PhD, MPhil, MRes Architecture

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Research opportunities

The Department of Architecture's research portfolio is varied, covering the vast area between buildings and cities performance analysis, assessment and design. Our research staff bring to this area a rich tapestry of specific interests and expertise which our PhD students complement and help expand.

We are keen to receive applications from prospective students that match both our current areas and individual expertise. We are also interested in receiving proposals that bring new questions to the table. 

Who we are: our research

The research and innovative expertise of the Department  of Architecture spans:

  • humanities
  • physical and social sciences, addressing design for resilient energy and healthy environments and systems
  • building performance and evaluation
  • urban science analytics and design
  • retrofit, conservation and heritage

Our research reflects the multi and trans-disciplinary nature of architecture and urbanism. It focuses on real-world problems and improving peoples’ lives. We're leading the way to a more sustainable future in response to government, industry and societal needs and we are at the forefront of research on how people and cities interact in a rapidly urbanising climate-changed world.

Student examining a model of a building.

View our current research opportunities

Strathclyde Centre for Doctoral Training: Energy-efficient Indoor Climate Control for Optimised Health

This exciting 42-month project will be part of the Strathclyde Centre for Doctoral Training (SCDT) in ‘Energy-efficient Indoor Climate Control for Optimised Health (EICCOH)’. The aim of this interdisciplinary SCDT is to meet the needs of the fast-growing green construction industry to optimise building performance and deliver net-zero buildings whilst promoting occupant’s health and wellbeing.

Deadline:

Funding:

unfunded

Saint Andrew's Society Scholarships

For the academic year 2025-2026, the St Andrew's Society for the State of New York is offering two scholarships to Scottish students wishing to study for a postgraduate Masters in the United States. Each studentship will have a maximum value of $45,000 USD.

Preference will be given to candidates who have no previous experience of the United States and for whom a period of study there can be expected to be a life-changing experience. Selection will be based on an all-around assessment, including character, experience academic achievement, and need.

The selection process is conducted by the Scholarship Committee of the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York.

Deadline:

28 February 2025

Funding:

Funded

John Anderson Research Studentship Scheme (JARSS)

John Anderson Research Studentship Scheme (JARSS) doctoral studentships are available annually for excellent students and excellent research projects.

There are two main sources of funding:

  • Central University funding
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - Doctoral Landscape Award (EPSRC - DLA) funding.

The JARSS 2025/26 competition will open in October 2024 and students successful in this competition will commence studies in October 2025. Faculties will set their own internal deadlines for the competition.

Academics/Supervisors make the applications for this scheme and there are various deadlines across Departments and Faculties, therefore, in the first instance, all interested students should contact the Department where they would like to carry out their research.

Deadline:

Funding:

Funded

EPSRC Doctoral Prize 2025

We are pleased to announce a call for an EPSRC Doctoral Prize funded by the EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership grant.  The award provides funding for one year of salary to support an outstanding researcher in further developing their research activities following completion of a PhD.  To be eligible, candidates must have received EPSRC funding for their PhD or EngD programme, successfully passed their PhD viva voce exam, and submitted the final version of their thesis by the start of the Doctoral Prize project (expected between May and October 2025).

For the 2025 call, each Faculty is limited to two applications and should conduct an initial faculty-led selection process to identify their top two candidates for submission to the central panel. The deadline for each Faculty will be communicated internally.

Deadline:

28 February 2025

Funding:

Funded

THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner

Our students

Our students come from a range of International and national Universities and practices, providing a vibrant jigsaw of viewpoints and bringing to the table really interesting and important challenges. This is what makes our postgraduate research cohort so special. 

Anosh's story

Anosh travelled from Pakistan to study his Masters degree at Strathclyde. Watch his story in the video below to find out why he stayed to do a PhD in Architecture!

Any student who comes in, they are part of a research community and a thriving research culture, which is supported by professional development programs, research workshops and courses that are offered by the Department of Architecture.

Students' research

Below you can explore some of our postgraduate students' research. This small exhibition features students at different stages of their progress as well as some more established ‘journeys’.

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Fees & funding

All fees quoted are per academic year unless otherwise stated.

Entrants may be subject to a small fee during the writing up period.

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.

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Scotland

£4,786

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

£4,786

Republic of Ireland

If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process.

