The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is awarded for a research study, normally over a three-year period, which makes a significant contribution to knowledge. Candidates must demonstrate that they have made an original personal contribution to the understanding of a problem in a specific field, the advancement of knowledge, or the generation of new ideas.
| Duration | Full time: 3-4 years Part time: 4-6 years |
| Course type | Full-time, Part-time route available |
| Location | Plymouth |
Use of unrivalled facilities
Membership of active research groups comprising other research students and staff
This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.
You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies.
You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.
Your PhD will be assessed via submission of either a written thesis (approximately 80,000 words), and a viva voce (an oral examination).
For full details of what doing a PhD entails at the University of Plymouth, please visit our postgraduate research degrees pages.
Applicants are expected to have completed a masters level qualification to a high standard (e.g. at 'merit' or 'distinction' level) as well as either a good 2:1 or first class honours undergraduate degree in an area of study appropriate to your project proposal. We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications.
If you do not have a masters level qualification, we recommend you consider applying for our MSc Civil Engineering, MSc Coastal Engineering or MSc Offshore Renewable Energy Engineering programme.
You will also need to provide evidence that you are ready to pursue the project you propose in your application. This will take the form of a sample of critical writing, and if relevant, documentation of relevant creative or professional practice.
If English is not your first language, you must have proficiency in written and spoken English (normally a minimum test score of 6.5 for IELTS, or equivalent). Given the nature of the programme, you’ll be expected to read and engage with complex theoretical texts and debates for which fluency in English is essential.
For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the research degrees applicants page.
Please visit tuition fees for postgraduate research for information about fees. MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering is in Band 2 for fees purposes.
In addition to completing the online application form (which includes space for a personal statement), you must also upload a research project proposal. Your research proposal should outline your research topic, your key aims and the research question/problem you are addressing, a brief literature review, your proposed methodology, and an explanation of why this topic is significant or important.
Your personal statement should briefly explain why you have chosen to apply to our programme and what you feel you can offer our research community.
Submitting your application
Complete your application and upload supporting documents to the Doctoral College by completing our online application form.
Questions on the application process?
We're here to help. Please contact the Doctoral College team and we'll be happy to assist you.
You can view or download our postgraduate research admissions policy.
If you have a disability and would like further information on the support available, please visit our Disability Services website.
International Student Advice (ISA) provides support for our international students.
From dedicated computer laboratories to a wealth of electronic information, you’ll benefit from a range of facilities and resources that will help your learning and development.
Boasting lecture facilities overlooking the sea, a wet lab for sample examination and analysis, a seawater aquarium, and field equipment storage and changing facilities.
This landmark building will be situated next to Babbage and will provide a new home for engineering in Plymouth, providing the environment and foundations for our teaching and research into the next decade.
“This new building will offer a state-of-the-art setting to inspire the engineers of tomorrow, giving us the ultimate place to bring together students, academics and industry in an environment that not only benefits them but also society as a whole.” Professor Deborah Greaves OBE, Head of school.
Ahmed Alboabidallah (PhD Civil Engineering)
Error Propagation Analysis for Remotely Sensed Aboveground Biomass
Director of studies: Dr John Martin
James Allen (PhD Civil Engineering)
Interaction between a wave farm and the ocean through laboratory tests and numerical modelling
Director of studies: Professor Gregorio Iglesias Rodriguez
Sultan Alsofyani (PhD Civil Engineering)
Developing a practice of contract management on construction fields in Saudi Arabia
Director of studies: Dr Andrew Fox
Davide Banfi (PhD Civil Engineering)
A Field and Laboratory Study on the Dynamic Response of the Eddystone Lighthouse to Wave Loading
Director of studies: Dr Alison Raby
Aissa Bouaissi (PhD Civil Engineering)
Development of a new concrete for marine environment using high volume of industrial by-products
Director of studies: Professor Long-yuan Li
Sahar Elaiwi (PhD Civil Engineering)
Analysis and Design of Castellated Beams
Director of studies: Professor Long-yuan Li
KunjieFan (PhD Civil Engineering)
Fire performance assessment of concrete materials with supplemental cementitious materials
Director of studies: Professor Long-yuan Li
Ganlin Feng (PhD Civil Engineering)
Micro-Scale Study of Multi-Component Ionic Transport in Concrete
Director of studies: Professor Long-yuan Li
Rebecca Francis (PhD Civil Engineering)
Prediction of the impact of bio-fouling on efficiency and survivability of marine renewable devices
Director of studies: Dr Martyn Hann
Jessica Guichard (PhD Civil Engineering)
Combined wind and wave loading of floating offshore wind turbine structures
Director of studies: Dr Martyn Hann
Ben Howey (PhD Civil Engineering)
Development of compact WEC arrays trhough laboratory tests and numerical modelling
Director of studies: Professor Deborah Greaves
Robert Jane (PhD Civil Engineering)
Improving the Representation of the Fragility of Coastal Structures
Director of studies: Dr David Simmonds
Jie Ji (MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering)
Fatigue mechanism of floating concrete support structures for offshore wind/wave turbines
Director of studies: Dr Shanshan Cheng
William Mortimer (MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering)
EXCESS (EXtreme responses in Coastal Engineering using NewWave on Steep Structures)
Director of studies: Dr Alison Raby
Pierre-Henri Musiedlak (PhD Civil Engineering)
Numerical modelling of extreme hydrodynamic loads on offshore renewable energy concepts
Director of studies: Professor Deborah Greaves
Natalia Perez del Postigo Prieto (PhD Civil Engineering)
Tsunami generation by combined fault rupture and landsliding
Director of studies: Dr Alison Raby
Nirvan Razaghi-Kashani (PhD Civil Engineering)
An analysis of the Iranian post-earthquake management and building assessment system
Director of studies: Dr Andrew Fox
Cristobal Rodriguez-Delgado (MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering)
Coastal defence through wave farms: advanced design tools based on laboratory tests and numerical modelling
Director of studies: Professor Gregorio Iglesias Rodriguez
Teng Tan Loh (PhD Civil Engineering)
Assessments of Wave-Structure Interactions for an Oscillating Wave Surge Converter using CFD
Director of studies: Professor Deborah Greaves
Thomas Vyzikas (PhD Civil Engineering)
Numerical modelling of extreme waves: The role of nonlinear wave-wave interactions
Director of studies: Professor Deborah Greaves
Daming Wang (MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering)
HR Radar date and laboratory experiments for wave energy converters
Director of studies: Professor Deborah Greaves
Qi Ye (MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering)
Structural and performance optimisation of wave energy device arrays
Director of studies: Dr Shanshan Cheng
Nanting Yu (MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering)
Buckling behaiour of perforated cold-form steel channel-section beams with circular holes in web
Director of studies: Dr Boksun Kim
Baoxing's project was titled: 'Nonlinear interaction waves and currents with structures in nearshore environments.'
Do you need funding for a research degree?
If you cannot fund your own PhD research project then please look at the advertised studentships as they become available throughout the year. Please check the advert carefully to ensure you are eligible and what funding and support are available.
Current postgraduate research studentships at the University of Plymouth
Find out more about how to pay your tuition fees, studentships and student loans for postgraduate research students.
Find out more about the Doctoral College and the support it offers students, supervisors and examiners of postgraduate research at the University of Plymouth.
