civil engineering phd in europe

Imperial College London Imperial College London

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• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Postgraduate research admissions (PhD)

Interested in world class ...., information about the phd programme.

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• How to apply
• Minimum entry requirements
• What is a research degree?
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Aiming for a world-class PhD in Civil Engineering?

Discover the exceptional opportunities at Imperial

Why study for a PhD with us?

The Department provides a highly stimulating environment for research students, attracting outstanding applicants from a variety of academic backgrounds ranging from a wide spectrum of engineering disciplines alongside physical, life and social sciences.

You will have the opportunity to study in a multi-disciplinary team alongside leading experts in the field as part of one of our dedicated research groups. Your research will be supported by access to our world leading experimental and computational facilities.

Research Areas

The Department is comprised of 7 research sections. We also  participate in a number of Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT), which offer additional studentships and scholarships. 

Environmental and Water Resources

Find out more

Fluid Mechanics

Centre for Transport Studies

Geotechnics

Systems Engineering and Innovation

Why choose us, league table rankings, national student survey.

• Overall Satisfaction, 90.2 (2022), 89.9 (2021); 78.1 (2020); 88% (2019)

QS World Universities rankings

• Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 6th (2022); 6th (2021); 5th (2020); 6th (2019)
• Overall, Imperial was voted 7th best university in the world in the 2022 rankings.

Guardian University Guide (UK)

• Subject Ranking. Engineering: Civil = 3rd (2022); 4th (2021); 1st (2020); 1st (2019)
• Overall, Imperial was ranked 7th in this year's Guardian university guide. 

The Times Higher Education world ranking

• Subject Ranking. Engineering and Technology = 14th (2021); 11th (2020); 12th (2019)
• Overall, Imperial was ranked 11th best university in this year's rankings.

The Sunday Times Good University Guide (UK)

• Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 1st (2022); 4th (2021); 4th (2020); 3rd (2019); 1st (2018)

Complete University Guide

• Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 2nd (2023), 8th (2022); 7th (2021); 6th (2020); 2nd (2019); 1st (2018)
• Overall, Imperial ranked 5th best university in this year's rankings. 

View the ranking across the Faculty of Engineering

Research assessments

• REF 2021. 75% of our research was considered 4* (highest rating), and the remaining 25% at 3* (unit of assessment: engineering).
• REF 2014. 47% of our research assessed to be 4* (highest rating), 48% assessed to be 3* and 5% assessed as 2*  (unit of assessment: civil and construction engineering).
• RAE 2008. 40% of our research assessed to be 4* (highest rating), 55% assessed to be 3* and 3% assessed as 2* (unit of assessment: civil engineering).

CivSoc is the student-run society for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. They organise a wide variety of events throughout the year including social events, talks, site visits, careers presentations and the very popular annual International Tour.

During the first year there is a one-week residential Surveying camp. In Year 2 there are two one-week residential field trips, Geology and the Constructionarium. In addition to these, there are a number of visits associated with various elective courses offered in the Third and Fourth Years.

Throughout the MEng degree our students undertake a number of projects, both as individuals and in groups to apply knowledge and broaden their skills, including team working.

Each academic year, a number of prizes are awarded in recognition of student achievement. These are celebrated in a prize giving ceremony held annually on Commemoration day.

To see more photos of what its like to work and study here, please see our Flikr channel.

What is it like to study here?

Hear directly from some of our current students about their experiences studying with us.

Civil Engineering

COORDINATOR

• Cervera Ruiz, Miguel

Office 202 – Building C2 (North Campus) Tel.: 934 017 094 E-mail: [email protected]

https://deca.upc.edu/ca/doctorat-recerca/doctorat/enginyeria-civil

Background:

Over the last 150 years, the advancement of scientific knowledge has led the field of engineering to progressively evolve from its civil and military origins, giving rise to the various areas of specialisation that exist today. In an increasingly globalised world, and especially in Europe, where a broad process of integration and convergence in higher education is under way, it makes sense for engineering to redefine its disciplines to achieve better social practice and facilitate specialised problem solving.

The current programme is heir to the doctoral courses first offered in the 1975-1976 academic year. With the passing of the Organic Law on University Reform in 1984, doctoral programmes came under the responsibility of university departments. Despite the trend towards specialisation, under a delegation agreement, the School’s teaching departments decided to maintain one cross-disciplinary doctoral programme: Civil Engineering. In recent years, the programme has coexisted with the specific programmes of the various departments. This cross-disciplinary character and the involvement of various departments is also reflected in the composition of the Doctoral Studies Committee, whose functions at the School are performed by the Research and Postgraduate Committee. The doctoral programme in Civil Engineering currently offered is an interdepartmental programme organised around six broad areas of knowledge: structural engineering and construction, geotechnical engineering, water engineering, transport engineering and regional planning, environmental engineering and sustainability, and computational engineering.

In this context, the doctoral degree in Civil Engineering offers a framework for pursuing research in the field of civil engineering, rounding out the course offering of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering in the three cycles of higher education (bachelor’s, master's and doctoral level). The doctoral programme in Civil Engineering offered by the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering has received the Pathway to Excellence award (MEE2011-0447 – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). The School’s commitment to research is also reflected in the existence of the Research and Postgraduate Studies Committee. The Committee is chaired by the assistant director of Research and Postgraduate Studies of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering, who also acts as the coordinator of the doctoral programme. The other members of the Committee are the director of postgraduate studies; nine full-time doctoral degree-holding professors, including representatives of the School’s teaching departments and the relevant areas of knowledge (structural engineering and construction, geotechnical engineering, water engineering, transport engineering and regional planning, environmental engineering and sustainability, and computational engineering); a representative of students enrolled in the doctoral programme, appointed from among those elected to the Doctoral School Board; and the head of management services of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering. Over the years that it has been offered, the doctoral programme in Civil Engineering has attracted both domestic and international students. The recognition of the prestige of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering by its students, the quality of doctoral theses produced, and the excellence of teaching and research staff have led the Spanish Ministry of Education to officially recognise the quality of the doctoral programme in successive years since 2004.

Objectives:

To complete students’ training in the topics their research will focus on. To train students in research on subjects related to civil engineering by developing their knowledge of information sources and experimental and bibliographic research tools. To introduce students to methods for making advances in engineering research by identifying unresolved problems and providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to propose solutions to them.

Rationale for the programme:

The doctoral programme in Civil Engineering is needed for two key reasons. First, the programme serves as an umbrella for cross-disciplinary research in the field of civil engineering that cannot be classified within a single specialisation (though specialised research can also be carried out within the framework of the programme). Second, the programme accommodates research topics that do not fit into any classical area, including topics related to instrumentation and experimentation, certain numerical approaches, and areas that are tangentially related to civil engineering.

The doctoral programme in Civil Engineering aims to support students in the acquisition and generation of advanced, highly specialised knowledge in the field of civil engineering in which they choose to pursue their research. To provide students with advanced training in research techniques based on scientific principles generally accepted by the scientific community. To produce doctoral theses that make a high-quality scientific contribution in the student’s area of specialisation and are of relevance in the field of civil engineering or the sciences that underpin the discipline. To disseminate the research work done through scientific publications in all areas. To develop techniques that facilitate continuous improvement with respect to projects, decision-making and the execution of works of civil engineering. To produce doctoral graduates in Engineering who are qualified to take up higher-level management positions in the productive fabric. To produce doctoral graduates who are able to make scientific contributions in their area of expertise in the immediate future and constantly acquire and renew their knowledge in order to remain at the forefront of their discipline in terms of international recognition. Traditionally, the doctoral programme has been organised into two periods: one focusing on training and the other on research. Currently, in line with legislation in force, the period we have called “training” corresponds to the period of study to earn a master’s degree. During what we have called the “research” period, following completion of the training period, students continue their studies at the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering. In this stage, they work on a doctoral thesis based on specific lines of research, within the framework of a research group made up mainly of professors and researchers at the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering. The doctoral programme in Civil Engineering offered by the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering provides further training in research areas related to the civil engineering profession and develops the competencies defined in the professional profile for civil engineering that require synergistic integration of knowledge and skills acquired through training in physics and mathematics and in scientific and technical fields. The programme forms part of the postgraduate course offering of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering.