International

£23,850

Funding

Each studentship covers the tuition fee for Scottish/EU students, or international fee for many awards, and provides a maintenance grant of at least £13,836 a year, for up to three and a half years.

Take a look at our funding your postgraduate research web page for funding information.

You can also view our scholarships search for further funding opportunities.

Postgraduate research opportunities

Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities.

Additional costs

International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information.

Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.

Dr Huyam Abudib, PhD Architecture student
My journey at Strathclyde University is not only about facilities, courses, and awards, it is about challenges and opportunities that only come through thoughtful, talented, friendly, and outstanding people. I wholeheartedly encourage you to join our PhD programme. You will have incomparable lifetime research and academic experience.
Dr Huyam Abudib
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Supervisors

Architecture, Technology & Environmental Systems

SupervisorInterests
Tim Sharpe
  • Low and zero-carbon buildings
  • Indoor air quality, health and ventilation in buildings
Stirling Howieson
  • Solar-powered inventions that address the UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Optimising the conflict between energy efficiency and indoor air quality
  • Housing design to accommodate a 3-metre sea level rise in the 21st century
Pieter de Wilde
  • Building occupant behaviour
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Performance-based design
  • Biodiversity, animals and buildings
Grainne McGill
  • Large-scale monitoring of indoor air quality, chemical exposure and overheating potential in modern homes using low-cost sensors and sampling techniques
  • SMART energy efficient indoor air quality management strategies, AI-enabled intelligent ventilation systems / sensor-based ventilation control, performance and reliability of mechanical ventilation long-term
  • Impact of home ventilation and indoor air pollution exposure on measured health outcomes of vulnerable groups.
  • Impact of ventilation, building airtightness and glazing on the indoor microbiome
  • Energy-efficient indoor climate control for optimised health
Sonja Oliveira
  • Architecture & energy: spatial behaviours, energy demand, energy justice, sociotechnical approaches, multidimensional approaches, performance
  • Net-zero design systems & processes: sociology of design in low carbon architecture practice, design innovation, visual methods
  • Nature-based approaches, multispecies environments, experimental architecture inspired by biology
  • Infrastructures & derelict spaces: Retrofit, communication, Reuse, Imagination
Linda Toledo
  • Adaptive housing design: optimising adaptive comfort and adaptive behaviour
  • Modern low energy and net zero dwellings' performance evaluation
  • Healthy buildings: tackling overheating in modern flats
  • Resilience to climate change within the built environment
  • Energy-efficient indoor climate control for optimised health
Alejandro Moreno-Rangel
  • Passivhaus: indoor environment, net zero/positive, indoor air quality, health
  • Indoor environment, particularly indoor air quality and thermal comfort, health issues related to
  • Net zero buildings, particularly residential design, behaviour, performance gap, retrofit, building performance evaluation
  • Use of design research methods to support net-zero: behaviours, building interactions/relationships
  • Energy-efficient indoor climate control for optimised health
  • Building performance evaluation & post-occupancy evaluation (indoor environment, occupants' perception, energy use)
Lori McElroy
  • Building energy performance appraisal, modelling and monitoring to minimise performance gaps
  • Retrofitting of existing buildings and places, avoiding unintended consequences for better health outcomes, fuel poverty alleviation
  • Designing better environments for vulnerable people and older people with sensory and cognitive impairment
  • Net-zero buildings: design, understanding behaviour, performance gap, retrofit, building performance evaluation
  • Built environment, planning and energy policy and future legislation
David Grierson
  • Space - Nature - Syntax
  • Child - Nature - Distance
Mike Grant  

Urban Design & Analytics

SupervisorInterests
Ombretta Romice
  • Design codes: history, rationale, future applications
  • How we perceive urban environments: innovative methods and techniques for large scale study and comparisons; implications for design and policy
  • Research on the impact of urban form on various aspects of quality of urban life
  • Mapping perceived quality in the built environment (for example in terms of perceived beauty, safety, liveliness) and investigating its relationship with urban form 
  • The relationships between higher education and the profession in urban design: building the case for an international professionalism and educational approach
Sergio Porta  

Conservation & Heritage

SupervisorInterests
Cristina Gonzalez Longo
  • Architectural Conservation
  • Heritage Science
  • Retrofitting

Construction Law & Digital Construction

Supervisors:

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Support & development

When you arrive as a newly enrolled student, you'll receive a set of inductions organised by the University via the Doctoral School, the Faculty and the Department. These will help you familiarise yourself with the city and the campus facilities, and the process of conducting research with us.

