Materials

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.

Graduates of the DPhil and MSc by Research in Materials are highly regarded by a wide range of employers, including universities, high-tech start-up companies, engineering consultancies, industry (including aerospace, electronics, automotive, steel manufacture, medical and household products sectors), world-famous technology companies, schools and colleges, and the financial and business sectors.

As a student on the DPhil in Materials programme you will be part of one of the top-ranked materials departments in the world. This vibrant research school consists of around 28 academic staff, 13 Senior Research Fellows, and around 180 research students and 86 postdoctoral researchers. Research students are of many nationalities and come to the department from diverse 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 years of full-time study under the supervision of an experienced member of staff. It is examined at the end of the programme by means of a written thesis and an oral examination.  A wide range of exciting DPhil projects is available. In common with other UK universities, the first year is a probationary year, soon after which, subject to satisfactory progress, you will normally transfer to full DPhil status. A second formal assessment of progress takes place later in the programme, normally in the middle of the third year. 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 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 information processing, which includes groups working on experimental studies, theory and modelling.

Each of the department's research groups works within one or more of the following broad themes and research projects available to applicants for the DPhil in Materials are listed under these themes:

• energy materials
• structural and nuclear materials
• ceramics and composites
• applied superconductivity
• device materials (including semiconductors and NEMS)
• polymers and biomaterials
• nanomaterials
• processing and manufacturing
• characterisation of materials
• computational materials modelling
• quantum information processing (experimental studies, theory, and modelling)

Further information on current research and individual members of staff is available via the Materials Science website.

An overview of the provision for Materials research students can be found at the Outline of Provision for Materials Research Students webpage. Also available is Guidance on Supervision Arrangements and an Outline of Some Compulsory Requirements for the DPhil in Materials.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in a suitable science subject; normally this subject would be one of materials science, chemistry, physics or mathematics, but could include other subjects depending on the area of research chosen.

For candidates offering a UK bachelor's degree or UK integrated undergraduate master's degree normally an overall grade of at least 65% is required. As examples of international equivalents to this requirement: for the US system a GPA of 3.60 out of 4.0 on a four-year bachelor's programme is normally regarded as equivalent and for the Chinese system an overall degree mark of 85% on a four-year bachelor's degree programme is normally regarded as equivalent.

In some countries at least some of their bachelor's degrees are not acceptable for direct progression to a PhD in that country; normally such degrees are not acceptable for entry to the course unless the candidate also holds or expects to achieve a master's degree with an overall mark equivalent to at least 65% in a UK taught master's degree.

Normally the required qualification(s) must be achieved by the date of commencement of the research programme for which you have applied.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement: 400 words, accompanied by a list of preferred projects and supervisors
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

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