EngD Software Systems Engineering

You should include details of your previous study, your research project title and the name of the academic member of staff you would like to supervise your research.

We strongly recommend that you make contact with your proposed supervisor before submitting an application.

We require the following documents before we can consider your application.

• Degree certificates and academic transcripts of previous university study. If your transcripts and certificates are in a language other than English, you must provide an official translation.
• CV summarising your academic record and highlighting experience that demonstrates your capacity to conduct research. You must include the following:

1. Work experience
2. Any prizes/competitions that you have won for your academic work
3. Experience of presenting your work at conferences/during your degree and list any research you have published
4. Details of your final year undergraduate project work and if appropriate your MSc project work
5. Service and leadership (in any domain including extra curricula)
6. Community activity (hackathons, societies etc)
7. Teaching or training experience (including peer support and extra curricula)
8. Soft skills: creativity, ability to work without constant supervision, good time management.

• Research Proposal outlining your research project. You must include the following:

1. Explain the importance of your research in the context of current knowledge
2. Clearly identify the objectives of the research
3. Literature review
4. Explain the methodology to be employed

• Two academic letters of reference provided by people who have knowledge of your academic ability. These should be on University headed paper and must be signed and dated within two years. These can be scanned and uploaded when you apply or emailed to  EngD-compsci@manchester.ac.uk . We do not request references on an applicant's behalf and it is your responsibility to ensure your referees know how to provide your reference to us.

If English is not your first language, we also require proof of your English language ability. If you have already taken an English language qualification, please include your certificate with your application.

This information will also be used to shortlist you for funding interview if appropriate; you should therefore ensure that you address all requirements as outlined above.

Are you a software systems engineer? Are you looking to undertake a research level qualification whilst still doing your job?

The EngD in Software Systems Engineering is a practical research programme for those with an interest in software engineering projects or who may already be working as a software developer, but recognises career progression may necessitate research level training. You'll spend 75-80% of your time with your company, working on 4-6 flexible but research level projects. The remainder you'll spend with us training in Advanced Software Engineering topics, while being guided by your academic supervisor building on your industrial work and solving it's associated research problems.

An EngD gives you a solid industry application focus and offers a range of flexible pathways of differing duration to suit your individual needs. The research conducted as part of the EngD is applied to specific problems faced by the industrial partner, each problem couched as a research challenge.

Throughout the programme, students can undertake a tailored range of Advanced Masters courses that supplement the in-built research skills training and development provided as standard in the EngD programme.

Academia and industry work together in mentoring and training the student, who will graduate with the academic rigour necessary to undertake applied research, with skills and experience to apply that research capability directly within industry.

Our research students have the opportunity to develop their skills through robust and flexible training that is designed to:

• Develop the research skills needed to plan and conduct research, write a thesis and disseminate research findings to stakeholders and the international research community;
• Develop competencies which will equip you for a diverse range of roles in industry whilst also contributing to the body of knowledge of a particular technical discipline, industrial sector or multi-disciplinary theme.
• Equip each student with the broader skills to become world leading industry professionals and researchers in the next generation.

All of our research degree programmes are based on supportive supervision in our outstanding research environment. You will carry out a programme of research in a particular area under the supervision of a primary supervisor and one or more co-supervisors. Your primary supervisor would be a research active member of academic staff in the Department of Computer Science with a co-supervisor from the industrial partner, selected to suit the project scope and specific skills required.

Opportunities exist in a diverse range of areas such as finance, films and games, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, consumer products, and public services.

The University of Manchester Careers Service can offer support and guidance.