As part of the PhD, you will be required to complete, over the 3 years, a PgCert in Researcher Development.

The University Also offers an exciting range of activities and courses which you can select to build up both your specialist and general skills for research. From this year, with the help of past students, we have decided to tailor it to Architecture and the Built environment, and also include a set of activities aimed at involving you proactively into the life of the Department of Architecture.

Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)

As part of your PhD degree, you'll be enrolled on the Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD). 

This certificate is designed to support you with your research and rewards you for things you'll do as a research student here.

It'll help you improve skills which are important to professional development and employability:

  • knowledge and intellectual abilities to conduct your research
  • personal qualities to succeed in your research and chosen career
  • standards, requirements and conduct of a professional researcher in your discipline
  • working with others and communicating the impact of your research to a wide range of audiences

All you have to do is plan these activities alongside your doctorate, documenting and reflecting your journey to success along the way.

Find out more about the PgCert RPD programme.

Careers

The University Careers Service can help you with everything from writing your CV to interview preparation.

Student support

From financial advice to our IT facilities, we have a wide range of support for all students here at Strathclyde. Get all the information you need at Strathlife.

Studying in the Department of Architecture

Students conduct the majority of their work in the Postgraduate Research Suite, where each has a dedicated desk with IT facilities and comfortable personal space. Communal areas allow for research group meetings, shared presentations and discussions, both formal and informal. The University also offers a wider range of teaching and meeting spaces which our students use regularly. 

Activities & events

As part of the PGR cohort, you will be often invited to attend wider Departmental events, such as our recent workshop on Urban Morphometrics. These will tend to reflect the research interests within the Department and related stages of development.

Our PGR cohort is extremely active in bringing a range of opportunities to our doorstep, reaching out to the many available across and outside the University, and tailoring them to their particular needs. For example, we have organised sessions on career development, writing effective CVs, Sustainable Development Goals, architectural history, coding, and urban analysis… in fact, we have a fantastic rich calendar of events, again produced and managed by our super talented students.

Models in the Department of Architecture with the text

Activities & events

As part of the postgraduate research (PGR) cohort, you will be often invited to attend wider Departmental events, such as our recent workshop on Urban Morphometrics. These will tend to reflect the research interests within the Department and related stages of development.

Our PGR cohort is extremely active in bringing a range of opportunities to our doorstep, reaching out to the many available across and outside the University, and tailoring them to their particular needs. For example, we have organised sessions on career development, writing effective CVs, Sustainable Development Goals, architectural history, coding, and urban analysis… in fact, we have a fantastic rich calendar of events, again produced and managed by our super talented students.

Student discussions in Department of Architecture.

Disseminating our work

We want our PGR students to disseminate and discuss their work right, front and centre! This is why are encourage them to attend and be involved in the organisation of conferences, put together their own events, and take part in national or international opportunities with colleagues.

As a department, we offer a contribution toward both conferences, which can be matched by the University Travel Fund, and some support towards student-led activities.

Seabo Morobolo

Seabo Morobolo attended the 14th SANORD 2022 International Conference in Polokwane, South Africa in December, 2022 under the theme "Finding Solutions: The nexus between SDGs and South-North Partnerships." She presented a paper titled " Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems: possibility or illusion, under the subtheme of Indigenous Knowledge Systems: merging epistemologies."

Dalia Aly 

Dalia Aly attended Sustainability GEN-4 Post COP 27 Conference in Cairo, Egypt in January 2023 with the presentation “The application of facilities management in the management of public parks: the case of Cairo”.

Dalia Aly has also recently won the first prize (Outstanding) in an international competition organised by Building & Cities for videos of their research, to explain ‘why it matters’. Anosh Butt, Madhavi Patil, and Krishnokoli Dutta also had entries. View all the videos at the Buildings & Cities website.

Postgraduate research at the Strathclyde Doctoral School

The Strathclyde Doctoral School offers a vibrant, student-centred research and training environment, dedicated to supporting both current and future research talent.

