Postgraduate Research

Mechanical Engineering

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering | PhD

Entry Year

Academic Year 2022/23

Entry Requirements

2.1

Overview
Course content
Projects (25)
Entry Requirements
Fees and Funding
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Overview

Doing a PhD in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is a highly rewarding experience. You will carry out your research in a friendly and supportive environment, supervised by academics who are leaders in their field, using well-equipped laboratories and research facilities, alongside students from all over the world. At any time we have around 100 students enrolled on a PhD. The School has a vibrant PhD student mentoring programme and a student led Research Culture Committee.

The School’s research is focused around six interconnected research themes: Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, Future Aircraft, Composite Materials and Structures, Simulation Technologies, Clean Energy and Biomaterials and Biomechanics.

PhD opportunities are available in a wide range of subjects aligned to the specific expertise of our PhD supervisors. Many are linked with leading companies and organisations.

Key Facts

Research students are encouraged to play a full and active role in the research activities undertaken within the School. Students attend international conferences and participate in academic and industrial networks worldwide.

The School has strategic partnerships with Rolls-Royce and Wrights supported by multiple large programmes (funders EPSRC, Innovate-UK, Advanced Propulsion Centre etc). There are opportunities for cutting edge, impactful PhDs within vibrant teams.
The school also partners with a number of leading companies on a range of research challenges, including: Airbus, Artemis Technologies, Caterpillar, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover
PhDs contribute to major centres, including:Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Northern Ireland Advanced Composites and Engineering Centre (NIACE), Polymer Processing Research Centre (PPRC), Northern Ireland Technology Centre (NITC)
The School has well equipped laboratories and great research facilities. PhD students share offices alongside postdoctoral staff. The School has Research Culture Committee to enhance the research environment of the School and support PhD students.

Apply now Register your interest

Course content

Career Prospects

Employment after the Course
Many of our PhD graduates have moved into academic and research roles in Higher Education while others go on to play leading roles in industry, industry or become entrepreneurs.

People teaching you

Dr Trevor Robinson
Doctoral Programme Director
Mech & Aerospace Engineering
Email: t.robinson@qub.ac.uk

Learning Outcomes

Course structure

You will carry out leading research under the guidance of your supervisory team. A full time student will normally complete in three years (up to a maximum of four), or part time over six years (up to a maximum of eight).

Research will usually be in one of the key, interlinked research themes in the School, and the subtopics they cover, include:-

Advanced Manufacturing and Processing - cost modelling, ergonomics, intelligent control, laser processing, life cycle analysis, material characterisation, mechatronics, parallel kinematic machines, polymer processing, robotics and ultra-precision manufacturing.

Future Aircraft - aero engines, aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, aircraft operations, design and analysis, optimisation and structural testing

Composite Materials and Structures -damage mechanics and crashworthiness, material characterisation, multifunctional composites and nano-enhanced composites

Simulation Technologies - FEA/CFD/EFG/DES/MD, kinematic modelling, meshing, multiscale/Multiphysics, optimisation, simulation intent, systems modelling, uncertainty quantification, virtual testing and design visual analytics and big data

Clean Energy - biofuels, catalysis, life cycle assessment, power systems, turbomachinery and waste management

Biomaterials and Biomechanics - biomimetics, material characterisation, mechanobiology and medical devices.

Also, over the course of study, you can attend postgraduate skills training organised by the Graduate School, or other internal and external training courses organised through your supervisor.

