Students taking our MSc by Research do not undertake credit-bearing taught modules and there are no written examinations. Instead, you will be assigned a supervisor who is a leading expert in their field. You are expected to attend a bi-weekly supervision lasting up to 1 hour via online tools such as Skype or Google Hangout for those choosing to undertake the MSc by Research through the online option. In these meetings, you will present your progress to your supervisor. Tasks and deadlines will be set accordingly to your schedule.
Tasks may include writing a report section, a prototype design, and an experimental set-up. Typically, we would expect a formal submission of your completed task every two months. Submissions are delivered via Kent's online learning system called Moodle.
The degree therefore allows you the flexibility to shape your own career path (either in research or in industry) in an area of particular interest to you, whilst also enabling you to develop extensive subject expertise and independent research or practical skills over an extended period.
Generally, our MSc by Research in Mechanical Engineering can be broken into the following parts:
- Part I: Project definition and review of state-of-the-arts
- Part II: Project planning and Methodologies
- Part III: Practical work (research and development, experiments, etc)
- Part IV: Reporting
The MSc by Research in Mechanical Engineering culminates in the submission of a written research dissertation to be examined by one internal examiner and one external examiner. An oral viva voce is held at the discretion of the examiners.
