Pipeline robot

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview

Students looking to become world-leading experts as they push the boundaries of knowledge in their field should pursue a research-based Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (PhD Thesis) degree. With the support of leading researchers, students will perform innovative and cutting-edge research, publishing their knowledge in peer-reviewed manuscripts and disseminating their findings through everything from conferences to peer-reviewed publications and technical papers. The program usually takes three years of full-time study following a master’s degree, or four years following a bachelor’s degree. PhD students are typically funded through the duration of their studies under various mechanisms offered by the faculty, department, and supervisor.

Completing this program

  • Manufacturing Engineering: Topics may include computer integrated manufacturing, optimization methods with robotics, CAD/CAM/CAE and more.

  • Mechanical Engineering: Topics may include combustion processes, mechanics of compressible flow, instrumentation, mobile robotics and more.

  • Research Seminar: Prior to candidacy, PhD students present at the annual Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Conference.

  • Additional Courses: Students without an MSc complete Numerical Methods for Engineers and/or others.

  • Pipeline Engineering Specialization: Students wishing to complete the Pipeline Engineering Specialization must include 2 approved courses with a Pipeline Engineering project.

  • Candidacy: Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.

  • Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Specializations

Outcomes

Consulting, research and development, forensic engineering, management, process control.

A PhD in mechanical engineering is usually considered a final degree.

Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Courses

Two courses minimum with conference presentation

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Three years full-time; six years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.


Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.


  1. Photo

    Mahdis Bisheban

    Seeking Students
    Control and Modelling of Dynamical Systems, including Aircraft, Unmanned Aerial and Underwater Vehicles, Application of Machine Learning on Control and Modelling of Dynamical Systems, Predictive Maintenance and Anomaly Detection in Manufacturing
  2. Bob Brennan

    Bob Brennan

    Accepting Inquiries
    Self-Manageable and Adaptive Cyber-Physical Systems for Manufacturing Automation, Chair in Design Engineering
  3. Picture of Marie Charbonneau

    Marie Charbonneau

    Unavailable
    Humanoid Robotics, Contact-Based Human-Robot Interaction, Physical Human-Robot Collaboration
  4. Ke Du

    Ke Du

    Accepting Inquiries
    1) Air pollution process, 2) Environmental monitoring techniques
  5. Philip Egberts

    Philip Egberts

    Accepting Inquiries
    Nanotribology, Ultra-high vacuum surface science, Lubricants and Coatings
  6. Leo Fang

    Leo Fang

    Seeking Students
    Turbulent Combustion Modelling , Manifold Reduction Techniques , Computational Fluid Dynamics , Spray Modelling, Data driven/machine learning techniques for turbulent flows
  7. Salvatore Federico

    Salvatore Federico

    Accepting Inquiries
    Continuum Mechanics, Soft Tissue Biomechanics
  8. Peter Goldsmith

    Peter Goldsmith

    Accepting Inquiries
    Robotics, Control Systems, Human-Computer Interfaces, Mathematics, Education
  9. Schuyler Hinman Photo

    Schuyler Hinman

    Seeking Students
    CFD for sustainable energy sources including biofuels, Conceptual design of high-speed aerospace vehicles for re-entry, Novel drone application and design
  10. Craig Johansen

    Craig Johansen

    Seeking Students
    High-Speed Aerodynamics and Propulsion

Admission Requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

An MSc degree or equivalent.

Work samples

None

Documents

None

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None


English language proficiency (ELP)

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

Deadlines

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: June 1 application deadline
  • International students:  Jan. 15 application deadline

For admission on January 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Oct. 1 application deadline
  • International students:  May 1 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Schulich School of Engineering
Room 505, The Mechanical Engineering Building Room, 2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
403.220.4153

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Schulich School of Engineering

Canadian Natural Resources Limited Engineering Complex
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
403.220.5732

Visit the Schulich School of Engineering website 

Learn more about UCalgary by taking a virtual tour