Course summary

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (October/November 2022). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas. The Oxford DPhil in Materials is a doctoral research degree programme, typically of three to four years in duration and known as a PhD at other universities. Doctoral research projects in this leading materials department are available in most branches of materials science, as well as some aspects of solid state physics and chemistry. As a student on the DPhil in Materials programme you will be part of one of the top-ranked materials departments in the world (QS World University Rankings 2022). This vibrant research school consists of around 30 academic staff, about 12 Senior Research Fellows, and around 240 research students and 80 postdoctoral researchers. Research students are of many nationalities and come to the department from diverse scientific backgrounds. They are graduates in the traditional subjects of materials science, physics, chemistry and engineering and also mathematics, earth sciences and biology. The DPhil in Materials is normally carried out in three and a half to four years of full-time study under the supervision of an experienced member of staff. A wide range of exciting DPhil projects is available, including a number on Materials for Nuclear Fusion Reactors (some of which may be part of the Fusion CDT doctoral programme). Details of the DPhil programme, including training opportunities (academic courses, research- specific skills and generic transferable career skills) and progression requirements, can be found in the current version of the Materials graduate course handbook. Research interests of the department extend over most branches of materials science, as well as some aspects of solid state physics and chemistry: they include the study of a wide range of materials of relevance in advanced technological applications, including metals and alloys, composites, semi- and super-conductors, polymers, biomaterials, ceramics and materials for quantum information processing. Much of the research is carried out in close collaboration with industry. World-leading research takes place on:

• characterisation of materials, where there is emphasis on electron microscopy and related techniques

• processing and manufacturing of materials

• modelling of materials, where there is attention to both structures and processes

• properties of materials

• energy materials, including those for batteries, nuclear fusion and photovoltaics

• quantum computing and quantum devices, which includes groups working on experimental studies, theory and modelling.

• energy materials

• structural and nuclear materials

• device materials, including semiconductors, superconductors, quantum computing and quantum devices and NEMS

• polymers and biomaterials

• nanomaterials

• processing and manufacturing, including metals, alloys, superconductors and polymers

• characterisation of materials

• computational materials modelling.