Renewable Energy Marine Structures

The DPhil in Renewable Energy Marine Structures provides graduates with the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in the design and development of renewable energy marine structures. The programme provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art training encompassing taught modules and advanced research based in the University laboratories.

Graduate destinations

The CDT in Renewable Energy Marine Structures will provide graduates with in-depth training and an exposure to research and development problems of vital interest to industrial and academic partners. The graduates will benefit from a progressive increase of responsibility and external exposure to make them well equipped for leadership roles in industry, both nationally and internationally. Graduates may also progress into post-doctoral positions to further develop their research and career.

The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) is run in collaboration with Cranfield University though you will be based in the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford for the majority of your degree. The main area of interest at Oxford is in geotechnical engineering, though applicants working in the wider area of civil engineering with applications to renewable energy marine structures are also welcomed.

The first year of the course focuses on developing core skills in offshore engineering through both taught courses at Cranfield and individual research. From October to December you will complete an induction term at Cranfield University where you will take introductory taught courses, across the breadth of design for renewable energy marine structures, including a group design project. This will develop a broad knowledge base on which to build your advanced research from. You will also develop links with the students enrolled through the Cranfield stream of the CDT. You will begin individual research from January, as preparation for your main research project. During this time, you will meet your supervisor regularly to assess progress and discuss academic issues. You will also continue with the group project, which will normally be completed by the end of April of the first year.

Following the second term you will have access to a range of advanced skills, transferable skills and management/leadership skills modules that will be taught at Cranfield University. These will be completed according to a flexible timetable agreed with your main research supervisor to complement your research activities. The advanced skills modules will include structural design, structural integrity, manufacturing, fluid mechanics and geotechnical engineering. Transferable skills will include academic writing and presentation, research ethics, IP, teamwork and communication skills. Leadership skills will include aspects of management, strategy, operations and entrepreneurial skills. The main focus of activity following the second term will be the individual research project, which will be based at the University of Oxford.

You will integrate with both the CDT cohort and the Engineering Department, principally Civil Engineering, at Oxford, where you will attend research seminars to discuss research papers, to present your research, to rehearse conference talks, and to build links between different research areas. An annual CDT workshop will give you the opportunity to present research to other CDT students, industrial partners and invited researchers from other universities. Industrial collaborators will be invited to share their latest problems and to highlight market trends.

You will be assessed continually through the first year during the taught courses and the group project, as well as from the individual project. Following the completion of four terms, including the induction term, the CDT supervisors will formally assess whether sufficient progress has been made to continue with the research. You will be required to write a research report, to give an oral presentation, as well as to present a detailed and coherent plan for your future research. Progress towards completion is again formally assessed during the eighth term of study. For the DPhil, you will be required to submit a substantial thesis which is read and examined by experts in the field, one from the department and one from elsewhere. Often the thesis will result in the publication of several journal and conference papers.

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 an engineering degree, either in general engineering, civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering or a related area. Applications from candidates with degrees in closely-related disciplines will also be considered. A previous master's qualification is not required.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

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).

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement:Around 2,000 words overall
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• Flexible study schedule
• Experienced teachers
• Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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