Engineering

MSc by Research

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Full time 1 - 2 years, Part time 2 - 3 years
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Overview

This programme is ideal for students with industrial experience who wish to work in a specific area, and prefer flexibility to the taught MSc programmes.

Flexibility is the key to this programme. It begins with an induction where you are allocated a supervisor and often an industry contact; this sets the direction of your research and identifies training needs. The Graduate School’s research training programme offers a range of sessions to meet those needs. Regular supervision and access to seminar groups, together with interim research reports, ensures good progress towards a final dissertation.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in an Engineering-related subject, with strong evidence of excellence in research and writing.

We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application you will also need to provide a viable research proposal. Guidance can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Fees and funding

The tuition fee for students with home fee status is set in line with the standard fee stipend provided by the UK Research Councils. The fee stipend for 2025/26 has not yet been set. For reference, the fee stipend for 2024/25 was full-time £4,786 and part-time £2,393.

The international fee for new entrants in 2025/26 is full-time £27,550 and part-time £13,775.

General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Facilities

  • Additive Manufacturing

    We have a wide range of 3D printers and additive manufacturing technology, allowing you to easily create bespoke components for your projects.

  • Robotics

    Our robotics laboratory is specially catered for designing and making robots for use in hazardous locations, such as nuclear power plants.

  • Wave Energy Tank

    Our wave tank is a valuable teaching aid. This allows us to observe the behaviour of surface waves and how they can affect large-scale engineering projects.

  • Chemical Labs

    Our chemical laboratories allow us to engineer better materials for new technological developments. You will study corrosion, conductivity and electrochemical impedance.

  • Nuclear Engineering

    Our Neutron and UTGARD laboratories allow us to research and develop the latest benefits of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is used in a wide range of sectors, from healthcare to national security.

  • Microwave and Millimetre Wave

    We work with Lancaster's Quantum Technology Centre and the Cockroft Institute for Accelerator Science & Technology allowing us to research mixed signal electronics and microfluidic technologies.

  • Fuel Cells

    We have two fuel cell laboratories, including a gas-safe laboratory for the 24-hour running of fuel cells. We investigate the area of electrochemical energy conversion and storage.

  • Materials Science

    We are working to understand and engineer how materials interact through their surfaces and interfaces. Our facilities allow us to model materials from the electronic and molecular structure, up to large scale simulations.

Research Areas

  • Chemical Engineering

    Investigating all the relevant aspects of chemical and biochemical engineering, from fundamental science to engineering applications.

  • E-MIT and Electronics

    A group focusing on research spanning from digital electronics and materials to high-frequency applications.

  • Energy

    Addressing major scientific and technological challenges in emerging energy technologies and sustainability.

  • Nuclear Science and Engineering

    Our approach in nuclear research covers robotics, instrumentation, and chemical engineering.

  • Structures, Materials and Manufacturing

    Understanding functional materials, composite systems, structural health monitoring, production processes and technologies.

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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