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Postgraduate Research

School of Natural and Built Enviroment
Study for a PhD

Overview

Studying for a PhD means that you will carry out original research under the guidance of your supervisory team. There is no specific course content as such. This independent research is complemented by the Postgraduate Development Programme managed by Queen’s Graduate School, which supports research students in the development of research skills and enhances their employability through career and personal development. This is complemented by discipline level specialist training provided by the School and other internal and external training courses organised through your supervisor. 

The School of Natural and Built Environment is home to around 150 doctoral research students from countries in Asia, Africa, North America, Europe and Australia as well as the UK and Ireland. Postgraduates form an intrinsic part of our research community and are actively involved in the School's cross-disciplinary Research Cells, enabling the creation of synergies in areas such as sustainability, infrastructure, culture, design and heritage. They study across five disciplines: Archaeology/Palaeoecology; Architecture; Civil Engineering; Geography; Planning with opportunities for inter-disciplinary work. The School is engaged with major research themes such as urbanism, community, heritage, population and climate change which contributes to the development of policy and practice both locally and globally.

All PhD students have office space and use of state-of-the-art laboratory and high performance computing facilities. The School has benefited from significant investment in facilities and specialist equipment such as the new Architecture studios, a microscopy suite, GIS labs, 3-D scanning and the 14Chrono Centre for Climate, the Environment and Chronology.

HEAR FROM OUR PHD RESEARCHERS
PhD Title: Governmentality of Public Participation in Renewable Energy
PhD Title: Digitising Ireland’s Sites of Memory
PhD Title: Investigating Nitrogen Cycle Changes in Bronze Age Ireland

Read about some of the PhD projects being undertaken in our School

Entry Requirements
How to Apply
Fees and Funding
Click below to view Postgraduate Research and PhD Opportunities
  • Postgraduate Research
    Postgraduate Research Courses
    Course Qualification Duration
    Archaeology & Palaeoecology MPhil 2 Academic Years (Full-time) / 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 2 Academic Years (Full-time) / 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    By joining Archaeology & Palaeoecology you will become part of a dynamic group of researchers in one of two interdisciplinary Research Clusters: Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) for more environmentally-related projects, and Culture & Society (C&S) for more humanities-related Archaeology projects.

    Projects involving Palaeoecology or Scientific Archaeology focus on themes such as long-term....

    Archaeology & Palaeoecology MPhil 2 Academic Years (Full-time) / 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 2 Academic Years (Full-time) / 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    By joining Archaeology & Palaeoecology you will become part of a dynamic group of researchers in one of two interdisciplinary Research Clusters: Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) for more environmentally-related projects, and Culture & Society (C&S) for more humanities-related Archaeology projects.

    Projects involving Palaeoecology or Scientific Archaeology focus on themes such as long-term....

    Architecture PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Architecture PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Civil Engineering MPhil 2 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Duration 2 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Description

    The research centre will address the topical grand challenges in civil engineering field, building on existing and developing new international collaborations. Financial support to meet these challenges will be acquired through both internal University initiatives (for enhanced infrastructure and facilities) and external funding from government grants, charities and direct industrial support.

    Research....

    Civil Engineering MPhil 2 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Duration 2 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Description

    The research centre will address the topical grand challenges in civil engineering field, building on existing and developing new international collaborations. Financial support to meet these challenges will be acquired through both internal University initiatives (for enhanced infrastructure and facilities) and external funding from government grants, charities and direct industrial support.

    Research....

    Planning MPhil 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The discipline of Planning is located in the School of Natural and Built Environment. In recent years the performance of the discipline has been quite exceptional in a range of surveys, e.g. National Student Survey, Times Higher Education Survey and Guardian League Table. Given this, Planning at Queen’s is very highly ranked within the UK's Russell Group Universities.

    Our research programme....

    Planning MPhil 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The discipline of Planning is located in the School of Natural and Built Environment. In recent years the performance of the discipline has been quite exceptional in a range of surveys, e.g. National Student Survey, Times Higher Education Survey and Guardian League Table. Given this, Planning at Queen’s is very highly ranked within the UK's Russell Group Universities.

    Our research programme....

    Architecture (Practice-Based) MPhil 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Architecture (Practice-Based) MPhil 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 4 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Architecture (Practice-Based) PhD 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Architecture (Practice-Based) PhD 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Architecture MPhil 4 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Duration 4 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Architecture MPhil 4 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Duration 4 Academic Years (Part-time) / 2 Academic Years (Full-time)
    Description

    Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

    Architecture at Queen’s values both traditional academic and practice-based research. We have the expertise....

    Planning PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The discipline of Planning is located in the School of Natural and Built Environment. In recent years the performance of the discipline has been quite exceptional in a range of surveys, e.g. National Student Survey, Times Higher Education Survey and Guardian League Table. Given this, Planning at Queen’s is very highly ranked within the UK's Russell Group Universities.

