Space Engineering

Overview

What you will study

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. A detailed evaluation of progress and future research plans is made every six months to ensure that progress towards completion of the PhD remains satisfactory.

In the Space Engineering programme of the University of Surrey 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 PGRs 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, organised by different research centres and departments within our Faculty.