The doctoral programme in Civil Engineering enables students to pursue research aimed at improving planning, design, construction, conservation and monitoring of civil infrastructures, as well as research related to architectural constructions, urbanism and regional planning.

General information

Access profile.

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific field of the programme, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. For the near future, the applicants considered most suitable for admission to the doctoral programme in Civil Engineering will be bachelor’s degree holders with a scientific and technological background who have completed a master's degree in Civil Engineering or one related to the scientific field of the programme (i.e. in structural engineering and construction, geotechnical and earthquake engineering, water and environmental engineering, maritime engineering, transport engineering and regional planning, environmental engineering and sustainability, or computational engineering).

In addition to having suitable academic qualifications, it is considered important that applicants have certain personal characteristics—namely, an interest in the research projects carried out within the framework of the programme; critical and analytical skills; initiative, perseverance and persistence in their academic work; the ability to work in a team; and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Therefore, to gain admission to the doctoral programme in Civil Engineering for the research period of their studies, applicants must submit: • An official master’s degree in the field of Civil Engineering. Exceptionally, applicants with a master’s degree in a related field may be considered for admission. • A degree equivalent to a master’s degree, issued by an EHEA member country.* • A degree issued by a country outside the EHEA (after its equivalence has been verified).*

* The degree held by an applicant must qualify them for admission to postgraduate studies in their country of origin.

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research ( Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies ):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field. b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation. c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research. d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas. e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong. f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information. b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem. c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field. d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context. e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information. f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields; b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community; c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work; d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer; e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity; f) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds; g) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society.

Number of places

Duration of studies and dedication regime.

Duration The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years.

When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the requirement to complete this minimum period of study.

Temporary disability leave and leave for the birth of a child, adoption or fostering for the purposes of adoption, temporary foster care, risk during pregnancy or infant feeding, gender violence and any other situation provided for in current regulations do not count towards these periods. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which must inform the Doctoral School.

Doctoral candidates may request periods of temporary withdrawal from the programme for up to a total of two years. Requests must be justified and addressed to the academic committee responsible for the programme, which will decide whether or not to grant the candidate's request.

Extension of studies If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
• The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
• The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
• A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
• The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
• The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.

Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.

Legal framework

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated version)
• Academic regulations for doctoral studies (CG/2023/09/08)

Organization

• Casas Rius, Joan Ramon
• Chiumenti, Michele
• Jimenez Quintana, Jose Antonio
• Ledesma Villalba, Alberto
• Robuste Anton, Robus
• Rodriguez Ferran, Antonio
• Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (PROMOTORA)
• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Agreements with other institutions

Research centres Several high-level applied research centres and laboratories renowned for their excellence also carry out research and technology transfer in the field of civil engineering and the environment: - International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) - Centre for Innovation in Transport (CENIT) - International Centre for Coastal Resources Research (CIIRC)

Access, admission and registration

Access requirements.

As a rule, applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor's degree or equivalent and a Spanish master's degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees ( Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February ).

Applicants who meet one or more of the following conditions are also eligible for admission:

a) Holders of official Spanish degrees or equivalent Spanish qualifications, provided they have passed 300 ECTS credits in total and they can prove they have reached Level 3 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education. b) Holders of degrees awarded in foreign education systems in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which do not require homologation, who can prove that they have reached Level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework, provided the degree makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded. c) Holders of degrees awarded in a country that does not belong to the EHEA, which do not require homologation, on the condition that the University is able to verify that the degree is of a level equivalent to that of official university master's degrees in Spain and that it makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded. d) Holders of another doctoral degree. e) Holders of an official university qualification who, having been awarded a post as a trainee in the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have successfully completed at least two years of training leading to an official degree in a health sciences specialisation.

Note 1: Regulations for access to doctoral studies for individuals with degrees in bachelor's, engineering, or architecture under the system prior to the implementation of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014).

Note 2: Agreement number 64/2014 of the Governing Council approving the procedure and criteria for assessing the academic requirements for admission to doctoral studies with non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014).

Admission criteria and merits assessment

The Doctoral Programme Committee is responsible for deciding which students are admitted to the doctoral programme in Civil Engineering based on each applicant’s curriculum vitae and how well their thesis proposal aligns with the research areas of the programme. Students may be admitted on the condition that they complete bridging courses (determined on a case-by-case basis) offered within the framework of the official postgraduate programme or other official programmes.

Before presenting their doctoral thesis, students must successfully complete any bridging courses specified as a condition for admission.

Students admitted to the doctoral programme in Civil Engineering will be attached to one of the research areas for the programme and assigned a thesis supervisor.

Admission decisions will be made based on each applicant’s curriculum vitae (with particular consideration to their academic record during the training period, ability to work in a team, and participation in research projects, conferences and publications), the degree of alignment between their doctoral thesis proposal and the research areas of the programme, and the extent to which a research group has made a commitment to fund the applicant’s work on their thesis.

All procedures related to academic administration will be governed by the UPC’s General Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies, approved by the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research. Admission criteria and weighting Degrees that qualify applicants for direct admission (no bridging courses required): • Master's degree in Civil Engineering  • A master's degree related to the scientific field of the programme Degrees that qualify applicants for admission subject to successful completion of bridging courses : There is no group of degrees for which it is possible to define specific bridging courses. If the Doctoral Programme Committee decides to admit an applicant with a master's degree that is not one of those which qualify applicants for direct admission, it will specify the bridging courses that the student must complete. In general, the Committee will base its decisions on the following criteria: • Academic record (weighting of 60%) • Motivation (20%) • Knowledge of languages (10%) • Research experience (10%)

Training complements

Enrolment period for new doctoral students.

Ordinary enrolment: September and October

Extraordinary enrolment: February

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

September and October

More information at the general registration section

Monitoring and evaluation of the doctoral student

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan.

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Formation activities

Activity: Tutorial. Hours: 288. Type: compulsory. Activity: Courses and seminars (organised within each research group, weekly). Hours: 30. Type: optional. Activity: Workshops (linked to the research projects that are the framework for the doctoral student’s activity; average of one per year). Hours: 60. Type: optional. Activity: Publications (by the time a doctoral student finishes their degree, it is recommended that they have three papers published in journals with impact factors). Hours: 120. Type: optional. Activity: Mobility. Hours: 480. Type: optional. Activity: Research plan, document preparation, preparation of public defence. Hours: 40. Type: compulsory. Activity: Research methodology. Hours: 12. Type: optional. Activity: Language and communication skills. Hours: 18. Type: optional. Activity: Assessment based on doctoral student activity report (DAD) and research plan. Hours: 4. Type: compulsory.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Learning resources

The North Campus is a modern, dynamic campus with excellent transport links. Located within the urban fabric of the city, the 147,500-m² space has a modular structure consisting of 36 buildings that house common spaces shared by all of the units based on the campus. The following is a list of shared spaces and some of the services offered at the campus:

The six North Campus modules used for teaching currently have a total of 86 classrooms and two drawing rooms. They occupy 7,871 m² and have a capacity of 13,400 students (6,700 students at one time; morning and afternoon sessions). The assignment of classrooms to schools is reviewed and updated each academic year so that adjustments can be made based on the types of classroom, equipment and capacity required to deliver degree programmes. The Barcelona School of Civil Engineering currently has three assigned classroom buildings (A1, A2 and A3), which house 27 classrooms of various types with a total capacity of 1,974 students (divided between morning and afternoon sessions). All of these classrooms have video projectors, projection screens, Wi-Fi and video.

Classroom buildings on the North Campus have multipurpose spaces designed to accommodate the teaching-learning methods required for new university programmes, such as those now taught at the School. Furnishing therefore include fixed chairs with writing tablets as well as movable tables and chairs.

In addition to the teaching spaces in the classroom buildings, the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering has two classrooms located in its own buildings, with a total capacity of 150. If necessary, each of these classrooms can be split into two to create a total of four classrooms, each with a capacity of 30 to 40. These classrooms, like those in the classroom buildings, are equipped with projection screens, Wi-Fi, and video and overhead projectors. The Barcelona School of Civil Engineering also has a study room in buildings B0 and C1.

