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Postgraduate Study

The aim of ISMM is to equip numerate graduates with the academic skills, personal development and industrial experience to be immediately effective in their early careers in the industry. ISMM is very different from any other academic course: it combines traditional academic teaching material with a series of industrial visits, industrial seminars, skills development and projects in the industry. ISMM is a very intensive programme that gives a direct experience of many different industries, cultures and working environments. In addition to the lectures, the industry-based projects present real challenges in genuine industrial and business environments.

ISMM will broaden students' perspectives and experiences and open doors to a wide range of industrial careers. Many firms recognise the value of the course and target our graduates. Equally, for those who want to work in a smaller company, ISMM gives the confidence to start directly in a manufacturing engineering or management role. Those with entrepreneurial flair go on to set up their own companies.

The programme is structured around taught modules, company visits and in-company projects solving live business or technical problems. An intense industrial study tour offers a broader industry context, and the individual research dissertation allows for greater depth of study in a specific area of manufacturing.

The programme aims to:

  • provide Industry with highly motivated and effective potential managers capable of accelerated promotion
  • provide course members with the skills and knowledge to be immediately effective in their industrial careers

Learning Outcomes

Students follow a reinforcement learning-cycle of lectures, company visits and in-company projects: 'I hear, I see: I remember. I do: I understand'. They will be supported and mentored by both academics and industrial tutors, and encouraged to reflect on their activities, seek new ways of thinking and working, and put them into practice.

  1. Knowledge of Manufacturing Disciplines including:

    • Manufacturing Processes

    • Manufacturing Operations and Supply Chain Management

    • Data and Modeling

    • Innovation and Intellectual Property

    • New Business Development

    • Strategic Management

    • Research Methods

  2. Context of Industrial Systems within a wide range of business/industrial sectors

  3. Understanding different types of enterprise from start-up through SME to national and international enterprise

Skills acquired during the course include the following:

Intellectual Skills:

  • Critical Analysis

  • Creativity - Generate a variety of innovative solutions

  • Evaluation - Evaluate designs, processes and products using information from a variety of sources and justify recommendations

  • Balance Theory and Practice

Practical Skills

  • Undertake problem identification and definition

  • Research appropriate background information and theories

  • Determine appropriate methodology for problem solution

  • Identify, gather, analyse, and evaluate appropriate data

  • Prepare a business and finance case to justify a recommendation

Transferable Skills

  • Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and graphically)

  • Presentations

  • Written reports

  • Project management

  • Working with others

  • Networking


Continuing

The MPhil combines professional engagement with a strong theoretical underpinning. Exceptional students seeking to apply for continuation to a PhD in Engineering at Cambridge would normally be expected to attain an overall mark of at least 70 per cent.


Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

  • Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

  • Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in the autumn each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.


Departments

This course is advertised in the following departments:

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Key Information


11 months full-time

Study Mode : Taught

Master of Philosophy

Department of Engineering This course is advertised in multiple departments. Please see the Overview tab for more details.

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Michaelmas 2026

Applications open
Sept. 3, 2025
Application deadline
May 14, 2026
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2026

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 2, 2025
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 15, 2025

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas , Lent and Easter .


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