Micro- and NanoMaterials and Technologies EngD

The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in Micro- and NanoMaterials and Technologies (MiNMaT) is a four-year doctoral programme for researchers who aspire to important leadership positions in industry. Study combines industrially relevant research with taught courses, and it gives you the opportunity to work closely with one of our industrial partners.

The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in MiNMaT solves challenging and industrially relevant problems through a profound understanding of processing-microstructure-property relationships. We have a unique focus on characterisation, and we provide sponsoring organisations with the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation and equipment.

As a research engineer, you’ll be recruited to work with a specific sponsor on a mutually agreed project, and you’ll be based primarily on the sponsoring organisation’s premises.

Our work ranges from the manipulation of atoms and molecules to the design, analysis and development of large structures, leading to innovations in products as diverse as supercapacitors and jet engines.

The University of Surrey ranked 15th in the UK for research power for engineering by the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. We are now also ranked in the top 20 in the UK for the overall quality of research outputs – research papers and other published works.

Our EngD will give you the knowledge, skills and expertise needed for a career in industry, research or academia. You’ll be intellectually challenged, develop research and management skills, and become an expert in the field. Working in an industrial organisation will give you experience of fast-paced commercial environments, which will be of great value to your future career.

Our doctorate programme is designed to help you develop specialist scientific and technical knowledge while working in an industrial environment. The research you’ll carry out will be unique to you: it will take on an industrially relevant research problem (or problems) and incorporate a significant degree of advanced characterisation. Most of your research will be done at your sponsor’s premises.

You’ll be supervised by a minimum of two members of academic staff, plus at least one industrial supervisor, who’ll provide a wealth of experience and expertise in this field of study and in industry. They’ll guide you through your EngD and develop you into an independent researcher and an ‘industry-ready’ graduate.

EngD - Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
Accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Course length

Normal registration takes 48 months. However, it can take a maximum of 54 months to complete*.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.