Course summary

With applications in aerospace, automotive, motorsport, marine and renewable energy industries, the MSc in Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures covers topics in structural design and analysis, impact and crashworthiness, material characterisation and failure analysis, advanced simulation of lightweight metallic and composite structures. Designed to meet the requirement of next generation engineers, you will gain the knowledge and skills to design and develop green and sustainable aircraft, electric vehicles and wind turbine structures. The course provides knowledge and skills in the design and analysis of advanced lightweight materials and structures for next-generation engineers and researchers. It covers key topics in lightweight material characterisation and failure analysis, thin-walled structural design and analysis, impact and crashworthiness, and the latest numerical techniques and advanced simulation. Delivered with special attention to industry challenges on achieving demanding sustainability and the net zero carbon emission targets, this course will equip you with strong experimental, numerical and analytical skills in the design and analysis for both composite and metallic structure. This will enable you to practically apply this knowledge to develop highly efficient lightweight structures without compromising the structural reliability and safety. Established in 2003 this postgraduate course has double accreditations with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Aeronautical Society, with our graduates securing exciting roles with globally renowned companies around the world. Who is it for? The MSc in Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures is suitable for graduates with engineering, science, applied science or related degrees, who are keen to pursue careers as design engineers, stress engineers, research and development engineers, numerical code developers, consultants, and academic researchers. Our students typically hold first degrees or equivalent in mathematics, physics, computing or an engineering discipline. We also welcome applications from candidates from other disciplines and mature applicants with alternative qualifications. Why this course? This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills required by leading employers in aerospace, automotive, motorsport, marine and renewable energy industries to design and develop next generation environmental-friendly and structural-efficient advanced lightweight materials and components. Understanding how advanced lightweight metallic and composite materials and structures perform over their life cycles under static and dynamic loading, including crash and bird strike, requires expertise in a range of technical areas. As new simulation and material technologies emerge, there is a strong demand for talented employees with a sound understanding in structural analysis, together with competent technical skills in numerical simulation. Combined with Cranfield University’s long-standing track record for delivering high-quality Masters' programmes in both advanced materials and structures, the MSc in Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures equips students with the knowledge and skills in the design and analysis of advanced lightweight metallic and composite materials and structures to solve a wide range of industrial challenges for weight saving, sustainability and carbon reduction without compromising structural reliability and safety. Our course receives strong support from the aerospace and automotive industries including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Jaguar Land Rover. There is a strong emphasis on applying knowledge in the industrial environment with the group and individual projects commonly sponsored by industry, which gives you highly relevant context to your studies and practical work and prepares you to successfully launch your career.