Space Engineering PhD

The Surrey Space Centre (SSC) is the largest UK academic centre for space engineering research. With a host of expert academics and close links with industries, SSC offers the ideal research environment for the next generation of space scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. 

As a PhD candidate within the Centre, you’ll work alongside academics, postdoctorate researchers and fellow postgraduate researchers as they push the boundaries of low-cost small satellites and develop new innovative technologies. You’ll also benefit from the Centre’s strong academic-industrial strategic partnership with both Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and Airbus DS.

Throughout your research, you’ll have access to our world-class academic research facilities. These cover advanced multidisciplinary small satellite and space system engineering techniques for Earth orbit and interplanetary space; innovative communications, remote sensing, robotics and space science payloads for small satellites; and enabling technologies for low-cost space exploitation and planetary exploration.

Following completion of your PhD, you’ll able to apply for membership with the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Chartered Engineer status with the Engineering Council UK and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

The University of Surrey ranked 15th in the UK for research power for engineering by the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. Our strength in engineering has been recognised with 93.3% of our research outputs considered world-leading or internationally excellent.

Postgraduate researchers are registered for a maximum four-year period of full-time study. After 12 months, you’ll write a confirmation report, which is assessed by two independent examiners. You’ll submit a written PhD thesis after a minimum three years of full-time study.

You’ll be allocated two Surrey-based academic supervisors, in addition to any external collaborative supervisors. Your principal supervisor will be an expert in your area of research and will be in charge of monitoring your research progress. The supervisors will help you define the initial objective and scope of your research, and to refine these as the project evolves. They’ll direct you to resources to help you learn the necessary experimental, theoretical or computing skills, and they’ll advise you on the completion of your PhD and the content of your thesis. In many cases, external collaborative supervisors are appointed to contribute specific expertise or facilitate access to resources or organisations.

Your office will be located at the SSC building and you’ll typically share space alongside researchers with related interests. As a PhD student, you’ll be assigned to a research group, which includes a team of academics, postdoctoral researchers, guest scientists and fellows.

Many areas of research at SSC are inter-disciplinary and you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists at universities, research establishments and industries around the world. If your PhD project is collaborative, it may involve travel for meetings with collaborators and access to specialised facilities.

SSC monthly seminars are open to all postgraduate researchers. You’ll get an opportunity to attend presentations by each research group and all research students are expected to present their individual research on the day of their group’s presentation.

In addition to these internal seminars, there are regular opportunities to attend invited lectures by renowned external speakers.

And you’ll be able to meet other researchers, academics and other staff at informal PGR forum meetings, and get involved in organising the PGR conference, social or other events.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

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.