MSc in Welding Engineering
Cranfield, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Sep 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
28 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 29,610 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for UK and Irish students
** for overseas students | £15,470 - for home students
Key Summary
Learn about the latest advancements in cutting-edge welding technologies and become a specialist in this ever-evolving field. Cranfield University's well-established and highly-respected MSc in Welding Engineering is among the few that provide the practical, industrial and theoretical knowledge required to pursue successful careers in the welding, materials and joining specialisms.
Gain expertise in this advancing field of manufacturing technology, which is so integral to the production of a wide range of innovative products and that contributes to sustainability and the circular economy by addressing challenges in the manufacture, maintenance and repair of existing products. The course covers innovative welding techniques, automation, materials science, welding process optimisation principles, weld design and quality.
It will provide you with a fundamental understanding and applications of current and emerging welding technologies and an awareness of recent technical developments within the relevant industries. You will also learn the latest trends in advanced process monitoring, digital control and data management related to welding practices.
Early Career Professionals
Our students hold degrees in a relevant science or engineering discipline and are keen to pursue a career in an advanced manufacturing sector using welding and joining technologies. You will join an elite group of welding professionals.
Experienced Professionals
We welcome experienced and established professionals who are looking to learn about the latest advancements in welding technologies and refresh their knowledge. We offer flexible schedules through full and part-time modes of study.
To help students find and secure appropriate funding, we have created a funding finder where you can search for suitable sources of funding by filtering the results to suit your needs.
ASEAN-UK: Women in STEM Scholarships
Cranfield University is proud to join the Women in STEM Scholarship initiative by offering six fully funded scholarships for female students from selected countries in East Asia. We are looking for women with a background in STEM who can demonstrate their need for financial support and who wish to inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in STEM.
Master's Loan from Student Finance England
A Master's Loan is now available for UK applicants to help you pay for your Master’s course.
Cranfield University GREAT Scholarship
In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, Cranfield University is offering 3 scholarships of financial support to the value of £10,000 to students from Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam.
Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Countries
Students from developing countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK can apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, which includes tuition fees, travel and a monthly stipend for Master’s study.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year master’s at Cranfield University. The scholarship includestuition fees, travel and a monthly stipend for Master’s study.
IGEM Postgraduate Master's Scholarship
The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) is offering postgraduate Master's Scholarships worth £6,500 to those studying an Engineering Council-accredited degree.
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society offer Centennial Scholarships for those studying an accredited course.
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
The Edgar Pam Fellowship, worth £2,000, is awarded for postgraduate study in subjects within the fields of minerals and mining.
Compulsory Modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
- Introduction to Materials for Welding Engineering
- Welding Metallurgy
- Welding Processes and Equipment
- Advanced Welding Processes
- Welding Systems and Research Methods
- Management of Weld Quality
- Design of Welded Structures
- Cranfield University has been ranked amongst the world’s top universities in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
- In Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing, Cranfield has been ranked 27th in the world and attained top scores in Employer and Academic Reputation.
Successful students develop diverse and rewarding careers in industry and in research. In industry, as a welding professional, your role would include engineering management in a wide range of organisations, deploying cutting-edge welding technologies. Roles include the management of welding manufacturing operations and the management of design and fabrication of welded structures. The international nature of such activities means that you have a global career opportunity and will be part of our global alumni family.
Alternatively, in research, you may pursue doctoral study and subsequently move to academia and research.
Students have gone on to hold positions including:
- Welding Engineer
- Welding Manager
- Technical Manager
- Responsible Welding Coordinator
Sectors that hire our graduates include:
- Energy
- Aerospace
- Civil and construction
- Automotive and transport
Why this course?
Welding offers a rewarding and meaningful career in advanced manufacturing sectors, ranging from the building of advanced boats and vehicles, to high-precision joining of functional components for e-mobility, aerospace, medical and nuclear applications, amongst others.
The Centre is internationally leading in wire and arc additive manufacturing, and as a student, you will have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge encompassing these fields of manufacturing. With well-equipped facilities, you will gain access to the latest arc and laser-based robotic welding systems with associated instrumentation for characterising and quantifying a process. Our lab is situated over 700m2 of space, which allows industrial-level work with our partners.
All our projects are industrially linked and usually involve innovative developments never before undertaken. You will have the opportunity to be supervised by a world-leading academic in the area. We aim to develop well-rounded, career-ready graduates by supporting the development of communication, presentation, analytical and problem-solving skills.
As a Cranfield University student, you will benefit from:
- Studying in a postgraduate-only environment, conducive to developing industry-ready, professional skills and behaviour.
- Equal opportunities are provided to all our learners.
- Being taught by leading academics as well as industrial practitioners, supplemented by industrial visits.
- Working alongside a strong research team.
- Dedicated support for off-campus learners, including extensive information resources managed by Cranfield University's library.
- Consultancy to companies supporting their employees on part-time programmes, in relation to individual projects.
- Support in securing positions in full-time employment in your chosen field, or to undertake academic research.
In addition, you will be qualified to act as a responsible person as defined by International Welding Engineering Standards, and we meet a major part of the requirements for membership of the appropriate professional engineering institutes with knowledge, skills and experience of managing research and development projects.
The course comprises seven assessed modules, a group project and an individual research project. The modules include lectures and tutorials, and are assessed through practical work, written examinations, case studies, essays, presentations and tests. These provide the 'tools' required for the group and individual projects.
Taught modules 40%, Group projects 20%, Individual project 40%
Group Project
The group project experience is highly valued by both students and prospective employers. Teams of students work to solve an industrial problem. The project applies technical knowledge and provides training in teamwork and the opportunity to develop non-technical aspects of the taught programme. Part-time students can prepare a dissertation on an agreed topic in place of the group project.
Industrially oriented, our team projects have support from external organisations. As a result of external engagement, Cranfield students enjoy a higher degree of success when it comes to securing employment. Prospective employers value the student experience where teamwork to find solutions to industrially based problems is concerned.
Individual Project
This provides experience of undertaking research into a specific welding or Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) topic that is of interest and benefit to industry. For full-time students, the project is performed using our state-of-the-art welding and WAAM equipment in the Welding Engineering and Laser Processing Centre. In some cases, it may be possible to undertake the research project with an industry sponsor at their premises. For part-time students, the research project is usually performed at their employer's premises.