phd engineering london

Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering MPhil/PhD (2024), click here

The MPhil/PhD degree at UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering offers excellent research and skills training under the supervision of world-leading academics. Join us to deepen your research skills, collaborate on projects with national and international partners, and gain valuable networking opportunities and industry exposure. 

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university in a subject appropriate to the chosen field, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance . This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering combines state-of-the-art, award-winning facilities with world-leading academics to design engineering solutions that address human needs and promote sustainable growth on a societal and global level. 

As a research student with us, you'll benefit from a dynamic training environment that encourages collaboration across engineering sciences, computational skills, and experimentation at our facilities, while working on research projects with our industry partners. 

In addition to regular guidance from your academic supervisors, you’ll have access to a dedicated administrative team and a range of support services. 

You’ll also benefit from UCL’s skills development programmes, 1-2-1 career guidance, and participate in social and community outreach activities to support your research, career, and student life. 

A PhD with us will enhance not only your research skills, but your soft and transferable skills. This ensures you’re well-prepared for success after your studies.

Who this course is for

This programme is most likely to appeal to students who are passionate about finding solutions to some of the worlds most pressing problems. You'd ideally have academic background in a subject such as engineering, architecture, environmental studies, geography, mathematics, earth sciences, physical or computational sciences, and wish to expand your knowledge of theory, tools and techniques about civil engineering. 

Before registering for this MPhil/PhD programme, you must initially have successfully a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university in a subject appropriate to the chosen field, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

What this course will give you

This degree offers the folllowing range of benefits and opportunities:

• A research degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025). We also hold one of the largest EPSRC research portfolios in civil engineering. 
• Learn from world-renowned academics and researchers in UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, who specialise in different disciplines including environment, structures, geomatics, transport, healthy infrastructure, and more. 
• Join one of our interdisciplinary research projects, groups, or centres. Contribute to innovative solutions that improve human experience and make a societal and global impact. 
• Build strong collaborative skills and gain industry experience by working with UCL experts on research projects and public engagement activities, where applicable, with one of our government and industry partners. 
• Access the department's start-of-the-art and award-winning facilities across London such as Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory (PEARL), Controlled Active Ventilation Environment (CAVE), and Structural & Environmental Testing at Here East (StrEnTHE). These resources offer opportunities to observe and conduct experiments that will enhance your research. 
• Join the UCL Doctoral Skills Development (DSDP ) programme and take advantage of multiple training courses, such as our teaching training scheme, to gain relevant skills for research and your future career. 
• Study in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2025). UCL’s Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.

Making an impact

Case study: Tsunami defence

Our work on fluid dynamics has created new ways to model tsunami waves, so we can defend against these disasters.

The foundation of your career

With a comprehensive skillset and in-depth knowledge, graduates are poised to excel across various sectors, spearheading projects, influencing decisions, and contributing to the advancement of the engineering landscape. This degree not only opens doors to an array of prestigious employment opportunities but also sets a well-defined trajectory for a fulfilling and impactful career.

Employability

Our recent graduate data suggests that 40% of our graduates took up postdoctoral fellowships or lectureships at UCL or other universities after graduation. Engineering consultancy firms are the second most popular destination (30%), followed by policymaking organisations, such as central governments, and the United Nations (20%). In addition, there have been a number of graduates who pursued careers as entrepreneurs.

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build professional and industry contacts in and outside of UCL as part of your degree. 

• Receive input and advice on your research project from academics, researchers, and industry experts both within and beyond UCL. 
• Engage with peers across the world, industry experts and faculty members all united in their desire to help shape the future of engineering. 
• Take part in collaborative group projects, seminars, site visits, fieldtrips, case studies, and workshops with the department and industry partners. 
• Gain insights into real-world engineering challenges by attending seminars, lectures, and exhibitions led by in-house members and industry leaders at UCL. 
• Access UCL Careers for a variety of resources and events to support your career development, including workshops, employer fairs, and one-to-one guidance.

Teaching and learning

Our programme adopts a diverse range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, projects, laboratory sessions, industry collaborations, and more. For your research project, you may expect to run laboratory experiments, computational analyses, or field investigations, depending on your project's specific requirements. 

A dissertation of up to 100,000 words for a PhD, or up to 60,000 words for an MPhil, is completed as a part of this programme.

Students can expect a well-balanced division of their time between various learning activities such as tutorials, lectures, seminars, practical sessions, and personal guidance. A typical full-time PhD student is expected to spend an average of approximately 35-40 hours per week working on their PhD, although this will vary, with some periods of more intensive research.

The majority of the student's time is dedicated to independent study, allowing for in-depth exploration and self-directed learning. For your research project, you may expect to run laboratory experiments, computational analyses, or field investigations, depending on your project's specific requirements.

Research areas and structure

Research in UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering is uniquely multidisciplinary, spanning 3D imaging, urban resilience and accessibility, to earthquake engineering, hydrodynamics and heritage protection. Our researchers are committed to finding solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. Research in our Department falls primarily into the following domain areas:

• Environment and Sustainability : water and wastewater engineering; energy modelling; climate change adaptation; resilience; industrial ecology.
• Transport and Infrastructure : sustainable structures; circular economy; resource efficiency; urban environment; railways; healthier environment.
• Mechanics : fluid mechanics; geomatics; geomechanics; materials science; construction.
• Natural Hazards : hazard risk; natural environment; earthquake engineering; international development; water sanitation; 3D imaging and modelling.

