Research degrees in Architecture, Design and the Built Environment PhD
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-07-27 | 2023-04-01 |
| 2023-10-01 | 2023-07-01 |
| 2024-01-05 | 2023-10-01 |
| 2024-04-01 | 2024-01-01 |
Program Overview
Introduction:
Our PhD courses offer the opportunity to carry out a significant body of research in a discipline related to the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. As part of the application process, you'll be asked to submit a research proposal, and we'll work to match your themes, objectives and scope to a member of our broad academic team.
You are encouraged to get in touch with potential Supervisors to discuss your area of interest, or the Director of Doctoral Programmes, Dr Ana Souto, to put you in touch with expert Supervisors in the discipline you may want to pursue. You'll join a thriving community of postgraduate researchers, based at our City Campus.
Who is this course designed for?
Our PhD routes are suitable for professionals working in a related industry; we offer a part-time as well as the full-time study route, enabling you to fit study around employment. The expected length of your studies will extend according to how much time you commit to your research. The maximum registration period for full time candidates is four years; for part time candidates is eight years.
The PhD routes are also suitable for high-achieving honours (undergraduate) graduates, enabling those who complete an undergraduate qualification to pursue a route into postgraduate research. This opens up opportunities for significant career progression, and is a route into employment in academia.
Why study this course?
Program Outline
What you’ll study
Aims of postgraduate research degrees
The aim of a postgraduate research degree is to investigate and create new ideas and designs, which contribute to new perceptions, products, processes and the development of new systems and solutions. You'll contribute to advancing our understanding of the built environment, and improving the quality of products, processes and systems that exist within that environment.
Areas of research expertise in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Explore our range of Research Centres to understand the areas of research we can offer supervision in*:
*Please be aware that once you submit your research proposal, we will work to match your objectives and research themes to a member of our academic team who's specialisms are broadly aligned to your research area. If we're unable to identify a suitable lead supervisor, we may advise that we are unable to offer you a position as a PhD student at NTU.
How you’re taught
There are several milestones that you must fulfil as part of a PhD degree course. Your progression through the course depends on your success at each stage, and how long you prepare to meet the assessment criteria for each milestone.
Preparing your research proposal
You'll spend the first 6 months (full-time) - 1 year (part-time) of your PhD preparing your research proposal. This is where you outline the scope of your research project and identify how you propose to contribute new knowledge and ideas to the built environment. During this time, you'll read widely and become aware of existing research in your field of interest, enabling you to identify areas where you contribution and progress can be made.
Annual monitoring
NTU, that is scheduled each year of your degree. Annual monitoring is intended to be a time where you and your supervisory team can review your progress so far, reflect on how you have developed, and discuss how you can continue to get the most from your research over the coming year. As part of your annual monitoring, you will be required to submit a report (1000-2000) words that demonstrates your progress over the previous 12 months, along with evidence of your development in the form of draft publications, notable training, and conference attendance.
The final stages
In the final year of your doctoral degree, aka Thesis Pending Year, you will be drawing together your research findings and 'writing up' your thesis. Your supervisory team will help to guide you through these final stages, including organising your Viva Voce exam (sometimes referred to as your 'defence') and ensuring your thesis is ready for final submission by your deadline.
Viva voce examination
Once you've fully completed your body of research, you'll work towards your final milestone - the viva voce examination.
The exam takes the format of a panel meeting, whereby a team of assessors will choose areas of your research to ask further, more detailed questions about. You'll be expected to talk widely and with authority on the research you've undertaken, further evidencing your expertise in the field. The viva voce is the last step in your PhD before graduation. There are several outcomes, which include a straight pass, or advised corrections - with varying degrees of amends to be made. If you are required to make corrections, you could be working on your research piece for up to another twelve months, before re-taking the viva voce exam. A pass at this stage will result in graduation and a PhD award.
Careers and employability
Your career development
All our research degrees incorporate a programme of supporting studies designed to develop knowledge and skills of all aspects of the research process, including the funding and dissemination of research. This will ensure that you have the necessary expertise to successfully complete your doctoral programme.
Participation in academic conferences, seminars and external networks will cultivate contacts, skills and knowledge essential for successful research practice. These abilities are also transferable to a wide range of other careers. Researchers are also invited to take part in our own Research Conferences giving you the opportunity to present your work and discuss with other researchers at NTU.
Support with your career development
As a post graduate research candidate at NTU, you'll benefit from:
Pursuing a career in academia
There are opportunities for research students to prepare for an academic career by teaching undergraduate students or supervising laboratory work. Our Organisational Development team offer an Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education training programme, providing the knowledge and skills needed to pursue academic teaching.
Re:search Re:imagined
To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From conservation management to sustainable farming, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society. Find out more about our research.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
What our students are doing now
26 Nov 2021
Nottingham Trent University wins highest national honour for cultural heritage science research
Cultural heritage research at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has earned a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education: the highest national honour for a UK university.
Read more01 Nov 2021
Green housing project involving NTU to be showcased at COP26
Read more01 Oct 2020