Alternatively you could take a traditional Ph.D over a course of three years. But aren't PhD's just for academic-types who want a career in the ivory towers of academia?
In yesteryear the traditional Ph.D was the only real way to gain higher level research experience. However, now, according to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council ("EPSRC"), engineering doctorate degrees (Eng.D) are a response to the needs of industry and the demand for industrial qualifications.
Ph.D's are in demand as research engineers who spend 75% of their time working in industry working with an industrial supervisor. During this time they undertake projects that present genuine research challenges while solving problems relevant to the participating industrial sponsor. A project could involve, for instance, understanding an industrial process and discovering how to make it more efficient or investigating the properties of a novel material.
The rest of the time research engineers attend higher-level courses at university where they study specialist technical subjects and professional development subjects, such as engineering design, environmental legislation, financial management and leadership.
The idea is that, at the end of the four years of study, they not only leave with a PhD-level qualification but have also gained the relevant experience along with all the skills needed to be successful in an industrial environment.
The main opportunities arise from being able to complete projects over a wider range of subject areas, and to draw on a wider range of taught modules. For the course directors and supervisors a centre can provide a golden opportunity to develop links with industry.
For students interested in a career in industry, the Eng.D has always been an appealing prospect. According to the ESPRC, study most graduates can attain a more valuable job than those of standard graduate entry candidates. The program addresses a primary concern for employers, which is whether a student fresh from University will be up to the job. Will they adapt to the work culture and will they like it enough to stay and repay the company's investment in their training? EngD graduates are attractive to employers because they already possess relevant skills and experience as well as academic ability.
The Engineering Doctorate scheme was initially a British postgraduate education programme promoted by the UK's EPSRC. In UK the equivalent formation to this doctorate is the NVQ level 8 or QCF level 8. Countries following the German/US model of education usually have similar requirements for awarding Ph.D.(Eng.) and doctor of engineering degrees. The common degree abbreviations in the USA and Canada are D.Eng. D.Eng.Sc./Eng.Sc.D, whereas in Germany it is more commonly known as Dr.-Ing.
The ESPRC statistics suggest that Eng.D graduates not only gain key employment positions but also move into rewarding and well-paid jobs quickly.