Research degrees - advanced aerospace materials engineering
The Advanced Aerospace Materials Engineering MSc by Research degree is an industrially relevant programme, developed at a time of great change within the aerospace industry. The move from aluminium airframes to carbon fibre reinforced polymers, the continuous drive to improve aeroengine efficiency and drive down cost, and the movement of the supply chain up the skills ladder are all driving dramatic change. This is creating demand for new skills, which this programme uniquely addresses.
The programme
There are three pathways to choose from to complete this degree – Ceramics, Composite Materials and Metallic Materials. You will begin by completing four 15-credit taught units (one-third of the degree), and complete the degree with a 120-credit supervised research project in an aerospace related topic. The taught units are made up of core and optional units for each of the pathways, subjects include:
Ceramics pathway |
Composite Materials pathway |
Metallic Materials pathway |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering | Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering | Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering |
| Core | Advanced Composite Manufacturing | Functional and Engineering Ceramic | High Performance Alloys |
| Optional | Introduction to Composite Design | Industrial Processing of Materials | Corrosion and Materials |
| Optional | Manufacturing for the Complete Life Cycle | Advanced Machining Technology | Plasticity |
| Optional | Polymer Characterisation | Robotics, Metrology and Modelling of Materials in Manufacture | Industrial Processing of Materials |
| Optional | Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polymers | Advanced Manufacturing Processes | Advanced Machining Technology |
| Optional | Polymer Processing and Industrial Case Study | Materials Performance – Life Cycle Design | Robotics, Metrology and Modelling of Materials in Manufacture |
| Optional | Advanced Composites | Advanced Analytical Techniques | Advanced Manufacturing Processes |
| Optional | Materials Performance – Life Cycle Design | Engineering Design and Communication | Materials Performance – Life Cycle Design |
| Optional | Advanced Analytical Techniques | Finite Elements | Analytical Techniques |
| Optional | Engineering Design and Communication | Research Methods | Advanced Engineering Design and Communication |
| Optional | Finite Elements | Finite Elements | |
| Optional | Research Methods | Research Methods |
Research project
You will complete the degree with an eight-month research project (120 credits) in an aerospace related topic and under the supervision of an expert from The University of Manchester.
The project may be undertaken within the School of Materials or the School of MACE at The University of Manchester, or by special arrangement, for non distance-learning students, at any of our partner Higher Education Institutions in the UK or Overseas.
Split site students will undertake their project dissertation hosted by a suitable industry / research organisation / partner university. They will be examined on their dissertation by staff from The University of Manchester and will be supervised jointly by a staff member from The University of Manchester and a project supervisor from the host organisation.
Career prospects
Developed in co-ordination with major international aerospace companies, as a graduate of this programme, you will be qualified for key positions as a material scientist, engineer, manager or consultant within the aerospace sector. The degree is also a launch-pad into an accelerated PhD in UK academia or study at one of our international partner institutions.
Duration and study options
The degree can be taken in a standard 12-month full-time structure or a 48-month part-time / distance-learning structure. For distance-learning students, at least one 15-credit unit must be taken on site at The University of Manchester. At present, only distance learning students based and researching within the UK are permitted.
A split-site option is available for students who undertake the distance learning mode of study. Students will be required to take at least one unit of study on site at The University of Manchester and undertake their project outside of The University of Manchester either at another Higher Education Institution or in industry. This provides the opportunity for companies / research organisations to employ / host a student thereby enabling them to undertake a research project within an industrial environment while widening their knowledge through the distance learning programme.
CPD / individual units
You can choose to take individual units, for example Advanced Composite Manufacture, as a standalone course. The units run over three weeks in the School of Materials or 12 weeks (part-time) in MACE. For some Materials units, it is also possible to undertake a one-week discrete CPD module, for example NDT of Composite Materials.
Scholarships
There are School scholarships available for this degree. UK/EU students can be awarded up to 100% of their tuition fee, and Overseas students can be awarded a part-tuition fee scholarship. There is no separate application form for the Scholarships, all applicants will be considered.
Entry requirements
You will need to be a science and engineering graduate with at least a 2.2 UK Honours degree or equivalent. Subject to satisfactory progress, it is possible to transfer to a PhD at the end of the degree which will require a further two years full-time study or four years part-time.
We accept a wide range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements, please click here.
If English language is not your first language, you will need to take and meet minimum requirements for the following recognised English language qualifications: IELTS (6.5 with no sub-test under 5.5); TOEFL (570 with 5.0 in TWE); CBTOEFL (230 with 5.0 in TWE). Please contact us if you have an alternative qualification and we will make an individual assessment.
How to apply
You can apply online or request a paper copy of the application. For information on how to apply, please click here.
Programme fees
For entry in 2008, the tuition fees are £13,990 per annum for home/EU/International students (with scholarships available) for the full MSc by Research.
The fee for the split-site option is £7,200 per annum for home/EU/International students for the full MSc by Research.
The fees for an individual unit are £1800, units run over three weeks in Materials or 12 weeks (part-time) in MACE. For one-week discrete CPD modules, the tuition fee is £600 per week.
Scholarships are available, click here for further information.