A PhD is the most common doctoral qualification. It is the highest postgraduate level qualification offered by universities in the UK. A PhD gets awarded on the successful completion of a programme of supervised research. It gets assessed via a thesis and a viva voce (oral examination). You'll investigate and evaluate an approved topic. This will result in an independent, significant, and original contribution to knowledge. And show an understanding of research methods appropriate to your chosen field. You'll be supported by a programme of research training to enable you to develop transferable skills for your future career path.Within the field of tribotechnology UCLan enjoys state-of-the-art facilities for surface characterisation, friction and wear-testing and lubrication assessment and a number of leading international collaborations. Tribology is formally the study of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It involves the study of friction, wear and lubrication and is now increasingly involved with surface adhesion and changes in surface characteristics in static situations. Tribology has enormous influence on our daily lives as it affects economic, environmental and performance issues in both natural and man-made systems. A range of key tribotechnology themes support our work across differing engineering applications. UCLan’s areas of expertise include: Active tribology (“tribotronics”) Bio-tribology, Condition monitoring, Fluid film technology, Surface measurement, Surface engineering, Based in the Jost Institute for Tribotechnology, tribotechnology research staff have access to state-of-the-art facilities for surface characterisation, friction and wear-testing and lubrication assessment and collaborate with partner laboratories around the world to conduct cutting edge research.