Programme of study for Doctor of Philosophy Soft Matter for Formulation and Industrial Innovation (SOFI) 2024/25

This programme is no longer recruiting.

• 2.1 honours degree or higher in an appropriate physical science subject, food science, mathematics or engineering.
• English language IELTS (6.5 overall with no element less than 6.0).

Year 1

• Month 1 to 4: case studies at the University of Durham.
• Month 4 to 5: advanced case studies at the University of Leeds and University of Edinburgh (three weeks at each).
• Month 5 to 6: advanced case study and transferable skills training at the University of Durham.
• Month 6: fully registered at University of Leeds, commence six month research project. The candidate will commence research under the direction of their supervision team and is expected to meet with their supervisors regularly from month 6.
• Month 12: completion of six-month research project.

Year 2

• Month 13: commence standard PhD completion of training plan.
• Month 14: first formal progress review and submission of SOFI report. The candidate will continue research under the direction of their supervision team and is expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year.
• Month 18: submission of the transfer report.
• Month 19: SOFI-CDT mini-MBA (two weeks – University of Durham).
• Month 24: second year progress report.

Candidates will be required to submit for the transfer process by month 18 and successfully transfer to full PhD status by no later than month 20 in order to progress on the programme.

Year 3

The candidate will continue research under the direction of their supervision team and is expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year.

• Month 31: SOFI-CDT mini-MBA (two weeks – University of Durham).
• Month 36: third year progress report.

Year 4

The candidate will continue research under the direction of their supervision team and is expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year.

On completion of the research programme students should have shown evidence of being able to:

• discover, interpret and communicate new knowledge through original research and/or scholarship of publishable quality which satisfies peer review
• present and defend original research outcomes which extend the forefront of a discipline or relevant area of professional/clinical practice
• demonstrate systematic and extensive knowledge of the subject area and expertise in generic and subject/professional skills
• take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others where appropriate
• independently and proactively formulate ideas and hypotheses and to design, develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these
• critically and creatively evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship in the discipline
• demonstrate systematic knowledge of and be able to critically assess, analyse and engage with the ethical and legal context of their research and any ethical and legal implications of their research.

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities through the research training and research specified for the programme:

• the skills necessary for a career as a researcher and/or for employment in a senior and leading capacity in a relevant area of professional/clinical practice or industry
• evaluating their own achievement and that of others
• self-direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations
• independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development.

This will include the critical analysis of, and decision making in, complex and unpredictable professional and/or clinical situations. The structure of the programme will provide research and/or professional training, breadth and depth of study and opportunities for drawing upon appropriate resources and techniques.

Opportunities will be provided for students to:

• develop to a high level interests and informed opinions
• develop to a high level their design and management of their learning activities
• develop to a high level their communication of their conclusions
• make an original contribution to the field.

Students will be expected to engage in the exercise of autonomous initiative in their study and work in professional environments.

Achievement will be assessed by the examination of the candidate’s thesis and performance under oral examination.

Assessment will involve the achievement of the candidate in:

• evidencing an ability to conduct original and independent broad and in-depth enquiry within the discipline or within different aspects of the area of professional/clinical practice normally leading to published work
• drawing on and/or developing a range of research techniques and methodologies appropriate to enquiries into the discipline/area of professional practice
• demonstrating independent critical ability in the application of breadth and depth of knowledge to complex issues within the discipline or specialist area of professional/clinical practice
• drawing on a range of perspectives on the area of study
• evaluating and criticising received opinion
• making reasoned and well-informed judgements on complex issues within the specialism whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data
• the written style and overall presentation of the thesis.