The department has industry links and there are opportunities for short-term industrial research projects; this programme is aimed at mature students with industrial experience who wish to augment their qualifications within a specific area; the main feature of this programme is the flexibility for learning; after an induction period, with a project supervisor, a learning contract is completed between the student, the university and, where applicable, an outside organisation; a research training needs analysis is made and there is a range of research training opportunities offered by the department, faculty and university; candidates are encouraged to dedicate at least 2 weeks to this training during their enrolment; all research students have regular supervision and industry based students will be encouraged to visit the department to integrate with engineering's academic culture through attendance at, or presenting to seminar groups; students are required to produce interim reports and a final project dissertation.