The School has six computer classrooms with a total of 160 workstations that include audiovisual equipment (video projector and projection screen). This translates into roughly one workstation for every 16 students. All classrooms are equipped with computers with the programmes needed for the educational activities that students and professors in each degree programme must carry out. Classrooms are used for teaching and must be booked in advance by academic staff. When no teaching activity is scheduled, classrooms are freely accessible (during regular opening hours). One of the classrooms is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the exclusive use of students who wish to carry out activities related to their teaching duties. This classroom is equipped with two laser printers for printing teaching materials. All workstations in computer classrooms have an internet connection. Wireless connections are available in all buildings and spaces of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering, including classroom buildings, the library and open spaces on campus, for use by students and other members of the UPC community.

The School has specific laboratories for research and teaching in the field of civil engineering. Laboratories are located between the School’s teaching departments. Laboratories and workshops have specialised equipment for teaching purposes and for carrying out research projects linked to the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering and the doctoral degree in Civil Engineering.

Doctoral Theses

List of authorized thesis for defense.

• GÓMEZ DUEÑAS, SANTIAGO: Unraveling Hydrological Dynamics: Climate and Human Implications in the Magdalena River Streamflow and its Interaction with Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta Wetland Author: GÓMEZ DUEÑAS, SANTIAGO Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis) Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING Department: (DECA) Mode: Normal Deposit date: 16/04/2024 Reading date: 14/06/2024 Reading time: 16:00 Reading place: Sala Actes, edifici Vèrtex, Campus Nord, Gran Capitan S/N 08034 Barcelona, Spain Thesis director: BATEMAN PINZON, ALLEN | SANTOS GRANADOS, GERMÁN RICARDO Committee:      PRESIDENT: SOLÉ, AURELIA      SECRETARI: DE MEDINA IGLESIAS, VICENTE CÉSAR      VOCAL: LA ROCCA, MICHELE Thesis abstract: This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the hydrological dynamics of the Magdalena River (MR) basin, located in Colombia. Multiple elements that affect streamflow were analyzed, such as climate-forcing drivers and human-induced ones, to understand the complex interactions that shape the region's hydrology.Firstly, the influence of many factors on the flow of water downstream of the Magdalena River was studied. The research identified El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) episodes as crucial climate-forcing drivers and human-induced modifications such as reservoir evaporation. The complex nature of streamflow changes over time was highlighted by showing the variations in the average, volume, and maximum streamflow, as well as oscillations in evaporation and minimum streamflow, especially during positive ENSO episodes. These findings offer important insights into the changing hydrological regime of the MR basin, emphasizing the complex combination of elements that influence its flow patterns throughout time.Moreover, the study explored the hydrological connection between the MR and the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) wetland, revealing the interdependence of these two ecosystems. For this, the study explores the vulnerability of downstream habitats, especially wetlands, to changes in streamflow inputs by taking a broad approach that views the entire wetland as a unified unit. It identified crucial threshold ranges where the inflow from the Magdalena River to the CGSM becomes uncertain. This analysis highlights the urgent need to understand the interactions between water flow and wetland ecosystems and their significant impact. Furthermore, the present research utilizes Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network models to predict streamflow changes at the Calamar gauging station. The goal was to improve the precision of streamflow predictions by combining data from several gauging stations and reservoir evaporation records. Finally, this study can help enhance the comprehension of the intricate hydrological processes in the MR basin, revealing the interconnected effects of climate fluctuations, human actions, and ecosystem dynamics. In this context, this research sets the foundation for creating well-informed water resource management strategies in Colombia that protect wetland ecosystems' ecological health and adaptability in the face of ongoing environmental changes.

Last update: 16/05/2024 04:45:18.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 16/05/2024 04:30:27.

List of defended theses by year

Select a year: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Committee:      PRESIDENT: GIARDINA, GIORGIA      SECRETARI: HURLIMANN ZIEGLER, MARCEL      VOCAL: ROSSETTO, RUDY Thesis abstract: Interferometry with Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a remote sensing technique to measure displacements of the observed surface, either the ground or any structure on it. Although the systematic acquisition of SAR data from satellites started in the 1990s, InSAR is a technique still in development. The continuous improvement of the successive SAR satellite constellations in terms of reliability, revisit time, spatial resolution and data accessibility, and the processing techniques of SAR data in the estimation of surface displacements is improving the performance of InSAR. Thus, this doctoral thesis aims to explore the new opportunities that InSAR offers today. In particular, the objectives are, first, to explore novel contributions of InSAR in geological engineering, more specifically, in land monitoring and the hydrogeological characterisation of the ground; and, second, to do so while covering both qualitative and quantitative applications at both regional and local scales. These goals are addressed through four questions. The first question aims to investigate whether InSAR¿s spatial resolution and precision are high enough today to monitor ground deformation at such a local scale and in such a changing environment as a construction site. Applied to the ground deformation induced by the dewatering of civil engineering works, InSAR provides a much more complete view and understanding of the observed phenomena than more common alternative techniques such as levelling. However, levelling usually provides more precise measurements. Thus, a combination of both techniques will improve and make the monitoring of civil engineering works more reliable. The second question is whether, because of its spatial data density and its precision, InSAR is suitable for the numerical modelling of extensive ground deformation phenomena. The results achieved thanks to InSAR data in the hydromechanical numerical modelling of regional and long-term ground subsidence related to the overexploitation of confined aquifers prove to be significantly better than the results obtained with other data sources. InSAR data can, first, cover the whole extent of the aquifer system and identify several different deformation phenomena and, second, improve the design of the numerical models and the calibration of the ground parameters, thus achieving a significantly better reproduction and understanding of the observed ground subsidence that enable the design of more adequate and effective policies for land planning and the management of (ground)water resources. The third question turns to a novel InSAR technique: coherence change detection (CCD), a method to detect and map, under certain conditions, changes in the observed surface. In particular, the question is whether InSAR coherence can indeed remotely detect torrential sediment transport events in arid environments. The conclusion is that InSAR coherence is not only able to detect the occurrence of such events but shows a greater detection capacity than the meteorological data, being much more operative and economical than field campaigns. Finally, the fourth question is whether InSAR coherence can remotely map these events, aiming to evaluate the uncertainty that other factors that may also affect InSAR coherence introduce in the CCD maps. The comparison of several mapping methods with different sensitivity to each component of the coherence changes show that CCD methods are able to locate the areas affected by such events, although rugged areas require a thorough analysis and the precise delimitation of the affected areas still presents some uncertainty. All in all, despite the weaknesses that are still to be resolved, InSAR already offers valuable contributions to geological engineering.

