Program Overview

PhD in Sustainable Design Engineering

The University of Prince Edward Island's Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainable Design Engineering (PhD-SDE) program aims to train graduates who have in-depth expertise in applying principles of sustainable design engineering to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research challenges.

Overview

Independent research is the major focus of the PhD program-SDE degree, and students will identify a research topic and conduct an extensive body of original research in their field, making a true contribution exemplifying the student's depth of knowledge, creativity, innovation, and proven ability to make significant scientific research contributions.

Course Structure

• Students will be required to take at least four (4) graduate-level courses (equivalent to at least 12 credits) in addition to SDE 8010 (PhD Thesis) and SDE 8900 (Seminar).
  • Normally these courses should be selected from the PhD-SDE Graduate-Level Courses listed below.
• Upon approval of the student's supervisory committee, up to two graduate-level courses may be taken from outside the FSDE.
• All students must complete the SDE 8030 - Contemporary Topics in Sustainable Design Engineering course unless they receive approval from their supervisory committee to take an alternate FSDE graduate-level course.
• In the case of students who transfer from the MSc-SDE program at UPEI, any PhD-SDE Graduate-Level Courses completed during their MSc degree will count towards their PhD degree.
• Each student is expected to complete these courses within the first 24 months of the degree, before or in the concurrent semester of their PhD Comprehensive Exam.

PhD-SDE Graduate-Level Courses

• 8010 PhD Thesis
• 8900 Seminar
• 8020 Quality Control and Project Management
• 8021 Contemporary Topics in Engineering Management
• 8030 Contemporary Topics in Sustainable Design Engineering
• 8031 Contemporary Topics in User-Centred Engineering Design
• 8040 Design of Experiments
• 8050 Engineering Research Methods and Experiment Design
• 8060 Modelling, Control, and Design of Energy Systems
• 8061 Optimization in Energy Infrastructure
• 8062 Solar Buildings and Neighbourhoods
• 8063 Contemporary Topics in Sustainable Energy
• 8070 Novel Engineered Materials for Sustainable Applications
• 8080 Industrial Machine Vision
• 8081 Modern Mechatronic Systems
• 8100 Biofuel and Biomass Technology
• 8101 Advances in Bioresource Engineering

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must:

• Hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree.
• Hold a thesis-based Master of Science (MSc) or thesis-based Engineering (MEng) or its equivalent from a recognized university, and have achieved at least a second-class standing (70-80%) for this degree.
• Provide proof of English language proficiency for those applicants whose first language is not English.

Application Deadline

Applicants must submit the following via the application portal:

• A Graduate Application Form;
• A personal statement outlining background preparation and explaining why this particular program is a match for the applicant;
• A curriculum vitae;
• $50 (CDN) application fee. Applicants must ensure that the following items are forwarded directly to the university:
• Three letters of reference, at least two academic; the third may be academic or may reflect volunteer or professional experience;
• Official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) from all post-secondary institutions at which courses have been taken. All application materials must be received by March 1st of the calendar year the student wishes to enter the program.

Fees and Funding

Tuition

• PhD in Sustainable Design Engineering - $15,449 per 3-year program For a complete breakdown, visit the Tuition and Fees page.

Scholarships and Awards

UPEI supports students and their educational goals by administering millions of dollars in scholarships and awards to undergraduate and graduate students every year. Depending on the faculty or program and year of study, students may be eligible for available awards.

Faculty Members

UPEI's interesting and unique programs are enhanced by caring and supporting faculty, instructors, and staff. The Sustainable Design Engineering faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with a comprehensive education and research experience.