Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero (EnerHy) PhD

Academic Year 2024/25

Programme specification summary

Awarding body

天堂视频

Teaching institution (if different)

CDT partners: Cranfield University, University of Strathclyde

Programme title

Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero EnerHy PhD

Primary award

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Mode of Study

Full-time and Part-time

Programme length

  • Full-time: 4 years
  • Part-time: 8 years

Owning school/department

Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering (Lead)

Participating school/department

  • School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering
  • School of Science
  • School of Business and Economics

Campus

天堂视频

Admissions criteria

/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/

Date at which the programme specification was published

TBC

Accreditation

N/A

Programme aims

This intensive four-year programme will:

  • Progress global targets for the development of net-zero technology trained leaders through skills and knowledge-based training of suitably qualified researchers in science, engineering, social science and business aspects of sustainable green (including wind energy-based) hydrogen generation, use and storage.
  • Deliver cross-disciplinary cohort-based specialist training harnessing co-support and co-learning opportunities using team-based problems provided by academic, industrial and civic partners.
  • Provide, where appropriate, placements with stakeholders (industry, UKRI facilities, academia) who will host students and provide user-specific training.
  • Equip students with the research and personal skills to design and carry out a research project, resulting in a thesis which will provide an original contribution to knowledge and work worthy of publication.
  • Engage with local authorities, government and professional standards bodies to understand regulation requirements and lower barriers to adopting new technologies.
  • Enhance customer confidence in the hydrogen energy vector through engaging different publics in new research and developing technologies.

Benchmarks

Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

  • The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degrees
  • Doctoral Degree Characteristics Statement (QAA)
  • Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (SEEC)
  • 天堂视频 Quality Reviews
  • Research Council Mid-Term and Annual Reviews

Learning outcomes

On completion of this programme students will:

  • Make a significant and original contribution to the fields of wind energy and sustainable green hydrogen generation, use or storage, demonstrating a command of methodological issues and engaging in critical dialogue with peers and accepting full accountability for outcomes.
  • Operate successfully in complex and unpredictable and/or specialised contexts at the forefront of the knowledge of the green hydrogen and wind energy fields.
  • Act autonomously and with initiative, in a professional capacity with responsibility for self, and often, others working in the green hydrogen and wind energy fields.
  • Lead on the creation, development and implementation of a significant programme of original green hydrogen and/or wind energy research that will lead to new knowledge disseminated through the production of a PhD thesis.
  • Acquire and develop a range of transferable skills beyond those specific to the green hydrogen research field (for example: engaging the public with research to improve perceptions and understanding of science; engaging with the intellectual property teams to develop a patent)

Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, Doctoral Researchers should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of:

  • Originality in the application of knowledge at the forefront of the hydrogen and/or wind energy discipline
  • How research and enquiry are used in practice to create and interpret knowledge in the green hydrogen and/or wind energy fields.
  • Relevant and appropriate literature methods and techniques chosen for green hydrogen and/or wind technology research.

Skills and other attributes

Subject-specific cognitive skills:

  • Operate at a conceptualisation and critical thinking level, creating and implementing innovative ideas at a high level of abstraction to create new knowledge in the green hydrogen field.
  • Critically evaluate theoretical discourse methodologies and practices
  • Critically analyse method development and application in evaluating green hydrogen creation and
  • Act independently, and with originality, in solving green hydrogen problems, including creating and implementing advanced methodological approaches and critically evaluating their effectiveness.

Subject-specific practical skills:

  • Synthesise and apply new approaches, in a manner that can contribute to the development of the methodology in, or understanding of, the green hydrogen field.
  • Undertake independent analysis or evaluation, manage complexity, incompleteness of data or contradictions in the green hydrogen field.
  • Develop and apply technical mastery of appropriate methods utilised in the green hydrogen field, performing them smoothly with precision and effectiveness to adapt the skills or procedures to new contexts.

Key transferable skills:

  • Lead and/or work effectively, often in multiple teams in varied roles including managing the capacities of members to achieve outcomes, handling conflict with confidence.
  • Analyse and manage ethical dilemmas and work pro-actively with others to formulate and implement practical solutions to the satisfaction of all parties.
  • Demonstrate reflective practice as an Independent and self-critical learner, reflecting on own and others’ performance to improve their own practice and that of their team.
  • Guide and support the learning of others and manage own professional.
  • Communicate complex or contentious information clearly and effectively to different target audiences in an appropriate.