Visit UCL CEGE’s research website for more.

Research environment

Our world-class courses attract the best students from all over the world and train the next generation of engineers. We have 150 students enrolled on our PhD programmes at any given time. 

UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering is a multidisciplinary department with a long tradition of excellence and innovation in research and teaching. Our aims are: 

• To promote a pioneering, interdisciplinary approach with a global outlook in civil engineering that addresses diverse societal needs and enhances well-being. 
• To develop and empower the next generation of engineers while fostering global leadership in research through international platforms for scholars. 
• To bridge theory with application by stimulating continuous collaboration and engagement between the public and private sectors, as well as civil society.
• To encourage high-impact research applications to improve sustainability, safety, and equity, while actively supporting the research community. 

Our research integrates knowledge and skills with experience, and above all, passion and empathy to push the boundaries of innovation. We continually reference human needs and sustainable growth as the driving forces behind engineering innovative solutions. In 2011, UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering received £17.2m in funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, more than any comparable department. 

This funding highlights our research impact in tackling key national and global challenges, including city design, ageing populations, transport infrastructure, water processing, and energy and resource management.

Within 3 months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research methodology and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback. During your registration, you will be able to participate in conferences and research showcase events, which provide you with an opportunity to present your research findings before an audience of academics, industry and your fellow doctoral students.

In the second year or part-time equivalent, you will be expected to complete the upgrade progression process. To progress, you are required to submit a short upgrade report, which must be presented and successfully defended in an upgrade viva. In your final year, you will submit your thesis and defend it to a panel in a viva (oral examination).

Depending on the terms of any funding arrangements, upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may be able to register as a completing research student (CRS) while you write up your thesis. 

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Additional costs should be discussed with your prospective supervisor as each research area differs.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide .

Funding your studies

Fully-funded studentships attached to research projects are usually announced in the vacancies section of the CEGE website , as well as on www.jobs.ac.uk and www.findaphd.com .

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

You are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors before submitting a formal application. It is important that you find a supervisor who shares the same research interest and expectations and is available to take a new student. Supervisors in our department welcome emails enquiring about your potential MPhil/PhD study. Their contact details are available on the Academic staff section of the CEGE website . Intake points for PhD students are September and March. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Year of entry: 2024-2025, got questions get in touch.

Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering

[email protected]

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Research degrees

Our internationally renowned department fosters a vibrant research environment that aims to equip and inspire researchers to address technological and societal challenges. we welcome postgraduate researchers from the uk and all over the world to further their aspirations as part of this goal. .

Our research focuses on both discovery and applied research, leveraging the synergies between conventional engineering and leading-edge technologies to solve the problems of today and tomorrow. Our research supports global challenges and national prosperity, helping to make a better world and to improve people's lives.

We partner with colleagues at King's and other universities nationally and internationally, collaborating across wide-ranging themes across the arts and humanities, law, healthcare, and social sciences, with partners including policy makers, industry and cultural leaders.

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Applying for a PhD

The Department of Engineering invites applications for a number of 3.5-year funded as well as self-funded studentships starting in October each year. The deadline for applications is the end of April.

Eligibility

• Applicants should have a bachelors degree with 2:1 honours degree in an Engineering discipline or a closely related subject such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science and a good background in the area of intended research.
• A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters degree with Merit or above.
• The available studentships include studentships for applicants who are UK residents as well as studentships for international applicants from outside the UK.

We offer PhDs on a wide range of different research themes in engineering, as well as funded studentships attached to specific funding grants and offered to home students. Potential applicants can identify and contact appropriate supervisors proposing projects they would be interested in pursuing.

Funded studentships

• Sustainable artwork preservation: understanding and controlling environmentally induced changes to paintings
• Multiphysics and Multiscale Approach to Phase Change Heat Transfer
• Fluid mechanics in bio-inspired flight/swimming and renewable energy systems
• Digital Music Therapeutics for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine
• Engineering Networked Machine Learning via Meta-Free Energy Minimisation
• 6G network intelligence for shared autonomy in teleoperation
• Scrapping communication latency for shared autonomy in remote surgical intervention 

Research themes

Candidates can contact appropriate supervisors proposing projects that align with the following departmental research themes:

• Communication & Information Engineering
• Design & Mechatronics
• Manufacturing, Materials & Systems
• Signals & Control
• Computational Engineering
• Data-Centric Engineering

We have a number of different scholarships every year, for both home and international students. In all cases, we encourage students to apply as early as possible, and to liaise with their selected supervisor prior to application. Projects are listed in the 'projects' tab, but applicants can also check the King's funding opportunities page  as well as FindAPhD.com .

