Program Overview

Queen's University Belfast - Civil Engineering PhD

Overview

The research centre will address the topical grand challenges in civil engineering field, building on existing and developing new international collaborations. Financial support to meet these challenges will be acquired through both internal University initiatives (for enhanced infrastructure and facilities) and external funding from government grants, charities and direct industrial support.

Subject Summary

Civil Engineering at Queens is in the Top 200 in the World (Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2021). Your research will advance knowledge in the civil engineering field, building on existing and developing new international collaborations. Your work will help to address the challenges of energy, carbon, clean water, infrastructure; exploring extremes and defining new limits. Our key research areas include marine renewable energy, groundwater and environmental systems, geotechnics, intelligent infrastructure and high-performance structures, energy efficient materials and construction and project management.

Civil Engineering Highlights

Global Opportunities

• Civil Engineering brings together researchers from spatial planning, architecture, geography, paleoecology and civil engineering to tackle some of the world's most pressing urban and environmental challenges.

Industry Links

• Civil Engineering is led by a Head of Discipline supported by team leaders with responsibility for maintaining excellence in its research groups. One of these, the Intelligent and Sustainable Infrastructure Group (ISIG - including low carbon structural materials) has several joint projects with international Centres of Excellence.

World Class Facilities

• The School of Natural and Built Environment has a range of state-of-the-art facilities to support our outstanding students and staff conducting leading-edge research and teaching. These include a heavy structures laboratory, rheology laboratory, the Belfast Wave Flume and the Portaferry coastal wave basin.

Student Experience

• Postgraduates form an intrinsic part of our research community and are actively involved in the School's cross-disciplinary Research Groups, enabling the creation of synergies in areas such as sustainability, infrastructure, culture, design and heritage.

Key Facts

• Civil Engineering at Queens is in the Top 200 in the World QS Rankings (2022).
• Civil Engineering is ranked 20th in the UK (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022).

Course Content

• The dynamic nature of this research has been key to the our success in attracting significant funding from UK research councils, government departments and agencies.
• The Civil Engineering Research Centre (CERC) is a leading international, interdisciplinary centre that enables scientists and engineers from all areas of civil engineering investigation to work on diverse, yet complementary research.

Research Information

• Associated Research: The dynamic nature of this research has been key to the our success in attracting significant funding from UK research councils, government departments and agencies.

Career Prospects

• Many of our PhD graduates have moved into academic and research roles in Higher Education while others go on to play leading roles in educational practice, the public sector or within NGO’s.

People Teaching You

• Dr David Hester
• Dr Faris Elghaish
• Dr Giuseppina Amato
• Dr Madjid Karimirad
• Dr Mohammed Sonebi
• Dr Nipuni Odara Merenchi Galappaththige
• Dr Raymond Flynn
• Dr Rory Doherty
• Dr Siobhan Cox
• Dr Sree Nanukuttan
• Dr Stephen McIlwaine
• Dr Tara Brooks
• Dr Ulrich Ofterdinger
• Dr Xianhai Meng
• Professor G Hamill
• Professor Marios Soutsos
• Professor Wei Sha

Learning Outcomes

• A research degree offers students an opportunity to foster their capacity for independent research and critical thought.
• It also allows students to explore an area of interest and so understand and solve theoretical and practical problems within the field.

Course Structure

• You will carry out original research under the guidance of your supervisory team.
• There is no specific course content as such. This independent research is complemented by postgraduate skills training organised by Queen’s Graduate School, and other internal and external training courses organised through your supervisor.

Assessment

• Assessment processes for the research degree differ from taught degrees.
• Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback; a formal assessment process takes place annually.

Feedback

• Supervisors will offer feedback on draft work at regular intervals throughout the period of registration on the degree.

Entrance Requirements

• The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

International Students

• For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

• Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required.

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI) £5,006
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) £5,006
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB) £5,006
• EU Other £25,600
• International £25,600

Additional Course Costs

• There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Bench Fees

• Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee.

Funding and Scholarships

• The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.

How to Apply

• Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a Supervisor

• If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.