PhD in Formulation Engineering with Integrated Studies PhD

Tuition is £29,310 (full-time).

The programme is organised over up to five stages, beginning with a first year in which you complete between 60 and 80 taught credits while starting your research project. In the second year you add around 40 credits and produce a literature review, followed by a third year to finish any remaining taught modules and begin presenting at conferences. The fourth stage involves planning and commencing thesis work, and a fifth, usually unpaid, stage is dedicated to thesis writing, often alongside a full-time role in formulation engineering.

Each week you will attend lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions linked to the modules you select from the School of Chemical Engineering handbook. You will also carry out experimental work, analyse data, and meet regularly with your industrial sponsor and academic supervisors to produce progress reports, scoping reports and research papers. Presentation of findings at internal and external conferences forms a regular part of the schedule.

The course sits at the intersection of chemical engineering, materials science, physics and chemistry, investigating how physical, chemical and biological processes create product structure and performance. By addressing questions of design, manufacture and assessment of formulated products, the programme prepares you for roles that bridge industry and academia.

The University of Birmingham, chartered in 1900, is a large, research-intensive redbrick university located in Edgbaston. It offers a broad spectrum of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has a reputation for multidisciplinary research, substantial campus investment and strong academic staffing. With more than 34,000 students, including a sizeable international community, Birmingham combines historic strengths with modern facilities and a global outlook.

Research and teaching span the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and social sciences, supported by major investments in campus infrastructure and academic appointments. The university promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through flagship fellowships and research initiatives, and many courses provide opportunities for placements, industry engagement and overseas study on its international campuses. Student support services include extensive academic development, career services and wellbeing provision tailored to an international cohort.

Life at Birmingham blends a vibrant campus with access to the city's cultural and professional resources, enabling students to pursue extracurricular activities, volunteering and professional networking. The institution’s global partnerships and growing research profile open doors for international collaborations and career pathways. Prospective international applicants should carefully check entry requirements, funding and application deadlines and contact the university’s international office for guidance on visas, scholarships and arrival planning.