University regulations

University Regulations for Postgraduate Research study are set out in Regulation XXVI (Higher Degrees by Research).

Please see the Terms and Conditions of Study for detailed information on your contract with the University.

Students registering for the research degree programme in Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero (EnerHy) shall normally possess at least an upper second-class honours degree.

Registration shall be with effect from 1st October.

Programme structure

This programme can be completed both full-time and part-time. Full-time students can register for 180 credits over their four-year programme, delivered by the Centre for Doctoral Training University partners.120 credits must be completed by the end of year one (R0), 150 credits must be completed by the end of year two (R1) and 180 credits may be completed by the end of year four (R3). For part-time students, they can register for 180 credits over eight years, two years of the part-time programme being equivalent to a single year of the full-time version. As described in the breakdown of the parts R0-R4 below.

Students may choose an additional 30 credits of elective modules over their period of study in addition to the 150 credits of compulsory material. The Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero (EnerHy) shall publish annually the lists of elective modules available and research students shall agree with their research supervisors which modules are suitable.

In addition to the taught modules, students shall be required to undertake specialised skills training modules, including UKRI EDI training, careers development, student led conferences and public engagement delivered through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero (EnerHy). Assessment of the skills training shall be conducted through the annual research report. Satisfactory completion of the specialised skills training will not lead to an award of the University. The Centre for Doctoral Training shall publish annually the specialised skills training required.

Students who have successfully completed part, or all of the taught components, but who subsequently do not complete the research requirements for the PhD may be awarded an exit award. Awards will be made in accordance with Regulation XXI and will be gained where students have accumulated the necessary credits for each award. Awards with Distinction and Merit will be awarded subject to exceeding the credit-weighted average described in Regulation XXI.

Student’s registration may be transferred from PhD to MPhil following an unsatisfactory review at any point after the first 12 months (or 24 months if part-time) in accordance with Regulation XXVI.

Part R0

Full-time Doctoral Researchers will complete the following 120 credits:

Institution Code Title Credits
天堂视频 WSP901 Induction and Group Project Planning 10
天堂视频 ECP900 The Economics of Sustainability and Net Zero 15
天堂视频 WSP902 Hydrogen and Net Zero 15
天堂视频 WSP903 Hydrogen Storage and Safety 10
Strathclyde WSPS1 Wind Turbine Technology for Green Energy Generation 10
Strathclyde WSPS2 O&M and Supply Chain for Wind Turbine and Hydrogen 10
Cranfield WSPC1 Social-Economic Assessment of Net Zero 10
天堂视频 WSP904 Design and Build Group Project 40

 

Part-time Doctoral Researchers will complete the following 60 credits in year 1 of Part R0.

Institution Code Title Credits
天堂视频 WSP901 Induction and Group Project Planning 10
天堂视频 WSP903 Hydrogen Storage and Safety 10
天堂视频 WSP904 Design and Build Group Project 40

 

Part-time Doctoral Researchers will complete the following 60 credits in year 2 of Part R0.

Institution Code Title Credits
天堂视频 ECP900 The Economics of Sustainability and Net Zero 15
天堂视频 WSP902 Hydrogen and Net Zero 15
Strathclyde WSPS1 Wind Turbine Technology for Green Energy Generation 10
Strathclyde WSPS2 O&M and Supply Chain for Wind Turbine and Hydrogen 10

Cranfield

WSPC1

Social-Economic Assessment of Net Zero

10

 

In addition to the requirements set out in Regulation XXVI, students may complete additional credits from the annual elective list, up to a total of 30 credits over the course of the programme.

Progression assessment

In the first year of the programme, students must attain 120 credits of compulsory modules delivered by 天堂视频 (LU), Cranfield University (CU) and the University of Strathclyde (SU) at the end of R0

Submission of a 500-word assignment at the mid-way point of R0, based on development of research and transferable skills through reflection.

Typically, the timetable for reports in R0 will follow the schedule below.