Funding opporunities include:

• Faculty studentships - the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences offers funding in the Departments of Chemistry, Engineering, Informatics, Mathematics and Physics. The Studentship is funded for 3.5-4 years, with a bursary starting at the standard research council rate, and which will cover the full cost of tuition fees for home international students.
• The Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Twins for Healthcare is an innovative PhD programme that cuts across the Health Faculties and the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. The programme offers postgraduate researchers fully funded positions with the aim of training the next generation of leaders in healthcare technology to improve healthcare systems using the cutting-edge framework of Digital Twins. Applicants can find out more on the website . 
• The Centre for Doctoral Training on Multiscale Models for Life is a cross disciplinary CDT based in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Science offers support for 3.5 years including a stipend at the current UKRI rate, home rate tuition fees, research expenses and support for training and career enhancement. Find out more on the website .
• King's-China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarship programme (K-CSC) is open to students from China. Details of this programme can be found on our  website .
• There are a number of other King's wide funding schemes in operation, details of which, along with eligbility criteria can be found on our  website .
• Additional (partial) fundings are available through teaching in the department, and collabotrating on research projects. These cases could be discussed and agreed with your potential supervisor.

For further information on postgraduate research funding and scholarships please visit the  Centre for Doctoral Studies pages .

Prior to application, applicants should contact the potential supervisor to discuss the applicant's suitability for the proposed project. 

Applications need to complete an application for PhD via the  University Admissions Portal , apply for Engineering Research (MPhil/PhD), and indicate their desired supervisor and the project title.

When submitting their application, candidates must include a two-page research statement which should incorporate:

• How the project relates to one of the Department's research themes ,
• Initial ideas on the particular challenges the applicant would be interested in addressing;
• A brief review of the relevant state of the art, identifying limitations or open questions;
• Initial ideas on what research the applicant might carry out towards addressing the challenges of the project, referring to existing research literature where appropriate. 
• In all cases the applicants are strongly advised to discuss their research statement with a potential supervisor. 

Following the review of the full PhD entry applications, shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview for assessment of their research potential and the contributions they can make to the research activities of the departmental hubs and to teaching activities within the department. 

No separate application form is required to apply for a Faculty studentship. The named supervisor will directly nominate a candidate to the departmental panel. 

Any written submissions required by the supervisor/department/research group should be submitted in one document. If you are applying to a specific research group, or if your supervisor belongs to a specific research group, you must include the name of the research group at the top of this document.

If you have a query on the process, please contact the Department PGR Officer ( [email protected] ) 

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The Graduate School in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences is home to all PhD students studying in the Faculty. From training and funding opportunities, to career development and campus events, it offers a range of services to support the needs and interests of our graduate students, supporting them to achieve their academic and professional goals.

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PhD applications

We are one of the largest computer science departments in the UK and a world leader in academic research, offering an exciting research environment for prospective postgraduate students.

The Department is actively involved in a number of Centres for Doctoral Training, such as the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Healthcare ( AI4Health) . Every year between 50-70 successful applicants are accepted for the PhD programme in the Department. We have a wide variety of scholarships for PhD students, including funding from research councils, research projects, industry, and teaching scholarships. More than 80% of our PhD students receive funding.

Applicants are expected to have a First Class or Distinction Masters level degree, or equivalent, in a relevant scientific or technical discipline, such as computer science or mathematics. Candidates who have only a Bachelors degree will not normally be considered, but they can apply to first do an MSc Degree  in the Department.

Applications for 2025 entry will open in October 2024 and afterwards can be made at any time during the year. Applicants for the main departmental PhD degree should apply to the Computing Research degree. There is at present no application fee.

However, we would particularly advise all overseas candidates in the need of funding to apply by the December deadline. Depending on the number of scholarship offers that we will issue, there may still be some funding available for applications received afterwards.

Note that if you are accepted by a supervisor, but do not receive a funding offer by the notification deadline, then it is likely that you have not been awarded funding. Unless otherwise communicated to you, your funding request will then remain under consideration for the following funding rounds. If your funding application is successful later during the year, you will receive a notification. You can refer to the  FAQ if you need to check the status of your application in due course.

We have a wide range of funds and we do our best to find the most appropriate for each candidate. To give you an idea of what funds are available please see the scholarships page . 

Please note that we will normally consider your application only after you have formally applied and your application has been received by the Department. Therefore we recommend that you submit an application prior to contacting academics about research topics.

Details on the application process are available in the application guidelines page . After preparing your application, you can submit it using the College online application system, which you can access by going to the:

Applications are formally processed by the Department only when the full paperwork has been received and processed by the College Registry. So we strongly advise you to read:

• Postgraduate prospectus
• Application guidance notes
• Postgraduate research admissions policy

We believe in the importance of diversity in both our department and the research fields we work in. We aim to create and foster a collaborative environment within the department where everyone feels welcome. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and ages to apply, in particular women, disabled, BAME and LGBTQIA+ candidates. Imperial College London is  committed  to equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Department has an equal opportunities policy and encourages applications from people with disabilities. You are invited to declare your disability to our PhD Admissions Tutor in order to discuss early on suitable arrangements for your PhD studies. Please also see the College's arrangements for people with disabilities .

Research in the Department

PhD Admissions Tutor

Dr. Giuliano Casale

PhD Programme Administrator Dr. Amani El-Kholy