Course Structure
The DTC-UP offers a four year programme, with a one year taught Masters course followed, assuming a suitable level of attainment in the Masters, by a three year PhD research programme. Students will be admitted to a MRes course at Cambridge and would then progress to full 3 year PhD programmes at Cambridge, Cranfield, or another UK university through the National Centre Programme of the EPSRC Centre in Ultra Precision.
The programme aims to:
- Produce engineering leaders with a high level of understanding and skills in ultra precision, in particular the fundamentals of the field together with the necessary research expertise, technology, systems and applications knowledge.
- Develop strong business awareness in MRes graduates and foster an understanding of the foundations of management theory and the connections between technology, management and entrepreneurship. Encourage an appreciation of applications drivers for ultra precision systems technologies and the business, road-mapping and cost analysis tools used to determine the adoption of new technological solutions.
- Expose the students to a range of technology areas and provide an experience of a variety of different research and development cultures, via the use of mini-projects, from blue skies university lab to short term industry development projects. Enable students to study across discipline boundaries, with a resultant enhancement of interdisciplinary understanding.
- Equip the graduates of the programme with generic communications skills as well as research specific training to enable them to make a seamless transfer to doctoral research programmes at either Cambridge, Cranfield, or another UK University.
The programme is designed to develop the following broad themes:
- Fundamentals of ultra precision systems in the broad areas of machine design, metrology, optical testing, machine dynamics, displays, lasers, ion beams, micro manufacturing, surface engineering.
- Concepts of, and strategies for, ultra precision system design and implementation.
- Research experience via mini and group project placements in university research groups and industrial R&D facilities.
- Aspects of business, innovation and technology development.
- Awareness of best practices through an industrial visits programme.
