which are at least partially assessed by examination or coursework.
An example of a taught engineering course is the MSc in Space Engineering at the University of Birmingham, which is a taught program that offers advanced modules that focus on:
- Advanced Space Mission Analysis and Design
- Communication, Ethics, and Teamwork for Space Missions
- Individual Research Project
- Materials and Manufacturing for Space Applications
- Space Environment
The learning involved in a research program, on the other hand, will take place through the pursuit of a self-directed project that aims to make a new contribution to human knowledge (although it will almost always be part of a broader research program at an institutional level).
The University of Bristol has a MSc by Research in Mechanical Engineering, which sees students complete independent research projects instead of attending taught lessons. The subjects available to research include:
- Dynamics and Control
- Solid Mechanics
- Engineering Systems
- Design and Innovation
However, despite this fundamental difference in learning methods, all engineering masters programs will contain some self-directed research. There are also postgraduate programs, such as the Doctor of Engineering (DEng), which combine both taught and research elements – these are aimed at engineers who are already established in their careers. There are much coveted integrated and funded four-year programs, known as ‘1+3’ programs because they are made up of a one-year masters followed by a three-year PhD.
Another variation of taught programs is the conversion course. Instead of just being a means to continue your understanding of a subject you already know well, some taught programs are aimed at students from outside the discipline who wish to change the direction of their career. These conversion programs will be characterised by an intense and in-depth introduction to the subject.
Find postgraduate programs in PRODUCTIONTaught postgraduate programs in engineering & production
Most international students will start with a stand-alone taught postgraduate program and then consider whether to move towards doing a research degree. Indeed, in many circumstances, UK universities insist on this. There are three levels of taught program to look out for: postgraduate certificate (PGCert), postgraduate diploma (PGDip) and a masters degree.
Postgraduate certificates and diplomas are short (under a year) and can be part of continuing professional development (CPD) or preparation for entry into a masters program. In some cases, diplomas can be awarded to students who follow a taught masters program (one year full time, two years part time), but who do not complete the final (up to) 20,000-word dissertation. These programs will usually be designated as an MSc or Diploma.
It is also worth pointing out that a Master of Engineering (MEng) is awarded after an extended period of undergraduate study that lasts typically one year longer than a standard honours degree program. In contrast, MSc programs in engineering are stand-alone one-year programs designed to focus on a specific area of the discipline.
Research-based postgraduate programs
Research programs at masters level might be called a Master of Research (MRes) or, regardless of the actual subject studied, Master of Philosophy (MPhil), which usually takes two years. The highest research degree is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – this takes a minimum of three years to complete.
Apart from some training in research skills, there will be very little taught content on research programs. The dissertation will also be longer, 70,000 to 100,000 words for a PhD. It should also be original and, in theory, publishable. Essentially, possessing a PhD should mean that you are one of the leading experts in your specialism in the world.
English language requirements
IELTS scores of 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL scores of 100-107 are usually needed. Because of ongoing changes in the law we advise international students to regularly check the UK government website to make sure they can fulfil the necessary requirements. Most individual institutions also have useful information on the Tier 4 requirements for international students, and can offer assistance in terms of student queries about their specific English language requirements.
Find out more about English Language Requirements for International Students.
Find postgraduate programs in TECHNOLOGYEngineering masters degree tuition fees
A one-year taught masters program at a UK university can cost anything from around £9,000 to around £15,000 for UK students. And the tuition fees for European and international students in the UK are likely to be considerably higher.
If you are an international student, applications for funding or scholarships should be made well over a year in advance (information on the various institutional scholarships is available from the British Council website), and funding should always be arranged before you leave your home country.
Graduate tuition fees to study engineering at universities in the USA cost around $60,000 per year at institutions like Harvard University for two full-time years of study.
Once you have been accepted onto a postgraduate engineering program, you will be eligible to apply for one of our Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries worth £2,000.
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