PhD, MPhil, MRes Civil & environmental engineering
ApplyResearch opportunities
Located in the heart of Glasgow’s City Centre, we offer a unique combination of expertise including civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as geosciences, material science, physics, chemistry and microbiology.
We have a vibrant postgraduate research community, with over 90 research students from a wide variety of backgrounds. We offer training in a diverse and international setting and working closely with industry and government ensures our research is sector-leading and meets the needs of our stakeholders. Our world-class research portfolio includes international and multi-institutional research collaborations.
Our postgraduate research degrees can be studied over one year (MPhil, MRes) or three years (PhD). Our research is supported by funding from research councils, the Scottish Government and industrial partners.
Industry links
Our Civil & Environmental Engineering department has close links with industry. Around 25% of our PhD students have financial help from those links.
We also have several high-profile visiting professors who supervise current PhDs.

What you'll study
MPhil & PhD
You can study for your choice of these degrees in any of our research areas:
- Ground Engineering & Engineering Geosciences
- Water, Environment, Sustainability & Public Health
- Intelligent Infrastructure
Get in touch with us at contact-civeng@strath.ac.uk to discuss your own project ideas.
You'll have the opportunity to attend our research seminars, as well as specialist classes and training courses from across the University.
MRes
Our MRes degree is specific to the following programmes:
Industrial Doctorate
For applicants looking to do a work-based PhD, the Faculty of Engineering’s Industrial Doctorate Programme allows you to remain in full-time employment while working on a PhD relevant to your area of work. You can find more information on the Industrial Doctorate web page.
Our research facilities & expertise
Facilities
You'll have access to our £6 million state-of-the-art research laboratories. Our facilities include:
- Geomechanics Laboratory
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
- Microbiology Laboratory
- Structures Laboratory
- Numerical Modelling of Geomaterials
- Field Investigation Capabilities
You'll also be given your own work area with allocated desk, computer and storage space in our offices in the James Weir building.
Research collaborations
We support a wide range of international research collaborations. These include activities in:
- Brazil
- Canada
- Cuba
- India
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Swaziland
- Thailand
- United States
Staff excellence
Our staff are experts in their fields. Some examples of their prestigious achievements include:
- Professor Lunn: Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) (2014); Geological Society of London Aberconway Medal (2011) for distinction in the practice of geology with special reference to work in industry
- Professor Kalin (et al.): Brownfield Briefing Award (2012) for research in Environmental forensic methods for the characterisation of coal tar contamination
- Professor Shipton: Geological Society of London William Smith Fund (2010) for excellence in contributions to applied and economic aspects of geoscience
- Dr Lord: Best of Life Project (2010) winner for the EU Life Programme BioReGen Project
PhD student success
Our PhD students regularly win prizes for excellent research as well as travel funding.
- Manpreet Puri: best presentation International Astronautical Congress, Beijing (2013)
- Chiara Mazzoni: Institute of Civil Engineers ICE QUEST Travel Award (2013) for the American Geophysical Union meeting, San Francisco
- Stewart Beattie: $1000 American Association of Petroleum Geologists Grant-in-aid (2013) to develop aerial photography using a remote-controlled aircraft
- Gareth Jones: Geometrics Scholarship Award (2012) for the best research project in the field of applied geophysics
Postgraduate research at the Strathclyde Doctoral School
The Strathclyde Doctoral School provides a vibrant and comprehensive student-centred research and training environment in order to grow and support current and future research talent.
The School encompasses our four faculties and is committed to enriching the student experience, intensifying research outputs and opportunities, and ensuring training is at the highest level. As a postgraduate researcher, you'll automatically become a member of the Strathclyde Doctoral School.
Find out more about the Doctoral SchoolFees & 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 should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.
Scotland |
|
---|---|
England, Wales & Northern Ireland |
|
International |
|
Additional costs | Some projects will have research costs in addition to the tuition fees. Assessment is made on a case by case basis. Applicants are informed at the point of offer that their project may incur bench fees (max £5k per year) and are sent a letter if a bench fee applies. This only applies to projects which will use particularly expensive equipment in one particular research lab. Students are provided with lab coats, gloves etc. International studentsInternational students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information.
|
Funding | 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. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.