Committee:      PRESIDENT: CUETO-FELGUEROSO LANDEIRA, LUIS      SECRETARI: LEDESMA VILLALBA, ALBERTO      VOCAL: YOSHIOKA, KEITA Thesis abstract: Induced seismicity due to hydraulic stimulation and circulation is a hurdle for the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The monitored seismicity has occasionally reached magnitudes large enough to be felt by local populations, and in several EGS cases the largest magnitude earthquakes occur few hours to several months after the cessation of the injection operations. This thesis aims to i) deepen the understanding of the processes that trigger such induced seismicity, ii) improve forecasting methodologies and iii) explore strategies to mitigate its occurrence. The focus is especially placed on post-injection seismicity. The well-documented case of Basel EGS, Switzerland, is adopted as verification example.Firstly, the identification of the triggering mechanisms at Basel is performed making use of a coupled hydro-mechanical model with increasing level of complexity. A simple fault-crossed elastic domain is compared with a homogeneous elastic domain to highlight the importance of structural heterogeneities on the direct and indirect (poroelastic) effects of pressure diffusion as triggering mechanisms of seismicity. Additionally, another hydro-mechanical model is implemented by a discrete faulting network, based on seismic interpretations. The model simulates the plastic reactivations of faults, and the effects of pore pressure diffusion, poroelastic stressing, shear-slip stress transfer and slip weakening are distinguished. Simulation results show that the faults located in the vicinity of the injection well fail during injection, mainly triggered by pore pressure build-up. At the stop of injection, poroelastic stress relaxation leads to the immediate rupture of faults that were stabilized during the injection. Stress redistribution is also a prominent triggering mechanisms of post-injection reactivation of distant faults. Slip-induced friction weakening on certain faults amplifies the potential of these faults to reactivate multiple time during injection and after its stop.The development of a forecasting methodology for induced seismicity is the second major achievement of this thesis. The hydro-mechanical model previously implemented is combined with a seismicity rate model, the Gutenberg-Richter law and the Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence model to quantify the seismicity magnitude, of both mainshocks and aftershocks, associated to the stress changes due to fluid injection. The application of this hybrid methodology on the discrete-faulted hydro-mechanical model of Basel EGS gives the opportunity to explore the effects of different strategies of injection on the enhancement of fault permeability and induced seismicity rate. A constant injection protocol followed by a progressive decrease of injection rate mitigates post-injection seismicity, while enhancing the permeability of the faults in the domain. The thesis also addresses the discussion of the final cessation of injection, comparing the results of shut-in and bleed-off of the well. Results suggest that shutting-in the well can mitigate better early post-injection seismicity than bleeding-off the well, but pore pressure diffusion can destabilize critically-oriented faults in the reservoir for a longer period of time.By providing enhanced understanding, new methodologies and practical solutions, this thesis represents a substantial step-forward in the mitigation and control of induced seismicity, and in particular of post-injection seismicity, in EGS.

Committee:      PRESIDENT NO PRESENCIAL: HASSAN, OUBAY      SECRETARI: HEUZÉ, THOMAS      VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: BARLOW, ANDREW JOHN Thesis abstract: In the realm of Computer-Aided Engineering applied to fast solid dynamics, the intricate mechanical behaviours exhibited by materials when subjected to strong dynamic forces, high speed impacts and complex interactions is modelled efficiently and with high fidelity. Employed in diverse fields such as aerospace, automotive, defence and more, the principal interest is to simulate and comprehend the responses of solids, providing insights into stress propagation and deformation patterns. However, the pursuit of such ambitious goals faces inherent limitations: the accurate representation of material behaviours is an ongoing challenge, and the intricate interplay between simulation accuracy and computational efficiency demands thoughtful insights. More specifically, the chosen kinematics paradigm and the discretisation of the continuum often restrict numerical frameworks in the array of problems they can simulate. Simulations in fast solid dynamics may feature locking, numerical instabilities, checker-boarding, or other difficulties related to the nonlinear nature of the equations at stake.In the objective to address the aforementioned shortcomings, this thesis will build on the set of equations by developing a new mixed formulation based on first-order hyperbolic equations and written with the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian viewpoint. That approach, used here to describe solid bodies, aims at circumventing bottlenecks of Lagrangian and Eulerian methods by distinguishing the behaviour of the mesh from the evolution of the continuum. Moreover, an intuitive aspect of the ALE method is to have the mesh move in such a way that large distortions are reduced (numerical advantage) while maintaining a representation of the material's physical behaviour that is either comparable or surpassing the results obtained with classical methodologies (better simulation outcome). A key feature will be the presentation of an ALE computational framework where the mesh motion relies on a conservation law, and the geometry is therefore automatically updated without the need of an ad hoc procedure.An acoustic Riemann solver based on upwinding stabilisation, as well as a linear gradient reconstruction, will be used to counteract instabilities brought by the Vertex-Centred Finite Volume Method employed in the framework, and to enhance the overall accuracy. The nonlinear hardening laws will be solved using a Newton-Raphson algorithm. The new framework introduced in this work will be implemented from scratch on the open-source platform OpenFOAM, a tool of choice in industrial and academic environments. The time integration will be tackled by the multi-stage Total Variation Diminishing Runge-Kutta method. Eventually, the robustness and accuracy of the novel computational framework will be examined through a series of challenging numerical examples involving complex body deformations, as well as plastic and thermal considerations.

Committee:      PRESIDENT NO PRESENCIAL: MASSING, ANDRÉ      SECRETARI: BAIGES AZNAR, JOAN      VOCAL: COLOMÉS GENÉ, JOSEP ORIOL Thesis abstract: This thesis covers the development of large-scale numerical methods for the simulations of partial differential equations on arbitrarily complex geometries. The target application of this thesis is the structural simulation of buildings and civil infrastructures, in which lightweight and aesthetical demands usually increase the complexity of their geometries. In these applications, empirical experimentation is often not feasible during the design loop. Thus, we rely on numerical simulations to predict the performance of these shapes under realistic loads, e.g., wind loads that increase the complexity with the sophistication of the geometry. Current simulation tools are based on unstructured body-fitted meshes. The generation of unstructured meshes is time-consuming and involves human intervention. Furthermore, body-fitted methods cannot efficiently exploit modern high performance computing resources. The main goal of this thesis is to design novel simulation tools for rapid, accurate, and automated solutions of partial differential equations on geometries described by computer-aided design. Thus, we aim for a framework that combines (1) an automated pipeline from computer-aided design to finite element analysis, (2) a novel space-time formulation for moving geometries, and (3) a scalable implementation for high performance computing resources. Our developments are accessible through open-source software within the Gridap ecosystem and FEMPAR packages (written in Julia and Fortran, respectively).The contributions of this thesis increase the functionality of state-of-the-art unfitted (or immersed or embedded) finite element methods. These methods utilize structured background meshes to solve partial differential equations on complex domains. In the literature, these domains are implicitly represented by level sets. To address this limitation, (1) we developed a robust algorithm that solves problems on domains described by linear boundary representations. This algorithm is based on robust polyhedra clipping algorithms. We have tested the algorithm against all the analysis-ready geometries (STL files) in the Thingi10k dataset (almost 5,000). We have extended this algorithm to high-order boundary representations. In this extension, we utilize Bernstein-Bézier basis and multi-variate root-finding algorithms. We validate the resulting method with analytical benchmarks and real-world geometries from computer-aided design files. Then, (2) we formulated an unfitted space-time finite element framework for moving explicit geometries. In this formulation, we utilized space-only meshes, circumventing the need for 4D geometrical algorithms. In turn, we developed a transfer method for evaluating the initial values at each time slab. The results matched with analytical analysis and external numerical experiments. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the applicability of fluid problems on rotating complex (2D and 3D) geometries.Finally, (3) we proposed the acceleration of the methods of this thesis through highly scalable algorithms. These algorithms tackle the bottlenecks of parallelization of the intersection algorithms. We have demonstrated the scalability of these algorithms over one billion cells and 12,000 cores. Furthermore, we can combine these algorithms with adaptive mesh refinement techniques to reduce the computational cost further. These tools provide the means to significantly accelerate the design-to-simulation pipeline while increasing the fidelity of the results.

Committee:      PRESIDENT: AURICCHIO, FERDINANDO      SECRETARI: CAICEDO SILVA, MANUEL ALEJANDRO      VOCAL: DOMINGO-ESPIN, MIQUEL Thesis abstract: This thesis aims towards the understanding and optimization of Additive Manufacturing (AM) components through the application of accurate computational multiscale simulations. The research is guided by three primary objectives: (1) the development of a multiscale orthotropic material model tailored for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) components, (2) the formulation of an optimization strategy to enhance the mechanical performance of FFF parts, and (3) the comprehensive characterization and modeling of their failure mechanisms.To address the first objective, a printing pattern-based orthotropic material model in the framework of multiscale analysis is constructed. This model accounts for the intricate interactions occurring at both filament and component scales in FFF, offering a nuanced representation of the material's behavior. By bridging these scales, the model ensures a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical response of FFF parts, enabling accurate predictions of their performance and failure modes.The second objective focuses on the optimization of the mechanical performance of FFF components. Leveraging the developed multiscale material model, an optimization strategy based on a novel statistics-based algorithm and an orthotropic failure criterion is formulated. The computational domain generation strategy is also tackled, analyzing different approaches and taking advantage of an Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) technique to reduce the computational cost of the simulations. The developed methodology is fully embedded into the AM workflow.The final objective involves the characterization and modeling of the different failure mechanisms present in FFF parts. The different failure modes exhibited by FFF components are identified for each printing pattern present in the component, and a Mechanism-Based (MB) damage criterion is developed to model their stiffness degradation. In addition, an MB cracking model that accounts for the orthotropic brittleness of FFF parts is presented and validated against experimental tests.The central motivation driving this thesis is to alleviate the dependency on costly experimental procedures for characterizing and/or predicting the mechanical behavior of FFF components by performing high-precision and inexpensive multiscale simulations. The outcomes of this study aim to improve the current Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) guidelines.

