Part-time study
Both of our research programmes are available for students to study part-time. The MPhil in Engineering is available at 50% of full time study (over two years instead of one) and the PhD in Engineering is available at 60% of full-time study (over five to seven years, instead of three to four years).
The majority of our taught programmes are currently only available for full-time study, however we offer one part-time taught Masters in Construction Engineering.
PhD in Engineering
The PhD in Engineering is also offered via a part-time route, to allow greater flexibility to fit your studies around your career and other commitments. The requirements for part-time students are exactly the same as for full-time students except that you have two years to complete the standard first year requirements (two taught modules, a researcher development programme and an assessed first year report). Some students find it easier to spend a term in the Department during their first year to complete the modules.
Further information regarding the requirements for part-time students in the Department of Engineering can be found on our website for current Graduate Students.
Part-time PhD students are expected to spend an average of three weeks each term in the Department. The normal period of study for a part-time PhD is five years, which equates to three years of full-time study. Further information about the terms of study for part-time students can be found on the Cambridge Students website.
If you are interested in pursuing this mode of study there are some additional steps that must be taken in the admissions process;
- Your proposed topic of research must be suitable for part-time study.
- You must live close enough to Cambridge, or be able to spend enough time here during the first two years, to be able to fulfil the module and researcher development course requirements, both of which require physical attendance in the department.
- You will need to provide a letter from your employer (if you are employed) confirming that you may have time off, if necessary, to attend the University as required for the whole duration of your course.
MPhil in Engineering
The MPhil in Engineering is also offered via a part-time route, to allow greater flexibility to fit your studies around your career and other commitments. The requirements for part-time students are exactly the same as for full-time students except that you have two years instead of one to complete the standard MPhil requirements (two taught modules, a researcher development programme and submitting your thesis).
If you are interested in pursuing this mode of study there are some additional steps that must be taken in the admissions process;
- Your proposed topic of research must be suitable for part-time study.
- You must live close enough to Cambridge to be able to fulfil the module and researcher development course requirements, both of which require physical attendance in the department.
- You will need to provide a letter from your employer (if you are employed) confirming that you may have time off, if necessary, to attend the University as required for the whole duration of your course.
MSt in Construction Engineering
The Construction Engineering Master's (CEM) programme is a 2 year Master of Studies (MSt) course offered by the Department of Engineering in association with the Cambridge Judge Business School and the Institute of Continuing Education.
The course is a unique leadership programme designed to transform the construction industry and is aimed at future leaders of the industry.
Teaching is delivered through a series of seven intensive residential weeks in Cambridge, interspersed through the two years of the course. These weeks involve lectures, workshops, seminars with industry experts, group project work, and individual supervisions.
Visit the website to find out more about the application process and what you need to do and consider as a potential applicant. Enquiries about this course should be directed to: centre.manager@construction.cam.ac.uk
Healthcare Innovation: Engineering, Systems and Improvement
The Healthcare Innovation Programme is a set of three successive part-time courses designed to fit with the demands of full-time employment. The programme is delivered through a combination of face-to-face sessions requiring attendance in Cambridge, online sessions, and self-directed learning, and is supported through a virtual online environment.
The objective of the programme is to provide knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system and the technologies applicable to this sector, giving students the expertise and skills needed to innovate successfully in healthcare. The course is suitable for those with a background in medicine, engineering, or a related area. Students will be equipped with the skills necessary to understand how biomedical engineering impacts upon populations, health conditions and clinical outcomes, and learn how to work across the boundaries of engineering, design and healthcare in an effective manner.
The programme is structured such that students can progress from the PgCert, through the PgDip and then on to the MSt in a flexible manner, enrolling each year for the corresponding award if they choose to progress, with breaks allowed along the way.
Further information regarding part-time study can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website.