COURSE CURRICULUM

The master’s by research degree is structured entirely around a substantial research and thesis component, requiring students to undertake an independent investigation in their chosen engineering discipline under the close supervision of academic staff. Students work with their supervisor to develop and carry out a research program on an approved topic over a specified period, which may include participating in seminars, presenting work in progress and engaging in other scholarly activities outlined by the faculty. The major requirement of the course is the submission of a thesis of no more than 50,000 words that demonstrates rigorous inquiry, original analysis and a meaningful contribution to the discipline. In some cases, students may be permitted to submit a thesis that includes published works. The program supports research across a wide range of engineering fields. In Chemical and Biological Engineering, students may explore topics such as biofuels, bioprocessing, nanotechnology, membranes, reaction engineering, rheology or sustainable processing. Civil Engineering research spans geotechnical engineering, structural systems, construction materials, digital twins, transport engineering, water resources, environmental engineering, mining, renewable energy systems and computational modelling. Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering offers opportunities in control systems, electronics, telecommunications, robotics, bio-optics, biomedical engineering, power systems, optical physics and advanced nanophotonics. Materials Science and Engineering encompasses research into alloys, additive manufacturing, polymers, composites, biomaterials, tissue engineering, drug delivery, energy materials, spintronics, ceramics, nanomaterials and advanced characterisation methods using microscopy, synchrotron and neutron techniques. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering includes aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, turbulence, heat transfer, composites, structural mechanics, robotics, mechatronics, railway engineering and micro/nano-scale mechanics. Through this structure, the degree equips students with advanced research skills, deep disciplinary expertise and the ability to undertake complex investigations that contribute to engineering knowledge and innovation.