Time spent in R0 6 months 12 months 24 months
Full-time 500-word research and transferable skills report.    
Part-time   500-word research and transferable skills report.  

 

Progression into R1 will be confirmed by a programme board, attended by an external examiner.

In accordance with Regulation XXI, students who fail to gain credit in a module at the first attempt shall be eligible to take one further reassessment attempt in that module. Students who fail to attain required modular credit will not be eligible to progress on the programme. In exceptional circumstances, R0 modules may be completed in R1.

Part R1

Doctoral Researchers will complete the following 30 credits:

Institution Code Title Credits
天堂视频 WSP905 Literature Review 10
天堂视频 WSP906 Individual Research Project 10

 

Doctoral Researchers must attain 30 credits from the compulsory modules by the end of R1. Part-time students should aim to complete both modules during the first 12-months of R1.

In addition to the requirements set out in Regulation XXVI, students may complete additional credits from the annual elective list, up to a total of 30 credits over the course of the programme.

Progression assessment

From year two (Part R1), the annual progression of students and the renewal of registration shall be subject to satisfactory progress and performance in research and skills training. Modules completed by students during R1 will also be considered by an examination board and the marks fed in the annual review process. Decisions on research progress will be taken by the Progression Board following consideration of reports from an independent reviewer following oral examination and review of an annual report and from the supervisors.

Submission of a 1000-word research report at 6 months for part-time Doctoral Researchers.

Submission of a 2,000-word research report at the mid-way point of Part R1 and submission of a satisfactory 10,000-word research report (end of Part report) towards the end of Part R1 in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI.

Typically, the timetable for reports in R1 will follow the schedule below.

Time spent in R1 6 months 12 months 24 months
Full-time 2,000-word mid-part report 10,000-word end of part report  
Part-time 1,000-word research report 2.000-word mid-part report 10,000-word end of part report

 

In accordance with Regulation XXI, students who fail to gain credit in a module at the first attempt shall be eligible to take one further reassessment attempt in that module. Students who fail to attain required modular credit will not be eligible to progress on the programme. In exceptional circumstances, R1 modules may be completed in R2.

Part R2

In addition to the requirements set out in Regulation XXVI, students may complete additional credits from the annual elective list, up to a total of 30 credits over the course of the programme.

Progression Assessment

PhD candidates: Submission of a mid-part review for part-time Doctoral Researchers, and a satisfactory 10,000-word research report (end of Part report) towards the end of Part R2 in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI.

Typically, the timetable for reports in R2 will follow the schedule below.

Time spent in R2 12 months 24 months
Full-time 10,000-word end of part report  
Part-time Mid-part report 10,000-word end of part report

 

MPhil candidates: Submission of their formal MPhil thesis for examination in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI at the end of part R2.

At the end of R2, the programme board shall consider the progress of students on the basis of their performance in the specialised skills and research elements at which point the student will:

be permitted to continue with the programme

OR

be required to withdraw from the research programme, but be awarded the postgraduate Masters, Diploma or Certificate associated with accrual of the pre-requisite number of credits.

OR

be permitted to write up for the degree of MPhil.

Part R3

Doctoral Researchers will complete the following:

Submission of a mid-part report for part-time Doctoral Researchers.

At the end of R3, submission of a formal PhD thesis for examination in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI. Typically, the timetable for reports in R3 will follow the schedule below.

Time spent in R3 12 months 24 months
Full-time PhD submission  
Part-time Mid-part report PhD submission

In addition to the requirements set out in Regulation XXVI, students may complete additional credits from the annual elective list, up to a total of 30 credits over the course of the programme.

Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

To progress from Part R0 to R1, Part R1 to Part R2 and from Part R2 to Part R3, and to be eligible for an award, candidates must satisfy the assessment requirements set out in Regulation XXVI.

Candidates must complete all the requirements for each Part outlined above in order to progress to the next Part. If an end of part report does not meet the standards required for progression, candidates may undertake further work and resubmit the report on one occasion only in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI.

Students who do not complete the PhD in Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero may be eligible for exit awards of PGCert (60 credits), PGDip (120 credits) or Masters (180 credits) of Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero according to Regulation XXI.