Committee:      PRESIDENT NO PRESENCIAL: KARPYN, ZULEIMA      SECRETARI: VAUNAT, JEAN      VOCAL: ASENSIO SÁNCHEZ, LAURA Thesis abstract: Geological Carbon Storage (GCS) holds immense promise for mitigating atmospheric CO2 emissions, making the sealing capacity of caprocks pivotal as storage scales up. Despite excellent sealing capacities observed in intact rock samples in laboratory experiments, the presence of discontinuities like bedding planes, fractures, and faults in field-scale applications poses monitoring challenges. This thesis aims to develop a methodology for characterizing potential low-carbon geo-energy sites across various spatiotemporal scales, spanning from millimeters and nanoseconds to kilometers and decades.To achieve this, the thesis employs a multi-scale approach, starting with large-scale investigations and progressing to in-situ underground rock laboratories and laboratory investigations. The initial phase explores four analytical solutions of pore pressure diffusion with periodic sources to enable real-time interpretation of in-situ data. Comparisons with numerical solutions, incorporating reservoir deformation due to pressure waves, reveal consistent results when identical assumptions are maintained. Despite distinct wave propagation patterns depending on the application (energy storage, liquid injection into shale, and enhanced geothermal systems stimulation), errors remain below 3% for effective mean stress variations across all cases. This approach allows for rapid reactions to unexpected events, crucial in real-time decision-making.The subsequent phase involves plane-strain coupled hydro-mechanical simulations of periodic CO2 injection for 20 years, simulating the CO2LPIE experiment at Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory. Results highlight the anisotropic behavior of the material, influencing pore pressure changes and stress variations along bedding planes. Capillary effects in nanoscale pores prevent CO2 penetration into Opalinus Clay, causing it to dissolve into the resident brine. Pore pressure oscillations imposed at the injection well attenuate within tens of centimeters, emphasizing the need for closely located monitoring boreholes to observe the periodic signal.Finally, a 3D numerical model simulates water injection into a fractured Opalinus Clay specimen, accounting for fracture geometry with stress-dependent aperture changes. The model reveals a significant nine-order magnitude span in fracture permeability, impacting fluid flow within the rock specimen. Achieving the best fit with experimental results involves incorporating a natural fracture normal stiffness ranging from 18.7 MPa/mm at lower effective mean stresses to 187.2 MPa/mm at higher confinements. This underscores the critical importance of defining hydro-mechanical parameters of fractures under realistic stress conditions, with implications for secure underground storage.In summary, this thesis provides a comprehensive methodology for characterizing low-carbon geo-energy sites at multiple scales. Analytical solutions offer real-time insights, coupled hydro-mechanical simulations illuminate material anisotropy, and 3D numerical models reveal fracture behavior. The findings contribute to advancing the understanding and implementation of Geological Carbon Storage, offering crucial insights for environmentally sustainable energy practices.

Last update: 16/05/2024 05:00:44.

Theses related publications

Research projects, teaching staff and research groups, research groups.

UPC groups:

• (MC)2-UPC-Computational continuum mechanics
• ANiComp-Numerical analysis and scientific computation
• ATEM-Structural and Materials Technology
• BIT-Barcelona Innovative Transportation
• CRAHI-Center of Applied Research in Hydrometeorology
• EC-Construction Engineering
• EGEO-Geomatics Engineering
• EnGeoModels-Monitoring and Modelling in Engineering Geology
• EScGD-Engineering Sciences and Global Development
• FLUMEN-River Dynamics and Hydrological Engineering
• GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology
• GHS-Hydrogeology Group
• GIES-Geophysics and Earthquake Engineering
• GMNE-Numerical Methods in Engineering Group
• LACAN - UPC-Numerical Methods for Applied Sciences and Engineering
• LESEC-Laboratori d'Estudis Socials de l'Enginyeria Civil
• LIM/UPC-Maritime Engineering Laboratory
• MATCAR-Construction Materials and Roads
• MECMAT-Mechanics of Materials
• MSR-Soil and Rock Mechanics
• RMEE-Strength of Materials and Structural Engineering Research Group

Doctoral Programme teachers

• Aguado de Cea, Antonio
• Alarcon Fernandez, Daniel
• Arias Vicente, Irene
• Arroyo Balaguer, Marino
• Bateman Pinzon, Allen
• Blade Castellet, Ernest
• Codina Rovira, Ramon
• del Real, Esther
• Diez Mejia, Pedro
• Espino Infantes, Manolo
• Estrada Romeu, Miquel
• Fernandez Garcia, Daniel
• Garcia Gonzalez, Alberto
• Gens Sole, Antonio
• Gomez Valentin, Manuel
• Grifoll Colls, Manuel
• Martin Vide, Juan Pedro
• Molins Borrell, Climent
• Mujica Delgado, Luis Eduardo
• Olivella Pastalle, Sebastià
• Oñate Ibañez de Navarra, Eugenio
• Perez Foguet, Agusti
• Poblet Puig, Jordi
• Prat Catalan, Pere
• Rodellar Benede, Jose
• Rossi, Riccardo
• Sanchez Juny, Marti
• Sanchez Vila, Xavier
• Sanchez-Arcilla Conejo, Agustin
• Sarrate Ramos, Jose
• Sempere Torres, Daniel
• Soriguera Marti, Francesc
• Zlotnik Martinez, Sergio

Other teachers linked to the Doctoral Programme

• Arrayago Luquin, Itsaso
• Badia Rodriguez, Santiago
• Baiges Aznar, Joan
• Berenguer Ferrer, Marc
• Campos Cacheda, Magin
• Candela Lledo, Lucila
• Carreño Tibaduiza, Martha Liliana
• Dadvand, Pooyan
• de Medina Iglesias, Vicente Cesar
• de Pouplana Sarda, Ignasi
• Folch Sancho, Albert
• Garcia Espinosa, Julio
• Giacomini, Matteo
• Gironella i Cobos, Xavi
• Gomez Soberon, Jose Manuel
• Gracia Garcia, Vicente
• Hurlimann Ziegler, Marcel
• Lantada Zarzosa, Nieves
• Martinez Reguero, Adriana
• Mora Serrano, Francisco Javier
• Mora Serrano, Javier
• Mösso Aranda, Cesar
• Principe Rubio, Ricardo Javier
• Pujadas Alvarez, Pablo
• Romero Morales, Enrique
• Russo, Beniamino
• Saaltink, Maarten W.
• Sauri Marchan, Sergi
• Sierra Pedrico, Juan Pablo
• Soudah Prieto, Eduardo
• Trubat Casal, Pau
• Turro Calvet, Mateu
• Ubach de Fuentes, Pere Andreu
• Vaunat, Jean
• Vazquez, Mariano
• Zarate Araiza, Jose Francisco

The Validation, Monitoring, Modification and Accreditation Framework (VSMA Framework) for official degrees ties the quality assurance processes (validation, monitoring, modification and accreditation) carried out over the lifetime of a course to two objectives—the goal of establishing coherent links between these processes, and that of achieving greater efficiency in their management—all with the overarching aim of improving programmes.

• Verification Memory (Doctoral Programme) - 2012
• Verification Resolution (MECD)
• Agreement of the Council of Ministers (BOE)
• Monitoring report (Doctoral Programme) - 2016
• University monitoring report (Doctoral School) - 2016
• Follow-up Assessment Report (AQU) - 2017
• Follow-up Assessment Report (AQU) - 2020

Accreditation

• Accreditation Report (Doctoral Programme) - 2018
• University Monitoring and Accreditation Report (Doctoral School) - 2018
• Official Degree Accreditation Evaluation Report (AQU) - 2019

Registry of Universities, Centers and Degrees (RUCT)

• Registration of the Doctoral Programme in the RUCT

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PhD Degrees in Engineering Studies Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering is one of the disciplines of professional engineering, dealing with the creation of civilian-used structures from conceptualization through to construction and maintenance. Both publicly-funded governments and private companies are involved in civil engineering.