Show Closed

Project name	School	Funding	Subject	Status	Sort	Timestamp
Interaction-aware Intelligent Vehicle Decision-making and Control School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Human-centric, Reinforcement learning, Interaction-aware, Automated vehicles, Autonomous driving Dr Chongfeng Wei Supervisor Dr Chongfeng Wei Funding Funded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Uncertainty propagation across scales for composite laminates School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Computational modelling ; Mechanics of composites; Stochastic modelling; Advanced statistics Dr Humberto Almeida Jr Supervisor Dr Humberto Almeida Jr Funding Funded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
3-D Printed Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering with ‘Green’ Biosilica Additives. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Bone scaffolds, Tissue Engineering, 3D Printing, Diatoms, Polymers. Dr Pamela Walsh Supervisor Dr Pamela Walsh Funding Funded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Digital Twin for Configuring Cyber-Physical Manufacturing System School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Manufacturing, Digital Twin, Configuration, Reconfiguration, Automation System, System Integration Dr Arfauz A Rahman Supervisor Dr Arfauz A Rahman Funding Funded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Development of combustion chemistry and thermo-physical properties for CFD modelling of multi-component diesel, gasoline and hexanol blends School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Combustion chemistry, thermo-physical properties, CFD, diesel, gasoline, hexanol Dr Xinwei Cheng Supervisor Dr Xinwei Cheng Funding Funded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Development of a robot system for eye surgery School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Maser slave control, Console of surgical robot, Haptic device and HMI, Performance characterisation Professor Yan Jin Supervisor Professor Yan Jin Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Energy oriented optimisation for machining processes by parallel kinematic machines School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Parallel kinematic machine, Energy model, Machining process, Optimisation Professor Yan Jin Supervisor Professor Yan Jin Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Optimal repowering of onshore wind in Northern Ireland School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Renewable energy; power systems; electricity markets; economics; decarbonisation; sustainable; wind Dr Aoife Foley Supervisor Dr Aoife Foley Funding Funded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
A combined finite element and experimental investigation of composite structures School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Finite element analysis, Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, Multi-scale modelling, Solid mec Dr Zahur Ullah Supervisor Dr Zahur Ullah Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Topology Optimisation of Continuous Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites for Additive Manufacturing School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Additive manufacturing, topology optimisation, Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, Finite ele Dr Zahur Ullah Supervisor Dr Zahur Ullah Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Biohaviour – Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Coupled to Enhance Future Manufacturing Design Processes School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, Manufacturing, Human Computer Interaction Professor Mark Price Supervisor Professor Mark Price Funding Funded DFE/EPSRC Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Biohaviour: The Extremely Light Wing School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Generative design, geometry modelling, additive manufacturing, parameterisation, digital twin, airfr Professor Mark Price Supervisor Professor Mark Price Funding Funded DFE/EPSRC, and Sponsorship from Spirit Aerosystes Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Analysis of mass electric vehicle charging on energy and emissions in transport in Northern Ireland School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Renewable energy; power systems; transport; electricity markets; fossil fuel; economics; GIS; electr Dr Aoife Foley Supervisor Dr Aoife Foley Funding Funded DfE Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Novel Layup Optimisation Methods in Design and Manufacture of Advanced Fibre-Reinforced Laminated Composites School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Dr M. Ali Aravand Supervisor Dr M. Ali Aravand Funding Funded Application deadline 31 March 2022	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2	1648681200
Biohaviour - Biomimetic design and ecological niches: learning from evolutionary development School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Biomimetic design, architecture, evolutionary development. Prof. Mark Price Supervisor Prof. Mark Price Funding Funded DFE/EPSRC Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Microplastic investigation in drinking water systems School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Microplastics, drinking water, biobased plastics, biodegradable plastics, particle behaviour, experi Dr Beatrice Smyth Supervisor Dr Beatrice Smyth Funding Funded Department for the Economy Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Adaptive Modelling for Structural Impact Simulation School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD FEA, Simulation, Dynamic, Impact, Aerospace, Structural Analysis Dr Declan Nolan Supervisor Dr Declan Nolan Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Crashworthiness investigation of bio-fibre reinforced composites for transport applications School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Bio-composites, crashworthiness, numerical analyses, finite element model Dr Zafer Kazanci Supervisor Dr Zafer Kazanci Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Bio-fibre Reinforced Filaments for Additive Manufacturing School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Bio-composites, additive manufacturing, numerical analyses, finite element model Dr Zafer Kazanci Supervisor Dr Zafer Kazanci Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Multi-objective crashworthiness optimisation of auxetic composite structures under severe loading conditions School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Advanced materials, auxetics, additive manufacturing, multi-objective optimization, composites, cras Dr Zafer Kazanci Supervisor Dr Zafer Kazanci Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Context-based Pedestrian Motion Prediction for Autonomous Vehicles School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Autonomous Driving, Automate Vehicle, Decision making, Motion Control, Trajectory Prediction Dr Chongfeng Wei Supervisor Dr Chongfeng Wei Funding Funded Dfe Application deadline 31 July 2022	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2	1659222000
Composite as coating for Bioimplants to Achieve Enhanced Functionality School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Tissue scaffold, drug delivery, antibacterial, multifunction, bone repair. Dr Dan Sun Supervisor Dr Dan Sun Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Advanced manufacturing of thermoplastic composite aero structures School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Aircraft assembly, CFRTP composite, advanced manufacturing, FEA, digital image correlation Dr Dan Sun Supervisor Dr Dan Sun Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Circular economy systems for hydrogen generation, distribution and use, with a focus on off-road applications School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD Hydrogen, transport, non-road mobile machinery, carbon footprint, risk and uncertainty, infrastructu Dr Beatrice Smyth Supervisor Dr Beatrice Smyth Funding Funded Department for the Economy Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Funded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2
Development of waste-based, high barrier, food packaging School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering \| PHD High Barrier Waste Based Packaging, Biopolymers, Agri Waste Valorisation, Packaging Dr Eoin Cunningham Supervisor Dr Eoin Cunningham Funding Unfunded Application deadline None specified	School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	Unfunded	Mechanical Engineering	Open	2

Entrance requirements

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component (*taken within the last 2 years) is required.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) ¹	£4,596
Republic of Ireland (ROI) ²	£4,596
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) ¹	£4,596
EU Other ³	£22,700
International	£22,700

¹ EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

² It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees, in line with the Common Travel Agreement arrangements. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted are for the academic year 2022-23, and relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Mechanical Engineering costs

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.

Bench fees

Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.

How do I fund my study?

1.PhD Opportunities

Find PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.

2.Funded Doctoral Training Programmes

We offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.

3.PhD loans

The Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.

4.International Scholarships

Information on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students.

Funding and Scholarships

The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a supervisor

If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

Apply now Register your interest