Program Overview

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Built Environment, MPhil/PhD

Explore new ground in the built environment with a research degree (MPhil/PhD). Enjoy world-class facilities and laboratories for ground-breaking research.

School

Engineering

Location

Medway Campus

Duration

• 3-4 years full-time
• 5-7 years part-time

Start month

We accept applications all year-round.

Home/international fees 2025/26

• £5,006 / £17,975

What you should know about this course

• You study at our Greenwich Campus and benefit from our world-class specialist and integrated engineering laboratories located at the Medway and Greenwich campuses.
• You can enrol on the MPhil/PhD programme at any time during the academic year.
• Your MPhil registration is for 18-36 months full-time and 30-48 months part-time. The MPhil/PhD lasts 36-48 months full-time and 48-84 months part-time.

What you will study

Your PhD will centre on a specific research area and topic. With guidance from your supervisory team, you will select areas to study that align with your project. You may also attend extra classes or participate in training events to support your research. This can include seminars and workshops provided by the Faculty and your Research Centre. In addition, you will be part of the Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme (PGRDP). The PGRDP offers both mandatory and elective sessions designed to assist research students in enhancing their skills.

About the course team

The School of Engineering has specialist academic and senior research staff, as well as highly skilled technical support staff. Our Research Groups have strong industrial and academic connections to an extended team of experts, which keeps us informed of latest research, standards and industrial practice. You'll also receive comprehensive training from our Research and Enterprise Training Institute (RETI) throughout your studies.

Entry requirements

• An undergraduate (honours) degree with minimum 2:1 (or equivalent), or a Master’s degree with minimum 60% overall (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Applicants who don’t meet the above but have significant experience may be considered subject to the approval of the Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange and the Programme Leader.

Further information about entry

• Suitable applicants will be required to attend an interview.
• Applicants will also be required to:
  • Provide a detailed research proposal of approx. 1,500 words (for scholarship applications, please see specific instructions in the advert and include the scholarship reference to the personal statement section).
  • Provide a Curriculum Vitae (CV).
  • Provide 2x academic or professional references.
• Applicants are highly encouraged to identify and contact a potential MPhil/PhD supervisor. They will guide applicants through the application and help shape the research proposal. Where possible, include the name of the potential supervisor(s) contacted in research proposal and personal statement.

How you will learn

Teaching

MPhil/PhD students are usually allocated two supervisors to guide you through your research project. Your supervisors are usually research staff from within the faculty, although one may be appointed from another department or from outside the university.

Class sizes

The School of Engineering is home to around 60 MPhil and PhD students across four research groups.

Independent learning

A research degree is a major piece of original work. Most of your study time will be spent working independently, with support from your supervisory team.

You may also wish to factor in other research activity, such as participation at seminars, events and conferences, or working towards publications.

Overall workload

If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job over a 3-year period. For part-time students, this will adjust accordingly.

Assessment

The MPhil/PhD Programme is assessed by a written thesis and a viva including an external examiner, an internal examiner and a panel chair. For PhD study, you will register for the MPhil initially and undergo an upgrade review after a year of research to determine your readiness for full PhD registration.

Feedback summary

You receive regular feedback from your supervisory team, which meets formally every two weeks, but informally much more often. A faculty-level committee reviews your progress annually and helps to shape the direction of the project.

The oral examination (or viva) takes place a few weeks after the submission of the thesis and is assessed by an external researcher knowledgeable in the field of study.

Fees and funding

Fees information

• Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning
  • Home | £5,006 | £2,503 per year | N/A
  • International | £17,975 | £8,988 per year | N/A

Accommodation costs

Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.

Careers and placements

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

Graduates from this programme can pursue a wide range of career opportunities in industry, government and academia.

Do you provide employability services?

We have a team dedicated to enhancing student employment outcomes. Our Employer Partnerships Manager develops relationships with companies to provide employment opportunities.

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

Each student is assigned to at least two supervisors, of whom one is designated the lead supervisor. The supervisors would have complementary technical knowledge and project management experiences in the student's area of investigation. In addition, all members of related research Group will provide advice and support as required. The Programme Leader will also provide general guidance and support, as will the teaching team. In many cases, industrial supervisors are included in the supervision team to provide timely industrial requirements, trends, knowledge and support.

Support from the department

All students prepare a research proposal identifying a programme of work and the equipment and resources required.

The School of Engineering is fully equipped to support students across a range of disciplines. You also have access to state-of-the-art industrial technologies during projects with our local engineering collaborators including BAE Systems, Cummins Power Generation, Ford, Delphi, Thales, Atlas Copco and 3M.

Advice, guidance and support is available from a range of sources in the Faculty of Engineering and Science and across the University.