Design Engineering
Our academics and researchers have strong links with industrial, government and charity sectors with expertise and interests ranging from the design of complex systems to that of platforms, artefacts, consumer products and experiences.
Course key facts
Qualification
PhD
Duration
4 years, 6 years
Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Academic requirements
First Class (Distinction) Degree or equivalent at Master's level in a relevant engineering, design or scientific discipline.
Course overview
The Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College draws together teaching and research in the field, building on decades of design engineering successes across Imperial College and through its collaboration with the Royal College of Art.
Our academics and researchers have strong links with industrial, government and charity sectors with expertise and interests ranging from the design of complex systems to that of platforms, artefacts, consumer products and experiences. Imperial is a great place to work, being in the heart of London, surrounded by commercial organisations, innovation hubs and industry, museums, concert halls, places to eat and drink: an exciting meeting place for people from around the world.
We have several research groups within the department covering a wide range of multidisciplinary themes.
Structure
Milestones for the first year of study include:
Within 3 months of starting:
Submit a short research plan , summarising the problem they have been set, and their proposed plan to work on it.
Within 12 months of starting (24 months for part-time):
Your Early Stage Assessment (ESA) needs to be completed. All students must undergo an assessment of their research potential to determine whether registration for the PhD can continue.
Submit a report summarising the first year’s work. There is a short oral examination to assess this.
Entry requirements
Footnotes
A First Class (Distinction) Degree or equivalent at Master's level in a relevant engineering, design or scientific discipline. In exceptional cases where extensive research/industry experience can be demonstrated, candidates with a UK-equivalent of 2:1 (Merit) at Masters level can be considered.
Please check the Imperial College entry requirements Entry requirements to ensure you meet the minimum entry criteria for research.
Supervisors
You need to choose a potential supervisor before submitting an application. Look through our current academic and teaching staff to identify topics of interest and an appropriate supervisor in the department. Contact your proposed supervisor to devise and discuss your potential PhD project before making your application.
You can view a full list of available projects and the supervisors associated with each project.
How to apply
Apply online
We accept applications throughout the year. However, we encourage you to apply as early as possible if applying for scholarships.
Deadlines:
Applications can be made at any time during the year.
As part of the application, you will need to upload the following supporting documents:
- Degree transcripts
- 2 references
- Evidence of your English language qualifications (where applicable)
- Your CV
- A short personal statement and/or a research proposal (maximum 1-2 pages)
Find out more about applying to Imperial.
Apply online through Imperial Gateway .
Please keep in mind the following:
- Enter ‘Design Engineering Research’ in the programme title field on the application form
- Start your application as early as possible
- Many studentships have application deadlines well ahead of your planned start date
- Sponsors will be more impressed if you can show you already meet our requirements
General information relating to applying to Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research programmes can be found on our Postgraduate Doctoral pages.
Interviews
All applicants must be interviewed before a formal offer of admission can be made. This interview will be conducted by at least two members of academic staff; on occasions the Director of Postgraduate Research or the Head of Department may be present. The interview should be carried out in English.
Fees and funding
The College has a number of scholarships available for you to apply for including the President's Scholarship Scheme. We would recommend you look at the available scholarships to help you find all available sources of funding. We recommend you apply early if applying for a scholarship as scholarship applications can take some time to process.
We have a range of grants and scholarships which you don't need to pay back.
For further information about possible sources of funding please visit our Scholarships page.
Scholarships
Further links
Success Guide
The Success Guide for postgraduate students offers you advice and resources to excel at Imperial College London.
Support for International Students
We provide specialist immigration advice and run a programme of webinars, trips and events to foster integration, friendship and community.
Centre for Academic English
Throughout your degree, you can take advantage of a range of CfAE courses and resources designed to help you communicate your STEMM research effectively.
Library services
Your subject librarian can help you find books and access online resources
Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.