PhD Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

The course

Delivery type
Day
Duration
3 years (full-time)
Intake date
Open enrolment
Location
Dubai

Contact

Overview

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society has an inherently strong research culture with research students making a highly valued contribution to School’s overall research profile.

The School is divided into three research institutes:

  • Institute for Infrastructure and Environment
  • Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design
  • Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research

Our research in Dubai is evolving, as is reflected by the PhD programmes we offer. Research students are presented with exciting opportunities to work in areas relevant to the academic community, research users and employers in the UAE and the Gulf region.

The School’s portfolio of multidisciplinary research makes it an attractive destination for those seeking postgraduate research opportunities of direct relevance to the solving of real world problems in Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society.

Accreditation

Read more about the UAE Federal Accreditation.

Student profile

Dima Al Kawadri

Heriot Watt is a well recognised university for its achievements in engineering and sustainability. I have also been invited to teach in EGIS and have been privileged to teach UG and Master’s courses across Architectural Design, Project Management, and Architectural Engineering.

Dima Al Kawadri, PhD Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

Research

PhD studies can be provided in the following thematic areas:

Architectural Engineering

  • Building Energy Performance
  • Dynamic Facades for Buildings
  • Building Scale Alternative Energy Systems
  • Building Stock Characterisation, Energy Performance and Intervention Studies
  • Innovations in Passive Cooling Strategies or Technologies
  • Building Scale Fuel Cells and other Hydrogen Based Energy Systems
  • Application and Development of Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics to Building Performance Problems
  • Investigations into Building Services Systems as applied in the hot arid climate of the UAE and GCC region
  • Building Energy Use Behaviour Studies
  • Persuasive Technologies
  • Building Integrated Energy Harvesting Technologies

Construction and Facilities Management

  • Establishing criteria for evaluating contractors sustainability in construction
  • Performance measurement and management for facilities management companies
  • Quality risk management application in construction projects
  • Evaluation of Health and Safety management system in oil and construction projects
  • Evaluation of Environmental management systems for production of construction materials
  • Carbon emission management in building construction projects
  • Building Information Management
  • Passive house technology applications in Qatar
  • Life cycle costing analysis
  • Knowledge management
  • Sustainability in the built environment

Civil Engineering

  • Transportation Engineering (Dr. Olisanwendu Ogwuda)
  • Water & Environmental Engineering (Dr. Rabee Rustum & Professor Wael Mualla)
  • Structural Engineering (Dr. Mustafa Batikha)
  • Materials (Dr. Olisanwendu Ogwuda)
  • Sustainability in Civil Engineering (Dr. Rabee Rustum)

Research proposal

The research proposal (normally three to four pages) should contain as much as possible of the following:

  • Introduction or outline of the proposed topic
  • Statement of objective(s) and/or specific research questions
  • Summary of some of the relevant literature that supports the research objective(s)
  • An indication of the intended research methodology
  • An indication of the theoretical structure and/or conceptual outline
  • A provisional timetable of the major phases of the research process
  • Results expected from the research, e.g., practical value of the research or possible contributions to knowledge, policy or methodology. At this stage we are not looking for a definitive document but merely an indication that you have thought through most of the above issues. Please note that work submitted may be subject to screening using plagiarism software.

Entry requirements

  • Interested applicants should complete the online application form, selecting the 'PG Research' programme options marked as '(Dubai Campus)'.
  • If you have any questions about the application process, contact Jaya Sukhani (jaya.sukhani@hw.ac.uk).

Supporting documents

Applicants interested in our PhD opportunities need to submit the following:

  • Copies of full academic transcripts from all previous academic degree courses and copies of certificates for degrees already awarded.
  • Confirmation of funding source and/or confirmation of sponsorship/sufficient funds to pursue studies.
  • A detailed research proposal.

English language requirements

Where English was not the medium of instruction during previous education, applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5. Other qualifications may also be considered.

Fees and funding

  • AED 95670 per year*

* All tuition fees inclusive of VAT

Scholarships and bursaries

See our range of degree entry, undergraduate, postgraduate taught and PhD scholarships and discounts.