Postgraduate research
Postgraduate research
Our PhD programmes
We offer the following postgraduate research degrees:
Find out more on our research programme page »
Current PhD opportunities with funding
View current funded PhD opportunities »
Metamaterials PhDs: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training
Exeter is home to a £12 million Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in metamaterials, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the University of Exeter and industry. The Centre trains graduates to exploit the exciting field of metamaterials in industry and academia.
Other PhD opportunities
We always welcome enquiries from students interested in undertaking a PhD in any areas of our research, and are happy to discuss scholarship and external funding opportunities. Contact an academic directly via our research group pages, call our admissions team on +44 (0) 1392 722730 or enquire online.
Find out more about funding a PhD »
Our research community
Becoming a part of Exeter’s engineering postgraduate research (PGR) community means you will have access to leading research facilities and industry connections. You’ll play a pivotal role in the University’s Science Strategy and have an instrumental part in research projects that have a significant impact on both your chosen field of study and wider society.
We combine leading academics with state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure to provide the perfect environment for research excellence and innovation. This helps create an energetic and vibrant academic community for our students and staff.
Our progressive research culture is underpinned by our continued investment, which has not only allowed us to retain key academics, but complement them with a series of new, outstanding appointments, doubling our team in recent years.
Our extended academic team, together with a growing population of research students, contribute to a strong, dynamic and thriving research community. An investment of more than £5 million has also been spent on refurbishment and expansion of key facilities, giving you the opportunity to carry out research in both specialist and interdisciplinary research centres, providing a broad range of options for your future career.
View our research themes and centres »
My research is based on a novel ‘smart tap’, designed to help make rural water supply in sub-Saharan Africa more sustainable. I am working in partnership with a start-up technology company, and I hope my research will help the taps have the biggest impact possible.
The best things about being at a world-leading university are the exposure to leading researchers and access to fantastic resources. While my PhD is with Engineering, there is opportunity to engage with researchers in other disciplines as well, which is vital for my work. The Centre for Water Systems has a very interdisciplinary outlook and a wealth of expertise, and the modules on offer teach truly cutting-edge science. Being part of the community of like-minded PhD students and early career researchers is extremely stimulating.
I finished my masters two years before starting my PhD, and have found that having some work experience is making my time here much more rewarding. Whether I choose to stay in the university system after my PhD, or look for work elsewhere, my time here will be very formative and define the rest of my career.
Will Ingram, PhD Engineering, 2020