Q: What is an EngD?
A: An EngD is PhD level postgraduate degree undertaken over 4 years. Research engineers conduct PhD-equivalent research and undertake taught business and technical courses while working closely with an industrial sponsor. In the case of IDCORE, 75% of the degree (years 2-4) are spent with the industrial sponsor embedding the research engineer in industry. See more at What is an EngD.
Q: What happens if a research project encounters commercial challenges?
A: If for any reason, a research engineer’s project is unable to continue, then the IDCORE management team will work with the research engineer, industrial sponsor, and other industrial partners to find either a new project or a new industrial partner for the research engineer that would allow them to successfully complete the EngD degree.
Q: When are students and sponsoring companies paired?
A: Mid-way through the first year of the programme, IDCORE holds an annual “Company Days” event during which prospective industrial sponsors present their proposed projects, research engineer interview for projects which they are interested in and projects are allocated. By giving the research engineer a full semester to familiarize themselves with the offshore renewable energy sector and engage with the taught material allows the research engineer to make an informed decision regarding what project they would like to pursue during the research phase of their EngD.
Q: How are research project topics assigned?
A: Mid-way through the first year of the programme, IDCORE holds an annual “Company Days” event during which prospective industrial sponsors present their proposed projects, research engineer interview for projects which they are interested in and projects are allocated. By giving the research engineer a full semester to familiarize themselves with the offshore renewable energy sector and engage with the taught material allows the research engineer to make an informed decision regarding what project they would like to pursue during the research phase of their EngD.
Q: What do research engineers do after the EngD?
A: EngD graduates are split between industrial companies in the sector, academic/research institutions, and public bodies supporting the sector.
Q: Where will I graduate from?
A: Each research engineer is assigned an academic supervisor from each of the three partner universities with one supervisor taking a more active lead supervisor role. All research engineer graduate from the institution of their lead supervisor with all graduates receiving a joint degree from all three institutions.
Q: What is the balance between research and commercial work during the research phase of the degree?
A: During years 2-4 while the research engineer is working with their industry partner they have the opportunity to place their research into an industrial context. During this phase it is up to the research engineer, company, and academic supervisors to find the right balance between pure research and applied industrial work. It is not uncommon for an IDCORE research engineer to undertake a piece of work for their industrial sponsor that is not directly connected to their research project, however, helps them better understand the context and industrial needs thereby allowing them to better cater their research to the needs of the offshore renewable energy industry.
Q: What is a typical research project?
A: See Our People/Research Engineers for past IDCORE research projects and theses.
Q: What format can the thesis be?
A: EngD theses take one of two forms, a monograph or a themed portfolio. The monograph thesis is similar in requirements and format to a PhD thesis, and is a single unified text describing the topic of the EngD while the themed portfolio may represent a series of projects undertaken by the EngD research engineer during the research phase of their EngD which are thematically linked. The research engineer should in discussion with their industrial and academic supervisors select which thesis format best fits their research.
