Program Overview

Overview of the Built Environment PhD Program

The Built Environment PhD program at Birmingham City University is a research-based degree that allows students to contribute innovative ideas to their field and make a difference in society. The program is designed to help students achieve a career in one of the wide range of built environment disciplines, including surveying, real estate, civil engineering, planning, and others.

Research Interests

The university's built environment research is wide-ranging, with current interests including:

• Digital built environment, including BIM (Building Information Management)
• Renewable energy, energy management in buildings, customer energy management behavior
• Nano-fluids and heat transfer
• Sustainable and innovative materials for construction
• Construction waste management
• Automation in construction
• Water management, urban drainage systems, and flood resilience
• Real estate property and asset management, risk
• Planning and development law
• Urban change: post-catastrophe reconstruction, urban form, conservation, and design
• Spatial planning, including stakeholder engagement, crowdsourcing, placemaking
• Using games to foster social learning and engagement with planning challenges
• Facilities management, including infection control in hospitals

Fees and How to Apply

The program is offered full-time or part-time, with various start dates throughout the year. The fees for the program are as follows:

• UK students:
  • Full-time: ｣5,238 in 2026/27, 3-4 years
  • Part-time: ｣2,619 in 2026/27, 4-7 years
  • Distance Learning: TBC, 4-7 years
• International students:
  • Full-time: ｣15,420 in 2026/27, 3-4 years
  • Part-time: ｣7,710 in 2026/27, 4-7 years
  • Distance Learning: ｣9,638 in 2026/27, 4-7 years

Entry Requirements

To apply for the built environment PhD research degree, students should have, or expect to be awarded, a Master's degree in a relevant subject area from a British or overseas university. Exceptional candidates without a Master's degree, but holding a first-class or upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject area, may be considered.

Course in Depth

The PhD program is a well-established and valued academic qualification within the sector and is highly likely to enhance career prospects. The program is designed to help students develop cutting-edge research in their area of interest, with the support of their research supervisor and fellow research community.

Employability

The PhD is a highly desirable qualification for those wanting to follow a career in teaching and researching in Higher Education. The program is also highly likely to enhance career prospects in industry, research, or academia.

Facilities and Staff

The university's facilities reflect the work environment that students will enter as they start their career. The Built Environment Space in Millennium Point is available to all students, with a huge resource of software-equipped laptops for loan on campus. The Studio Space is an open workspace where students can work on their design projects.

Postgraduate Funding

The university offers various funding opportunities, including:

• Graduate Scholarship: a 20% fee reduction for BCU graduates enrolling onto a PhD program for the first time
• Doctoral loans: government-backed loans of up to ｣29,390 for UK, Irish, and eligible EU nationals studying postgraduate doctoral courses
• PhD studentships: PhD funding opportunities supported by the university and/or organizations, where research will be actively used in overcoming real-world problems.