Program Overview

---

Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies PhD

The Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies area is well established and has major research projects at its heart focusing on sustainable energy use in food chains and energy and the built environment. Other research strengths of the theme include renewable energy technologies, particularly solar thermal and PV technologies, advanced heat and mass transfer, environmental control of buildings heat recovery and heat to power generation.

Research Profile

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. The Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technology group served on the Government's Steering Committee for the development of decarbonisation roadmaps for the food sector to 2050. This work has progressed to the second stage and involves the development of decarbonisation action plans in consultation with key stakeholders.

Research Areas

• Optimal ways for reducing energy use in food chains
• Heating, cooling and refrigeration
• Microclimate and environmental design
• Single and two-phase heat transfer and thermal systems

Browse Research Groups

• Advanced Powertrain and Fuels
• Aerospace Research Centre
• African Studies
• Arts Health and Social Change
• Assessment of Structures and Materials under Extreme Conditions
• Biomedical Engineering
• Bioprocess and Biopharmaceutical Engineering
• Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST)
• Brunel Composites Centre
• Brunel Innovation Centre
• Circular Food Forum
• Circular Metals
• Design and Manufacturing
• Digital Manufacturing
• Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies
• Equitable Development and Resilience
• Experimental Techniques Centre
• Flood Risk and Resilience
• Flood, Coastal and Water Engineering
• Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering
• Global Lives
• Harm and Justice Research Group
• Heat Pipe and Thermal Management
• Institute of Communities and Society
• Institute of Digital Futures
• Institute of Energy Futures
• Institute of Health, Medicine and Environments
• Institute of Materials and Manufacturing
• Liquid Metal Engineering Hub
• Mechanics of Solids and Structures
• Media, Culture and Politics research group
• Migration, Asylum and Law
• Non-traditional Manufacturing Technologies
• Organ-on-a-Chip
• Pollution Research and Policy
• Quality Engineering and Smart Technology
• Religion research group
• Resilient Structures and Construction Materials
• Resource Efficient Future Cities
• Robotics and Automation
• Social Justice
• South Asia Studies
• Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chains
• Sustainable Plastics
• Two Phase Flow and Heat Transfer

PhD Topics

While we welcome applications from students with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

• AI (Artificial Intelligence) enabled autonomous robots for non-disruptive inspection of utility and sewage systems, supervised by Md Nazmul Huda
• Development of a miniature capsule robot for capsule endoscopy, supervised by Md Nazmul Huda
• Dynamics of seawater intrusion in heterogeneous coastal aquifers, supervised by Ashraf Ahmed Mohamed
• Study of stray current induced corrosion in railway construction, supervised by Kangkang Tang
• The sustainability of hydrogen production for future energy uses, supervised by Colin Axon and Peter Hewitson

Research Journey

This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in January, April, or October.

Research Support

Excellent research support and training are provided through the Graduate School, which includes workshops, online training, coaching, and events as part of the Researcher Development Programme.

Library Services

Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs.

Careers and Your Future

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations, and a range of events and workshops.

Entry Requirements

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1). An interview will be required as part of the admissions process.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all)

Fees and Funding

2025/6 Entry

• International: £24,795 full-time, £12,395 part-time
• UK: £5,006 full-time, £2,503 part-time

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase. Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses, or both.