The Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems Centre for Doctoral Training (AAPS) integrates deep research with a unique skills and training programme to give you comprehensive training and detailed knowledge in your chosen specific subject area alongside colleagues working across a broad spectrum of challenges facing the Industry.
All our students undertake an original piece of research in a specific discipline related to Automotive Propulsion Systems whilst expanding their expertise through our core training programme, mentoring activities, industrial placements and academic secondments.
Your PhD Programme
During your PhD, you will have research, and the preparation of a thesis, as your main focus. In your PhD work, you will create new knowledge in your specific research topic within the broader field of AAPS. At the end of year one, you will submit a transfer report and be required to pass an oral examination in which you will be expected to set out the motivation and background to your proposed research, a credible methodology, any preliminary results and a detailed plan for your work over years two and three. A PhD thesis should be submitted within four years of joining AAPS with regular progress reports submitted.
For the duration of your PhD, you will be part of our community. You will come together with the AAPS cohorts through centre activities such as:
There will also be opportunities to undertake industrial placements and academic secondments.
Core Training
Your training will help prepare you to work with the future engineers, scientists, policy makers and thought leaders in propulsion systems. You will learn from academics with a wide range of expertise in the disciplines needed to pioneer and shift the transition to clean, sustainable and affordable mobility.
During our three year training programme you will develop core personal and professional skills in Responsible Research Methods, Innovation, Team working and Leadership and Business Practice.
To develop these skills we run regular training sessions on a variety of topics, these sessions vary between being facilitated by external companies, our industrial partners, the academic management team and the academic theme leads. By being a student at the University of Bath you will also get to take advantage of the DoctoralSkills programme on offer.
This series brings together specialists from both the University and our Industry partners to give you the broad view that will allow you to challenge and change the current thinking around personal mobility. Guest lectures are something that you should attend throughout the whole three years of the programme. Read about previous Guest Lectures.
ITTs are facilitated workshops in which academic, industrial, and other external partners present problems requiring research solutions, with lectures on relevant background given by experts. You will work in groups with other participants in order to define routes to the solution of these problems, identifying the new research that will be necessary to make this possible. The aim is to develop skills in problem formulation and mapping directions for independent research.
ITTS generate ideas that can be jointly pursued between academia and industrial partners, and lead to direct impact in terms of applications and research. Read more about Integrative Think Tanks.
You will also have the opportunity to attend masterclasses from experts in a particular subject area. These masterclasses are deep dives into a particular subject or technical area that give you the opportunity to be explore research and challenges related to mobility. Read about previous Masterclasses.
Being part of the AAPS CDT is a fun and rewarding experience. Coming from a background in psychology, I’ve been able to immerse myself in new ideas and apply my experience to address some of the most pressing issues society is facing. It’s great to have the opportunity to work with students and researchers from a variety of disciplines and to benefit from the support and perspectives of the diverse CDT community in shaping my research
Catherine Naughtie, Cohort 1
As a non-engineer the MRes year was an invaluable experience, I now have a wide range of technical subject matter knowledge and have developed a variety of new skills to prepare me for my PhD and what lies beyond
Rob Gray, Cohort 1
Coming from a different University, joining the AAPS CDT was a great way to meet new people and make new friends before entering the PhD. By doing this, I feel much more at home at Bath and comfortable at the University. I know that I have the support network from staff and fellow students on the course to carry out my research for the next few years
Thomas Barthelay, Cohort 1
Not coming from an automotive background, the CDT provided a great introduction to the challenges facing the industry. As a result of the friendly cooperative environment, I was able to learn about a variety of problems to which I could apply myself.
Alex Trenam, Cohort 2
Joining the AAPS CDT gives you the opportunity to explore different point of views in the context of alternative propulsion systems. The CDT is also a great way to begin a new learning journey with the help of the knowledge and support of a team of like-minded experts from different backgrounds.
Elisabetta Schettino, Cohort 1
A standout feature of the CDT is working with others from different backgrounds and expertise, it is great to learn and hear other people's perspectives and ideas and have a chance to collaborate on projects focused on present and future challenges. I feel the course provides opportunities to broaden your knowledge on developments in the Automotive industry, having access to leading academics and to learn about the current discussions and work being done in this sector.
James Angus, Cohort 2
The AAPS CDT offers a unique opportunity to learn from leading academics and work with experts from a range of backgrounds, while applying your own skills in new contexts on collaborative projects. This provides an excellent framework and support structure to prepare oneself for working in forward thinking, innovative and multidisciplinary environments which are key to solving some of the biggest challenges faced by the automotive and transport sector today.
Charlie Gaylard, Cohort 2
Meet the supervisors
Our CDT draws on a pool of potential PhD supervisors with a range of research expertise across the University. Our academic staff teach, research and supervise PhDs in specialisms across the University's departments.
Find out more about the staff who could be available to supervise your PhD project.
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