Course summary

Our Materials Science PhD offers you an exciting opportunity to undertake and manage your own research project, gain valuable laboratory experience and forge important relationships in the professional sphere. Areas of research fall within (but are not limited to) the diverse portfolio of our academic staff – chemistry, engineering, physics, health and medicine. Our 36-48 month programme provides you with the knowledge and technical skills to produce sustained and original work - work that will underpin progression in your chosen career. At the core of this is your independent research project, in which you will produce new and original data to make a solid contribution to the scientific community. Our degree format includes 33-45 months of full-time laboratory work as part of a research team, followed by a three-month writing up period. You will be mentored by academics from one or more departments; and offered further opportunities for learning via our graduate training programme. The dissertation, and a viva voce assessment, will showcase your knowledge and understanding of your chosen research area whilst also demonstrating your ability to critically evaluate existing literature. You will be supported by your supervisor(s) at every stage: identifying gaps in your knowledge base (and working together to fill them), helping you to develop practical skills, increasing your data analysis skills, and guiding the writing up of your dissertation. As well as developing intellectual, practical and transferable skills, Lancaster’s Materials Science PhD will endow you with authoritative knowledge on a specific subject. You will gain a practical understanding of advanced research techniques, and develop competence in applying these to the development and management of your own research project. Our graduates are highly-regarded for their communication skills, analytical ability, confidence in critical evaluation, and their competence in interpreting data. This opens doors to careers in charities, government or industry, and provides an excellent grounding for further academic research (such as undertaking a postdoctoral research position).