Prior to contacting the programme please familiarise yourself with the ethos and work of Innovation Design Engineering Research. If you feel your research topic fits then please contact Research IDE to discuss your ideas and how these may be developed as a formal application. When contacting us please include a 1,500-3,000 word research proposal which supplies an overview of the research topic, as well as demonstrating:

• Why the proposed research should be carried out in the IDE programme, making references to specific staff and student projects if appropriate.
• Your background and motivation for the research
• What is the new knowledge it will investigate and who will benefit from this.
• How it relates to and builds upon prior work in the proposed field of study.
• Resources you require for the research
• Potential design methodologies and approaches.
• A bibliography of key texts in your research field.

Candidates' applications should include a portfolio of projects demonstrating previous work of relevance and a strong creative design ability and relevance to the proposed research.
On receiving your proposal in January, if the project fits within the programme’s research interests you will be encouraged to develop further and submit a formal application.  Interviews will be in the Spring or Summer term.  If successful, you will be offered a place in May or June to begin study in October.

Please submit a research proposal by the 15th January. We can accept later submissions. Please contact the Research IDE director Ashley Hall to discuss.

See MPhil/PhD Application Process for more information.