    Our research programme....

    Planning PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The discipline of Planning is located in the School of Natural and Built Environment. In recent years the performance of the discipline has been quite exceptional in a range of surveys, e.g. National Student Survey, Times Higher Education Survey and Guardian League Table. Given this, Planning at Queen’s is very highly ranked within the UK's Russell Group Universities.

    Our research programme....

    Archaeology & Palaeoecology PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    By joining Archaeology & Palaeoecology you will become part of a dynamic group of researchers in one of two interdisciplinary Research Clusters: Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) for more environmentally-related projects, and Culture & Society (C&S) for more humanities-related Archaeology projects.

    Projects involving Palaeoecology or Scientific Archaeology focus on themes such as long-term....

    Archaeology & Palaeoecology PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    By joining Archaeology & Palaeoecology you will become part of a dynamic group of researchers in one of two interdisciplinary Research Clusters: Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) for more environmentally-related projects, and Culture & Society (C&S) for more humanities-related Archaeology projects.

    Projects involving Palaeoecology or Scientific Archaeology focus on themes such as long-term....

    Geography PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The research undertaken within Geography falls under two interdisciplinary Research Clusters; Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) and Culture & Society (C&S).

    Physical Geography-related projects focus on themes such as long-term landscape and environmental change, resilience of ecosystems, environmental change impacts on heritage structures, and analysis of contaminated lands. Investigative....

    Geography PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The research undertaken within Geography falls under two interdisciplinary Research Clusters; Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) and Culture & Society (C&S).

    Physical Geography-related projects focus on themes such as long-term landscape and environmental change, resilience of ecosystems, environmental change impacts on heritage structures, and analysis of contaminated lands. Investigative....

    Civil Engineering PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The research centre will address the topical grand challenges in civil engineering field, building on existing and developing new international collaborations. Financial support to meet these challenges will be acquired through both internal University initiatives (for enhanced infrastructure and facilities) and external funding from government grants, charities and direct industrial support.

    Research....

    Civil Engineering PhD 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Duration 3 Academic Years (Full-time) / 6 Academic Years (Part-time)
    Description

    The research centre will address the topical grand challenges in civil engineering field, building on existing and developing new international collaborations. Financial support to meet these challenges will be acquired through both internal University initiatives (for enhanced infrastructure and facilities) and external funding from government grants, charities and direct industrial support.

    Research....

  • PhD Opportunities
    PhD Opportunities
    Course Qualification Duration
    Migration, education, and development in the West of Northern Ireland PHD Full-time: 3 years
    Place and the Dynamics of Social Deprivation in Belfast 1991-2021 PHD Full-time: 3 years
    Development of UAV for asset management in construction PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Bio-based textile reinforced mortar (bio-TRM) composites for structural strengthening PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Repurposing offshore wind turbine blades for marine renewable energy applications PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Bio-based textile reinforced mortar (bio-TRM) composites for structural strengthening PHD Full-time: 3 years
    Electrical resistivity-based characterisation of concrete: Affordable Technologies PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Corrosion of mild steel reinforcement in alkali activated binders PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    The Impact of Hetereogeneity on Geothermal Resources of the Sherwood Sandstone Formation PHD Full-time: 3.5 years
    Granular Metamaterials as a Ground Improvement Solution PHD Full-time: 3 years
    Vegetation-wave interactions on mixing: transverse mixing of soluble pollutants around seagrass beds PHD Full-time: 3 years
    Crack-inducing thermal stresses in safety-critical concrete structures PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Impact Resistance of Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Structural Behaviour of Concrete Block Pavements: Finite Element Modelling of the effect of construction pattern and unit interlock PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete for Access Floor Tiles PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Cementless “Geopolymer” Concrete for Sustainable Construction PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    The use of decommissioned wind turbine blades as girders in bridges PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Microstructure and mechanical properties of an advanced metal matrix composite with ultrafine particle reinforcement for manufacturing aerospace components PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Improving the shrinkage behaviour and efflorescence formation of low carbon geopolymer concrete PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Babbitt/aluminium composite material with enhanced tribological and mechanical characteristics PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Electroless high entropy alloy coatings for energy storage applications PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Enhancing community resilience and adaptive capacity through ocean literacy: an action research approach to community participation in marine planning PHD Full-time: 3 yrs
    Urban informality, transformation and housing in Global South PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Heritage and Placemaking PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Spaces of resilience PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Mapping urban transformations and production of space in post-socialist cities PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Retrofitted smart building monitoring systems PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years
    Augmented Urbanism and Place Based Data PHD Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years

FIND OUT MORE

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Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 4006

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