| Qualifications |
Duration |
Start dates |
Application period |
PhD
(MPhil also available) |
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years |
February and October |
January to April |
Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available) |
Duration
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years |
Start dates
February and October |
Application period
January to April |
Research is undertaken in:
- design theory and methods, including: studies of designers’ processes; design cognition; functional modelling of products
- creativity in design and innovation
- computational design; shape grammars; generative methods; computational making
- design usability in products; usability in design tools; prototyping
- engineering design processes including: simulation; systems engineering for resilient products and processes; product development; testing.
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your .
Potential research projects
We welcome applications for research projects; please contact the department to discuss the suitability of your research interests.
Current/recent research projects
- Resilient hospital refurbishment
- Making rules, making tools: how can shape grammar support creative making?
- A decision tool for supplier selection that takes into account power and performance
- The role of testing in engineering product development processes
- Design dialogues about objects and representations
- Product family design using product simulation and multi-objective optimization
- Additive manufacturing for functional prototyping in design and development processes
Potential supervisors
Fees and funding
| UK fee |
International fee |
| Full-time: 拢4,786 per year |
Full-time: 拢15,698 per year |
| Part-time: 拢2,393 per year |
Part-time: 拢7,849 per year |
Some of our research students are funded via the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.
For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.
To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see .
Links