We've been awarded the Athena Swan Gold Award for our work supporting women in engineering.
Supervisors
When you apply, you'll be asked to choose a potential supervisor. Don't worry if you can't see your desired area below – we'll do our best to match you to a supervisor when you apply.
Name | Area of expertise |
---|---|
Tara Beattie |
|
Doug Bertram |
|
|
|
|
|
Kate Dobson |
|
John Douglas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elsa João |
|
Charles Knapp |
|
Richard Lord |
|
Rebecca Lunn |
|
Tracy Morse |
|
James Minto |
|
Edoardo Patelli |
|
Matteo Pedrotti |
General topics:
Specific topics:
|
Marcus Perry |
|
Vern Pheonix |
|
Stella Pytharouli |
|
Jo Renshaw |
|
Jen Roberts |
|
Philippe Sentenac |
|
Zoe Shipton |
|
Stephen Suryasentana |
|
Christine Switzer |
|
Alessandro Tarantino |
|
Enrico Tubaldi |
|
Andrew Ward |
|
Christopher White |
|
Shangtong Yang |
|
|

For effective completion of PhD, it's necessary to have a healthy interaction with your supervisor, a good research facility and academic support. I am lucky enough to have all of these at Strathclyde.
PhD student
Support & development
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.
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.
Our research
We're the only engineering department in Scotland, and one of only three civil engineering departments in the UK, to hold an Athena SWAN silver award. The award recognises our 'commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.'
We have strong links with industry, including input from high-profile visiting professors. We have an active industrial advisory board and we offer a varied seminar series, which includes speakers from industry. We work closely with academics and industry to produce world-leading publications.

My favourite aspect about Strathclyde was the people. From the students, to the mentors and lecturers. Everyone I spoke with was very helpful and engaging. I also loved the fact that Strathclyde had a number of interaction events with industry, this allowed students to liaise directly with industry and prepare themselves for the professional world.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 100 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' sectionGlasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Life in GlasgowApply
Entry requirements
We look for a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline, from a recognised educational institution.
The application
During the application you'll be asked for the following:
- your full contact details
- copies of transcripts and certificates of all degrees (in English)
- two references, one of which must be academic and completed using the Reference Form
- an updated CV, detailing research and/or industry experience along with details of your publications
- a research statement, outlining your research interests and future career aspirations (this is mandatory for PhD, MPhil and MRes applicants)
By filling these details out as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay to your application being processed by the University.
Note for MRes Applicants:
Research Statement (Mandatory): The content and structure of this statement is largely up to you, but it should communicate why you want to do an MRes, why you want to do this MRes programme, and why you are a suitable candidate. It can also be helpful to outline how you meet the application criteria, your career aspirations, and an indication of the research topic or topic area you are interested to pursue (and any potential supervisor(s) that you have identified). We cannot process your application without your research statement.
International applicants
If you're applying internationally, you'll also need to provide us with the following:
- proof of IELTS English language proficiency if English isn't your first language (taken within two years)
- a scanned copy of your passport
- a scanned copy of your sponsorship letter (if available)
Supervisors
Research supervisors are assigned to you by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Let us know in your application who you'd like to work with, but the department will team you up with the best supervisor for 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's 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 will be sent to you through Pegasus, our online application system.
When you accept our offer of study, 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 students
If you're applying as a UK 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.
Start date: Oct 2022 - Sep 2023
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2022 - Sep 2023
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2022 - Sep 2023
Civil and Environmental Engineering - DTC
Start date: Oct 2022 - Sep 2023
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2022 - Sep 2023
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Sep 2023
Engineering
Start date: Sep 2023
Engineering
Start date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering - DTC
Start date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2022 - Sep 2023
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Industrial)
Start date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Industrial)
Start date: Oct 2022 - Sep 2023
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Industrial)
Start date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Industrial)
Start date: Sep 2024
Engineering
Start date: Sep 2024
Engineering
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering - DTC
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Industrial)
Start date: Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Industrial)
Contact us
Morag McIntosh
Telephone: +44 (0)141 548 2827
Email: morag.mcintosh@strath.ac.uk
James Weir Building, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow, G1 1XJ