Program Overview

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering is a research-based program that includes a thesis, providing candidates with advanced knowledge and preparing them for a career in research in university, government, or industry sectors.

Program Details

• The program requires course work, research thesis, and comprehensive oral examinations.
• The duration of the program is 4 years.
• Funding is available for qualified students.

Admission and Application

Admission Requirements

• A Master's degree in Civil Engineering or a cognate science is required for admission.
• International students must meet English proficiency requirements, including a TOEFL total score of at least 600 (paper-based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120.

Application Process

• The application deadline is March 1 to qualify for funding.
• Notification of acceptance is typically 2-3 months after receiving the full application.

Funding

• The guaranteed minimum funding for PhD students is $26,000.
• Qualified students can expect to receive competitive financial support during their graduate tenure, including Graduate Research Fellowship, teaching assistantships, and Queen's Graduate Assistantship awards.

Research

Areas of Research

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Hydrotechnical Engineering
• Structural Engineering

Career Opportunities

• Consulting
• Academia and Research
• Public sector
• Manufacturing
• Policy and Governance
• Civil engineering in the public domain
• Law

Program Requirements

• The minimum Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Graduate Council requirements for the program beyond the master's degree are 3 term-length graduate courses (or equivalent).
• Only 1 course of the required 3 may be a combined undergraduate/graduate course.
• A comprehensive examination must be completed within four to eighteen months of registering in the PhD program.
• All research students must successfully complete a non-credit course in laboratory safety at the first opportunity after their initial registration.