Key information
- Funding
- Self-funded
- School
- Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
- Location
- Dubai
- Award
- PhD
- Delivery type
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start date
- September, January, May
- Duration
- Up to 4 years (full time)
The PhD Civil Engineering programme supports research aimed at developing resilient, sustainable and technologically advanced infrastructure systems. Research projects combine scientific rigour with practical engineering applications, enabling students to address critical challenges related to urbanisation, climate resilience, resource management and infrastructure performance.
Research topics for PhD supervision
A broad range of fundamental and applied research projects can be undertaken across civil and infrastructure engineering disciplines. Examples include:
- Sustainable and low-carbon concrete, advanced cementitious materials and alternative construction materials.
- Structural engineering, structural health monitoring and performance-based design.
- Earthquake engineering, seismic resilience and disaster risk reduction.
- Infrastructure resilience and adaptation to climate change.
- Geotechnical engineering, ground improvement techniques and soil–structure interaction.
- Transportation engineering, smart mobility systems and sustainable transport infrastructure.
- Water resources engineering, urban drainage systems and flood risk management.
- Coastal engineering and protection of critical infrastructure against extreme environmental conditions.
- Smart infrastructure, sensor networks and Internet of Things (IoT) applications for asset monitoring.
- Digital Twins for civil infrastructure and lifecycle asset management.
- Computational modelling, finite element analysis and data-driven engineering approaches.
- Sustainable urban infrastructure planning and development.
- Renewable energy infrastructure and integration of resilient utility systems.
- Construction materials durability, deterioration prediction and infrastructure maintenance optimisation.
Research environment
The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) provides a vibrant and interdisciplinary research environment for doctoral study. Our research spans the design, construction, operation and sustainability of the built environment, bringing together expertise in civil engineering, construction, infrastructure systems, digital technologies, urban development and environmental sustainability.
Through close collaboration with industry, professional bodies and government stakeholders, EGIS researchers develop innovative solutions to global challenges including climate resilience, resource efficiency, smart infrastructure and sustainable cities. PhD candidates benefit from access to world-class academic expertise, specialist facilities and opportunities for collaboration across Heriot-Watt's global campuses in Dubai, Edinburgh and Malaysia.
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.
Accreditation
Read more about the UAE Federal Accreditation.
This programme is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE.
Academic team
PGR coordinator
PGR supervisors
Entry requirements
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A Master’s degree, normally with merit or distinction, in a relevant discipline.
- A strong interest in civil engineering, sustainability, building performance and/or construction research areas.
- The ability to formulate and undertake an independent research project.
- Strong written, verbal and visual communication skills.
- The capacity to work ethically and collaboratively with diverse participants and stakeholders.
Funding information
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| Local and International | AED 103,480 per year | AED 51,740 per year |
- All tuition fees inclusive of VAT.
Additional information
* All tuition fees inclusive of VAT
Scholarships and bursaries
See our range of degree entry, undergraduate, postgraduate taught and PhD scholarships and discounts.
We offer a number of competitive funded scholarships for research degrees. Full or partial support may be available for well-qualified candidates from UK research councils, research pools, charities or industry.
View our full range of scholarships.
Why Heriot-Watt
As the first British university to set up a campus in Dubai in 2005, we have established ourselves as a pioneer in the higher education market in the UAE. The three consecutive five-star ratings by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a testament to our reputation for world-class teaching.
The futuristic Dubai campus is designed to offer interactive and collaborative learning experiences with innovative classroom styles fostering group work and engagement like Collaborative lecture theatres, Digitally Classrooms and Seminar rooms. The campus also has dedicated cutting-edge laboratories and workshops that span various engineering disciplines along with Psychology, IT, Photography, Design and Architecture.
Our practical, leading-edge research combined with strong links to business and industry, have made our graduates highly employable and sought after by the best organisations worldwide, with over 90% in graduate-level jobs or further study within six months of graduation. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education through our Go Global programme.