Bringing together all four of our faculties, it is committed to enhancing the student experience, increasing research outputs and opportunities, and ensuring that training is delivered at the highest standard.

As a postgraduate researcher, you will automatically become a member of the Strathclyde Doctoral School.

Find out more about the Doctoral School

International students

We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.

Visit our international students' section

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Apply

Entry requirements

You'll need a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

Previous research or industrial experience isn't necessary but is advantageous.

The application

During the application you'll be asked for the following:

  • your full contact details
  • transcripts and certificates of all degrees, translated into English where necessary
  • two references, one of which must be academic and obtained before you apply
  • an updated CV which includes research and/or industry experience and details of any publications
  • funding or scholarship information
  • research proposal of 250 to 1,000 words in length, detailing the subject area and topic to be investigated

International applicants

If you're applying as an international student, you'll also need to provide:

  • proof of IELTS English language proficiency, if English isn't your first language
  • a scanned copy of your passport
  • a copy of your funding letter, if available

By filling these details out as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay to your application being processed by the University.

Research proposal

Your proposal should clearly identify:

  • your research question
  • how your research question relates to other work in the field
  • your proposed methodology and fieldwork along with the likely availability of information you'll need
  • an indicative timetable

Supervisors

Research supervisors are assigned to you by the Department of Architecture. Let us know in your application who you'd like to work with, but the Department will team you up with the best supervisor to support your project.

Once we've received your application, your research proposal is passed to potential supervisors for consideration. If it's not compatible with the researcher's current projects and they are unable to supervise, it will be passed along to another for consideration. If they can supervise you, they'll confirm and nominate a potential second supervisor.

As soon as a second supervisor is confirmed, an offer of study will be sent to you through Pegasus, our online application system.

When you accept our offer, you'll receive a full offer in writing via the email address you'll have provided.

Accepting an offer

Once you've accepted our offer, we'll need you to fulfil any academic, administrative or financial conditions that we ask.

UK or EU students

If you're applying as a UK or EU student, you'll then be issued with your registration documentation.

International students

An ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate is a mandatory requirement for some postgraduate students in science, engineering and technology.

Find out if you need an ATAS certificate.

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Architecture

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Architecture (Research)

full-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Architecture

MPhil
full-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Architecture

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Architecture

MPhil
part-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Architecture (Industrial)

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Architecture (Industrial)

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025

Start date: Sep 2025

Architecture

MRes
full-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Start date: Sep 2025

Architecture

MRes
part-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Start date: Sep 2025

Engineering

MRes
full-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Start date: Sep 2025

Engineering

MRes
part-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Start date: Sep 2025

Building Design and Management for Sustainability

MRes
full-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Start date: Sep 2025

Building Design and Management for Sustainability

MRes
part-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Architecture

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Architecture

MPhil
part-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Architecture (Industrial)

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Architecture (Industrial)

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Architecture

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Architecture (Research)

full-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Architecture

MPhil
full-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Architecture (Industrial)

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Architecture (Industrial)

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Architecture

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Architecture (Research)

full-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Architecture

MPhil
full-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Architecture

PhD
part-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Architecture

MPhil
part-time
Start date: Oct 2026 - Sep 2027

Start date: Sep 2026

Architecture

MRes
full-time
Start date: Sep 2026

Start date: Sep 2026

Architecture

MRes
part-time
Start date: Sep 2026

Start date: Sep 2026

Engineering

MRes
full-time
Start date: Sep 2026

Start date: Sep 2026

Engineering

MRes
part-time
Start date: Sep 2026

Start date: Sep 2026

Building Design and Management for Sustainability

MRes
full-time
Start date: Sep 2026

Start date: Sep 2026

Building Design and Management for Sustainability

MRes
part-time
Start date: Sep 2026

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Contact us

Department of Architecture

Telephone: +44 (0)141 548 3023

Email: contact-architecture@strath.ac.uk

James Weir Building
75 Montrose Street
Glasgow
G1 1XJ

Application (qualifications, English, sponsorship) + progress of applications

Catriona Mirren

Telephone: +44 (0)141 548 3097

Email: catriona.mirren@strath.ac.uk

Enquiries about academic proposals and specific research information

Dr Ombretta Romice

Email: ombretta.r.romice@strath.ac.uk