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.

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PhD Civil Engineering / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent).

Other combinations of qualifications and research or work experience may also be considered. Please contact the admissions team to check.

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• A supporting statement (see 'Advice to Applicants' for what to include)
• Details of your previous university level study
• Names and contact details of your two referees.

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Programme description.

Research in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering covers six broad research themes ; aerospace engineering, innovative manufacturing, modelling and simulation, nuclear engineering, resilient systems, and structures in extreme environments.

Our postgraduate research programmes in Civil Engineering offer the opportunity to study in a multi-disciplinary team alongside leading academics in the field. Drawing on our expertise in structural engineering, geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering, hydraulic and fluid dynamics, material behaviour, computational modelling and dynamics of structures, we deliver world leading and industry relevant research and solutions.

Your research will be supported by state-of-the-art computational and experimental facilities. We have strong links with industry and excellent employability in a diverse sector of civil engineering. 

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £4,786; Band B £7,000; Band C £10,000; Band D £14,500; Band E £24,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A £28,000; Band B £30,000; Band C £35,500; Band D £43,000; Band E £57,000
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £2393; Band B £3,500; Band C £5,000; Band D £7,250; Band E 12,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The programme fee will vary depending on the cost of running the project. Fees quoted are fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for Home students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit the postgraduate fees page .

Always contact the Admissions team if you are unsure which fees apply to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.

To be considered for many of our scholarships, you’ll need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor. Therefore, we’d highly recommend you discuss potential sources of funding with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and make sure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more information about our scholarships, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

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The School of Engineering creates a world of possibilities for students pursuing skills and understanding. Through dynamic research and teaching we develop engineering solutions that make a difference to society in an ethical and sustainable way.  Science-based engineering is at the heart of what we do, and through collaboration we support the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to become technically strong, analytically innovative and creative. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

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Dipartimento di Ingegneria civile ed ambientale Università degli Studi di Perugia

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INTERNATIONAL DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING (Cycle XXXIX)

International and Industrial PhD Program of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, co-funded within the Department of Excellence Project 2018-2022 (approved by ANVUR in 2019, active cycles XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII, XXXIX).

Co-funded by the Department of Excellence Project 2018-2022 with the economic support of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), the International Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering focuses on timely research topics relating to prevention, prevision and mitigation of natural and anthropic hazards on the built environment, as well as on the design and management of complex infrastructural systems of Civil Engineering, by integrating quantitative approaches based on engineering mathematical models, as well as based on laboratory and field experiments, with the engineering of advanced composite materials and the technologies of digital innovation. Courses are primarily held at the main campus of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Perugia Santa Lucia and in the campus of Pentima in Terni. Advanced courses are also offered in international and national partner institutions as well as in higher education and research centers.

Mission and Goals

The Doctoral Programme promotes a multidisciplinary approach in which the disciplines of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Materials Engineering are naturally complemented by disciplines pertaining to the fields of Environmental Sciences and Product Design. The Doctorate offers courses and seminars focusing on fundamental and applied aspects of Civil and Environmental Engineering, therefore providing the students with a solid scientific background and with the skills and competences needed to compete at an international level in the specific research field and/or to enter in the work market with a high level of professional qualification. Courses are held by members of the board of teachers and by invited internationally acknowledged experts. The board of teachers of the doctoral programme includes selected professors from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of University of Perugia, as well as international scholars affiliated to the partner institutions of the PhD (i.e. Iowa State University, University of Liege, Technion Israeli Institute of Technology and more). Students are expected to spend an average period of 12 months to carry out research in an international partner institution and develop a joint PhD thesis under the co-supervision of an Italian tutor and a tutor from the partner organization. A particular preference is given to cotutelle programs in which the students earn the PhD title from both University of Perugia and from the partner institution.

Students graduating from the International Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Career Engineering typically find high level positions in Italy or abroad, within academic institutions, research centers, construction firms, public organizations and more. Their working activities are those requiring the ability to solve highly complex and interdisciplinary engineering problems, typically in coordination and management of research activities and technological development, in the industrial sector, in the academic field, in public administration organizations and in freelance professional activities.

Eligible Students

The PhD@DICAPG represents the third level of education for those who have achieved the Master of Science in a field of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Engineering, Architecture, Physics or similar degree courses in Italy or abroad and who wish to complete their education at a level of excellence

Scholarships

The Doctoral program offers an average of 7 scholarships per year, among which three funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) within the Department of Excellence program and four granted by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Additional scholarships may be available focusing on specific targets depending on the funding source (e.g. MSCA-ITN European projects, projects funded by private industries). Two of those scholarships every year are reserved for students who have achieved their MS title from a foreign academic institution. The PhD program offers economic support for research activities of the students including mobility grants.

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Civil and Environmental Engineering PhD

Key information, full-time - 4 years, part-time - 8 years.

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Why choose this programme

Your PhD will be conducted as part of a research group within our School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering. You’ll work to create smart and clean urban environments, dealing with challenges such as constraints of space and ageing infrastructure.

By sharing resources with other departments and schools across the University, we can support you in pursuing multidisciplinary and multi-scale research. This spans traditional subject boundaries and enables science-led inquiry to create engineered solutions to industrially relevant problems, both nationally and globally.

You’ll benefit from our excellent track record for graduate employability: 100 per cent of our civil and environmental engineering postgraduate research students are in employment or further study, with an average salary of £39,000 ( Graduate Outcomes 2022 ). We also offer a wide range of studentships through partnerships with leading companies.

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, the University of Surrey ranks 15th in the UK for research power for engineering and top 20 in the UK for the overall quality of research outputs (research papers and other published works).

Frequently asked questions about doing a PhD

What you will study

On this programme, your research will address the need for safe and sustainable environments in which we can all live and work. Your research can be about anything covered by one of our four research centres , or within the wider research interests of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences .

You’ll be assigned two supervisors who will guide you through your PhD and meet with you at least once a month. Your supervisors will be responsible for your progress, professional development and personal welfare. They’ll also be able to support you with preparing your work for publication and for research seminar presentations.

You’ll normally spend the first few months of your studies exploring the existing literature within your area of interest and establishing the research question you’ll address. After your first year, you’ll take a confirmation exam, and produce a report setting out your research objectives and what you’ve done so far, as well as a plan for how you’ll complete your final thesis. Your final assessment will be on your written thesis, and by a viva examination with both internal and external examiners.

As a research student, you’ll be able to attend our regular research seminars, where you can find out more about what your fellow researchers are working on and try your hand at presenting. We encourage our research students to interact with all our research staff throughout their programmes.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

Research support

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College , which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.

Research themes

• Infrastructure systems engineering  
• Geomechanics 
• Environmental health and engineering  
• Clean air .

Our academic staff

See a full list of all our  academic staff  within the School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Research centres and groups

Mamatha Tomson

Studying abroad as an international student is highly rewarding. I would definitely recommend doing a PhD here to any international students considering their next step.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a first or upper second-class (2:1) UK degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent overseas qualification), or a lower-second (2:2) UK degree plus a good UK masters degree - distinction normally required (or equivalent overseas qualification).

International entry requirements by country

English language requirements.

IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept. 

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Application requirements

Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our  application guidance .

After registration

Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants:

• Meeting the expected entry requirements
• Being shortlisted through the application screening process
• Completing a successful interview
• Providing suitable references.

Student life

At Surrey we offer the best of both worlds – a friendly campus university, set in beautiful countryside with the convenience and social life of Guildford on your doorstep.

Start date: October 2024

Start date: January 2025

Start date: April 2025

Start date: July 2025

• Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
• Any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).

View the list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Apply online

If you are applying for a studentship to work on a particular project, please provide details of the project instead of a research proposal.

