New for 2024 starters, we are offering three Master of Science by Research (MScR) mechanical engineering degrees in partnership with the National Structural Research Centre (NSIRC) in Cambridge.
These new courses offer you a more flexible study programme whether you are a UK or international student, especially if you're in employment. Our MScR programmes can be studied full-time in one year or part-time over two years – or longer if desired. Taught modules are delivered throughout the year over a three-month period, depending on student numbers, within the standard university terms.
What's the difference between an MSc and MScR degree?
The main difference between our existing MSc and the new MScR courses is that these new qualification require only four taught modules (or 60 credits) to be studied at NSIRC – two compulsory, two optional – with the remaining 120 thesis credits studied remotely. This reduces your living and travel costs, with the added advantage that if you are in employment there’s the opportunity to write your dissertation in parallel with your professional practice. Our MScR programmes also share a number of important USPs with their MSc equivalents, such as Finite Element Analysis core competencies (NAFEMS accredited) and free access to NSIRC’s costly industry software for dissertation study.
In many cases, NSIRC’s teaching staff will be able to guide students’ choice of optional modules based on the field of study they intend to pursue in their dissertation.
MScR course list
Select your course of interest below, to read about modules and how to apply.
Lightweight Structures and Impact Engineering MScR
Compulsory modules:
- ME5707 Impact and Crashworthiness (15 credits)
- ME5706 Advanced Transient Simulation Methods (15 credits)
Optional modules:
- ME5644 Composite Materials and Structures (15 credits)
- ME5645 Thin-Walled Structures (15 credits)
- ME5646 Automotive Integral Vehicle Structures (15 credits)
- ME5600 Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Analysis (15 credits)
- ME5601 Metallurgy and Materials (15 credits)
- ME5624 Numerical Modelling of Solids and Structures (15 credits)
For detailed module descriptions please visit the Lightweight Structures and Impact Engineering MSc page.
How to apply
Please visit our Lightweight Structures and Impact Engineering MSc page and click the' Apply now' button, then select either 'Apply MScR full-time' or 'Apply MScR part-time'.
Oil and Gas Engineering MScR
Compulsory modules:
- ME5622 Structural Integrity and FEA (15 credits)
- ME5621 Structural Materials (15 credits)
Optional modules:
- ME5634 Petroleum Production Fundamentals (15 credits)
- ME5697 Engineering Fundamentals for Hydrogen Economy (15 credits)
- ME5621 Structural Materials (15 credits)
- ME5622 Structural Integrity and FEA (15 credits)
- ME5623 Multiphase Flow Fundamentals and Flow Assurance (15 credits)
- ME5635 Dynamics of Petroleum Structures (15 credits)
- ME5636 Design and Construction of Installations (15 credits)
- ME5637 Reliability Engineering and Risk Management (15 credits)
For detailed module descriptions please visit the Oil and Gas Engineering MSc page.
How to apply
Please visit our Oil and Gas Engineering MSc page and click the' Apply now' button, then select either 'Apply MScR full-time' or 'Apply MScR part-time'.
Structural Integrity (Asset Reliability Management) MScR
Compulsory modules:
- ME562 Numerical Modelling of Solids and Structures (15 credits)
- ME5600 Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics (15 credits)
Optional modules:
- ME5601 Materials – Metallurgy and Materials (15 credits)
- ME5602 NDT Inspection Methodology (15 credits)
- ME5628 Codes and Standards in Structural Integrity (15 credits)
- ME5605 Reliability Engineering (15 credits)
- ME5611 Structural Health Monitoring (15 credits)
For detailed module descriptions please visit our Structural Integrity (Asset Reliability Management) MSc page.
How to apply
Please visit our Structural Integrity (Asset Reliability Management) MSc page and click the' Apply now' button, then select either 'Apply MScR full-time' or 'Apply MScR part-time'.
Engineering CPD for further flexibility
Most of the modules that make up the NSIRC master’s courses are available to take individually with our Engineering CPD course, over whatever timescale is convenient to you. If you complete at least four CPD courses over a period of less than five years, you may find it makes both professional and economic sense to then complete a dissertation in order to gain a full Master of Science by Research (MScR) degree.
Contact us
If you have any questions about our new MScR qualifications or about the modules available as CPD, please email Dr Kevin Hughes at kevin.hughes@brunel.ac.uk who will be happy to help.