Read our application guidance for further information on applying.

To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.

1. Select your course

Select the course you wish to apply for.

To apply online sign in or create an account.

Code of practice for research degrees

Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.

Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF) .

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

• First when we make an offer.
• Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .

Course location and contact details

Campus location

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

University of Surrey Admissions

University of Surrey Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH

Best Universities for Civil Engineering in Europe

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Europe ranked based on their research performance in Civil Engineering. A graph of 12.5M citations received by 586K academic papers made by 921 universities in Europe was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Delft University of Technology

For Civil Engineering

2. University of Cambridge

3. University College London

4. Imperial College London

5. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

6. University of Oxford

7. Catholic University of Leuven

8. Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

9. Polytechnic University of Milan

10. University of Leeds

11. University of Manchester

12. Federico II University of Naples

13. Sapienza University of Rome

14. Polytechnic University of Turin

15. University of Southampton

16. Technical University of Munich

17. Lund University

18. University of Sheffield

19. University of Bristol

20. National Technical University of Athens

21. University of Lisbon

22. Wageningen University

23. KTH Royal Institute of Technology

24. University of Stuttgart

25. Heidelberg University - Germany

26. Technical University of Catalonia

27. University of Bologna

28. Ghent University

29. University of Nottingham

30. University of Edinburgh

31. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

32. Technical University of Denmark

33. Utrecht University

34. Eindhoven University of Technology

35. University of Liverpool

36. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

37. University of Amsterdam

38. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

39. University of Padua

40. Pierre and Marie Curie University

41. Dresden University of Technology

42. Chalmers University of Technology

43. University of Birmingham

44. University of Porto

45. University of Glasgow

46. University of Minho

47. University of Hamburg

48. Uppsala University

49. University of Strathclyde

50. Newcastle University

51. Loughborough University

52. Polytechnic University of Bari

53. Technical University of Madrid

54. Stockholm University

55. RWTH Aachen University

56. University of Copenhagen

57. Aarhus University

58. Darmstadt University of Technology

59. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

60. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

61. Free University Amsterdam

62. King's College London

63. Catholic University of Louvain

64. University of Florence

65. Aalborg University

66. University of Helsinki

67. University of Munich

68. University of Surrey

69. University of Liege

70. Vienna University of Technology

71. University of Twente

72. Moscow State University

73. University of Patras

74. Cardiff University

75. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

76. University of Zurich

77. University College Dublin

78. Grenoble Alpes University

79. University of Gothenburg

80. Radboud University

81. University of Gottingen

82. Polytechnic University of Valencia

83. Technical University of Berlin

84. Ruhr University Bochum

85. University of Groningen

86. University of Catania

87. Czech Technical University in Prague

88. University of Exeter

89. University of Pisa

90. University of Genoa

91. University of Warwick

92. University of Ljubljana

93. Autonomous University of Barcelona

94. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

95. University of Bern

96. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

97. London School of Economics and Political Science

98. University of St Andrews

99. Wroclaw University of Technology

100. Queen's University Belfast

Engineering subfields in Europe

21 PhD Programmes in Engineering Studies Civil Engineering in Europe for 2024

• Engineering Studies
• Civil Engineering

Engineering Studies (21)

• Aeronautical Engineering (1)
• Chemical Engineering (8)
• Architectural Engineering (1)
• Hydraulic Engineering (1)
• Mining Engineering (3)
• Structural Engineering (2)
• Electrical Engineering (15)
• Engineering (9)
• Engineering Design (2)
• Environmental Engineering (12)
• Industrial Engineering (7)
• Manufacturing (1)
• Maritime Engineering (2)
• Materials Science (26)
• Mechanical Engineering (17)
• Process Engineering (2)
• Safety Engineering (4)
• Systems Engineering (5)
• Back to main category
• United Kingdom (4)
• Czech Republic (4)
• South Africa (0)
• Doctor of Education (1)
• 2 years (2)
• 3 years (7)
• 4+ years (9)
• Full time (18)
• Part time (3)
• English (19)
• Portuguese (2)
• Spanish (1)
• Galician (1)
• On-Campus (17)
• Distance learning (2)
• Blended (2)
• Architectural Engineering
• Hydraulic Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• Structural Engineering

Popular degree type

Popular study format

Popular education type

Popular locations

PhD Programmes in Engineering Studies Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering is one of the disciplines of professional engineering, dealing with the creation of civilian-used structures from conceptualization through to construction and maintenance. Both publicly-funded governments and private companies are involved in civil engineering.

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the western most point of Eurasia, Europe is usually divided from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting the Black and Aegean Seas.

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Postgraduate Courses in Civil Engineering in Europe - 495 Courses

• Refine your search:
• Civil engineering law
• Construction engineering
• Excavation engineering
• Municipal engineering
• Public health engineering
• Transport engineering
• Water engineering

University of Aberdeen School of Biological Sciences

• Environmental Pollution and Remediation MSc

University of Aberdeen School of Engineering

• Advanced Structural Engineering MSc
• Energy Transition Systems and Technologies MSc
• Energy Transition Systems and Technologies (Online) MSc
• Offshore Engineering MSc
• Offshore Engineering (Online) MSc
• Petroleum Engineering MSc
• Subsea Engineering MSc

University of Aberdeen School of Geosciences

• Sustainable Water Management MSc

University of Aberdeen School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

• Health Economics for Health Professionals (Online) MSc
• Public Health MPH

Abertay University School of Applied Sciences

• Civil Engineering MSc
• Water and Environmental Management MSc

University of Bath Architecture and Civil Engineering

• Civil Engineering Doctor of Philosophy - PhD MSc Master of Philosophy - MPhil
• Civil Engineering Practice-led Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

University of Birmingham Birmingham Business School

• Advanced Engineering Management (with Specialist Pathways) MSc
• Advanced Engineering Management: Construction Management MSc
• Advanced Engineering Management: Operations Management MSc
• Advanced Engineering Management: Project Management MSc
• Advanced Engineering Management: Systems Management MSc

University of Birmingham College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

• Civil Engineering Doctor of Philosophy - PhD MSc (Res) Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Birmingham Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering

• Civil Engineering MSc Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Civil Engineering and Management MSc Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Geotechnical Engineering MSc Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Railway Safety and Control Systems MSc Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Railway Systems Engineering and Integration MSc Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Railway Systems Integration Master of Research - MRes
• Road Management and Engineering MSc Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Structural Engineering MSc Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip

University of Birmingham School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

• River Environments and their Management MSc

University of Birmingham School of Physics and Astronomy

• Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management MSc Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip

University of Bradford School of Biomedical and Electronics Engineering

• Digital Civil Engineering MSc

University of Bradford School of Built Environment, Architecture and Creative Industries

• Advanced Civil and Structural Engineering MSc

University of Brighton School of Applied Sciences

University of Brighton School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering

• Earthquake and Structural Engineering Master of Science - MSc (PG)

Cardiff University School of Engineering

• Civil and Geoenvironmental Engineering MSc
• Civil and Water Engineering MSc
• Engineering Net Zero MSc

City, University of London Department of Engineering

• Civil Engineering Structures MSc
• Temporary Works and Construction Method Engineering MSc

City, University of London School of Science and Technology

Coventry university school of energy, construction and environment.

• Civil Engineering (Technical route) MSc
• Civil Engineering Project Management MSc
• Structural Engineering MSc

Cranfield University Cranfield University

• Design Engineering MSc (Res)

Cranfield University Environment and Agrifood

• Environmental Engineering MSc Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip

Cranfield University School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing

• Advanced Air Mobility Systems MSc

Cranfield University Water

• Advanced Water Management MSc Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
• Water and Sanitation for Development MSc
• Water and Wastewater Engineering MSc

University for the Creative Arts School of Architecture and Design

• Urban Design MSc
• Urban Design (with Integrated International Pre-Masters) MSc
• Urban Design (with Integrated Pre-Masters) MSc

De Montfort University Arts, Design and Humanities

• Architectural and Sustainability MSc

Search for civil engineering by...

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• East Midlands
• East of England
• West Midlands
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• List of Universities

2715 Study programs

Study Civil Engineering in Germany: 33 Universities with 47 English Degree Programs

All important info for international students in germany (2024/2025).

Germany is a unique location to study an English-taught Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. We are sure that you can find a program that specializes precisely in your area of interest and that can significantly advance your career - whether you want to work in Germany or internationally.

There are many reasons why Germany can provide you with a unique education and opportunities in Civil Engineering: first off, the field is highly developed and holds a great international reputation. Second, many of the Master’s programs you can choose from are interdisciplinary, which allows you to acquire the broad level of expertise that is required in the international job market. Thirdly, the future of STEM in Germany is bright and supported by the German leadership, who launched a network to support this subject group in 2008. Browse your options in the StudyFinder and discover which program will be the perfect fit for you!

Study Programs in English

Universities

Universities in International Rankings

€ 0 (30 programs for EU citizens, 24 programs for Non-EU citizens)

€ 12,000 per semester (1 program for EU citizens/Non-EU)

Winter Semester

between May 23 and May 15

Summer Semester

between July 15 and April 15

Top-ranked German Universities in Civil Engineering

private (state-approved) University of Applied Sciences

No. of Students: approx. 100,000 students

Program Fees: € 1,434 - € 5,330 (per semester)

public Technical University

No. of Students: approx. 53,000 students

Program Fees: € 0 - € 6,000 (per semester)

public University

No. of Students: approx. 3,700 students

Program Fees: € 0 (per semester)

Tuition Fees

3 english degree programs for civil engineering in germany.

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Weimar

Natural hazards and risks in structural engineering.

ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln / TH Köln - Cologne University of Applied Sciences Cologne

Digital narratives.

Technische Universität Braunschweig Braunschweig

Computational sciences in engineering.

Application Deadlines

Winter Semester 2024/2025

Summer Semester 2025

Winter Semester 2025/2026

Open Programs

38 programs

17 programs

46 programs

Application Requirements

Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering typically admit students who have an academic degree in a related subject such as Civil Engineering, Architecture or Real Estate Engineering and Management. For most programs, entrance tests or interviews are not part of the admissions process, students must simply submit required documents (first degree certificate and a transcript of records). These typically include your CV, a letter of motivation and sometimes letters of reference. Additionally, you will have to prove your English language abilities with a language certificate.

Application Modes

Application process.

TU Darmstadt Darmstadt

Civil engineering.

NIT Northern Institute of Technology Management Hamburg University of Technology · Hamburg

Technology management - double master's program [english].

Technology Management

TOEFL Scores

Cambridge Levels

5 (2 programs )

71 (2 programs )

B2 First (FCE) (11 programs )

7 (2 programs )

95 (2 programs )

C2 Proficiency (CPE) (7 programs )

Dresden International University Dresden

Non-destructive testing.

Merz Akademie - University of Applied Art, Design and Media, Stuttgart Stuttgart

Research in design, art and media.

Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim

International bachelor of wood technology.

3-8 semesters

→ View all programs with online courses

Master of Arts

Master of Business Administration

Master of Engineering

Master of Science

Bachelor of Engineering

Bachelor of Science

Winter intake

Summer intake

Winter & Summer intake

List of all German Universities offering English-taught Study Programs in Civil Engineering

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Program Fees: € 0

M.Sc. (Master of Science)

bbw University of Applied Sciences

Program Fees: € 3,840 - € 4,110

Bochum University of Applied Sciences

Deggendorf Institute of Technology

B.Eng. (Bachelor of Engineering)

M.Eng. (Master of Engineering)

Dresden International University

Program Fees: € 5,370

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DAAD Scholarships: Guide

Engineering Universities in Germany: A Guide 2024/25

PhD Candidate in Timber Engineering

Job Information

Offer description.

About the job

We have a vacancy for a Ph.D. Candidate within the timber structures’ group at the Department of Structural Engineering.

The timber structures group at NTNU has had a great development over the last years. The research interests of the group are focused on development of structural concepts for mid-rise timber buildings, timber bridges with long spans, development of high-performance connections based on threaded rods, static and dynamic testing of timber components and investigation of fracture and high-cycle fatigue. The research methods are based on both small-scale and full-scale experimental testing and on Finite Element Modelling.

Timber structures have gained increasing attention in the European construction field because of their sustainability, cost effectiveness, and reduced self-weight. The use of wood is particularly beneficial because of its low carbon footprint compared to other construction materials such as concrete and steel. Wood products can achieve high mechanical performance not only at the material level, but also at structural level, as it was proved by the recent efforts to design and construct high timber buildings in Europe. Such buildings require performant connections in terms of stiffness and resistance to achieve sufficient serviceability and safety. Performant moment-resisting connections can contribute to the lateral stiffness of the building, reducing the need for diagonal bracing or walls and allowing for more spacious buildings. An innovative moment-resisting beam-to-column connection has recently been developed at NTNU, based on friction, and utilizing threaded rods as fasteners.

The design life of load-carrying wooden structures is recommended to be up to 100 years by the Eurocodes. However, the long-term mechanical deterioration of wood driven by cyclic variations of the environmental conditions is a challenging topic for large structures. Furthermore, increasing circularity and prolonging the service life of buildings and structural components is a step forward towards more sustainable, resource-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly construction. Therefore, the response of the connection subjected to long-term loading and moisture effects should be investigated, as well as the potential for disassembling/reassembling. Moreover, design recommendations about the long-term performance need to be developed for the application of such connections.

The scope of this Ph.D. project is to investigate the long-term behaviour of moment-resisting connections with threaded rods subjected to permanent load under varying climate conditions and evaluate the long-term effects on the structural response of buildings.

The research will involve both finite element modelling and experimental work. The research will involve cooperation within the framework of an international project.

The Ph.D. project aims to start in August/September 2024. The Ph.D. position holder will be required to work in Trondheim, together with the rest of the timber structures group.

Your immediate leader is Associate Professor Francesco Mirko Massaro.

Duties of the position

• Complete the PhD training consisting of courses (minimum 30 ECTS credits) 
• Review of existing literature on long-term response of timber connections.
• Experimental testing of threaded rods embedded in timber subjected to permanent load under varying climate conditions.
• Evaluation of long-term properties of connections with threaded rods by use of experimental and/or finite element method.
• Assessment of the effects of creep deformations on the ultimate and serviceability limit state of timber buildings with connections consisting of threaded rods.
• Determination of the required tolerances of the connections to facilitate reassembly of structural components.
• The Ph.D. candidate shall publish the research outcomes in internationally recognized journals and conferences.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in Structural Engineering
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented by August 15th.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to  the faculty's doctoral program .
• You must have good written and oral English language skills.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with  Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate  and  Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Suitable background (M.Sc. degree or equivalent) within structural engineering and/or timber engineering.
• Knowledge of Finite Element software (e.g. Abaqus or similar)
• Programming skills (e.g. Matlab, Python or similar).
• Knowledge of European standards for the design of buildings (Eurocodes)

Personal characteristics

• be highly motivated and diligent.
• be able to work both independently and as part of a group.
• be able to cooperate within the framework of an international project.
• have good communication skills in scientific writing and oral presentations.

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and  inclusive work environment  with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the  Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years, with a possible extension to 4 years with 25 % teaching duties.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to  the PhD programme in Engineering  within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning  State Employees and Civil Servants , and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include: 

• CV and certificates
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted.
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Name and contact information of three referees
• If you have publications or other relevant research work

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found  here . If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to  The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to  promote equality.  

The city of Trondheim  is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with  current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Francesco Mirko Massaro, email [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Kristine Grønvold, e-mail: [email protected] .

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.  

Application deadline: 03.05.2024

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Structural Engineering

We teach mechanical engineering, engineering and ICT, and civil and environmental engineering. The Department conducts internationally leading research and participates in several large national research projects.  The Department of Structural Engineering  is one of eight departments in  the Faculty of Engineering .

Deadline  16th May 2024 Employer  NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology Municipality  Trondheim Scope  Fulltime Duration Temporary Place of service  Materialteknisk, Richard Birkelands vei 1A, 7034 Trondheim

Requirements

Additional information, work location(s), where to apply.