Join over 500 PhD students in one of the largest and most diverse engineering, environmental science and audiology faculties in the UK. We develop solutions in areas including sustainable energy, green transport, resource efficiency and resilient infrastructure.
Engineering at the University of Southampton has subjects ranked within the global top 100 and the UK’s top ten in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022.
You'll be supported by a team of academic supervisors who'll be on hand to guide your research and provide advice. Working alongside our world-class team of researchers means you'll be working on cutting-edge research and pioneering solutions.
We'll provide you with the grounding you need to become a successful researcher. You'll benefit from both technical and personal training. You'll also be able to develop your skills further through placements in industry, mentoring, attending conferences and presenting your work.
Most of our research projects have strong links with industry so you'll be able to conduct experiments at a variety of facilities to ensure your research has real world impact.
If you've completed your undergraduate and masters degrees and want to continue in the same field, then the standard research PhD is probably the right option.
Contribute to the field of research in computer science and software, either in person or through distance learning, by completing a PhD with us.
Our research areas include:
The University of Southampton is pleased to announce that PGR students from EU and Horizon associated countries joining us in 2024-25 will pay the same as UK PGRs for their PhD.
You can either apply for a structured studentship or propose your own PhD idea.
Taking a structured studentship will give you access to additional training, conferences and secondments. Full studentships typically cover tuition fees (at EU/UK level) and provide a tax-free bursary which varies depending on the programme.
We offer our structured studentships in partnership with our Centres of Doctoral Training (CDT).
This PhD project will use Resolvent Analysis (RA) to tackle turbulent flow modelling without the need for expensive, scale-resolving simulations. By developing algorithms that dynamically balance RA structures, the project aims to synthesize an approximate turbulent velocity field, enabling detailed yet computationally efficient analysis of complex flows.
This interdisciplinary project will develop technology integrated and scalable bio-electrochemical processes to convert CO2, N2 and waste organics into high value compounds for fuels, chemicals, food and fertilisers using renewable electricity and microorganisms.
This project will develop an integrated membrane electrochemical system (MES) for efficient lithium separation and CO₂ capture. By combining advanced membrane materials development with electrochemical process design and optimisation, it aims to deliver a transformative solution for sustainable resource recovery and carbon management.
This project aims to develop AI-driven, metal-based smart antimicrobials targeting gastrointestinal infections and antimicrobial resistance. You will use cutting-edge AI drug design and microfluidic organ-on-a-chip technology for rapid, animal-free drug screening.
This project focuses on railway noise and vibration. By integrating computational modelling, experimental measurements, and AI-driven insights, the research aims to develop predictive models for noise reduction and sustainable railway development.
This project focuses on the development of novel bioinspired soft robots based on smart materials for complex locomotion and manipulation in natural environments.
Fully funded PhD investigating novel design methods to improve submerged infrastructure resilience against currents and waves. Utilize world-class hydraulic labs and supercomputing facilities to develop sustainable, carbon-efficient solutions.
This project will use machine learning and big data techniques to develop real-time satellite orbit predictions for safer, smarter space traffic management. It aims to integrate high-precision laser ranging satellite tracking data to continuously update the biggest unknown, atmospheric density. This can improve tracking accuracy by up to an order of magnitude.
This exciting PhD project focuses on advancing single-wavelength intracavity absorption spectroscopy for marine sensing.
Respiratory diseases develop progressively. However, current monitoring methods are unsuitable for long-term continuous monitoring. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) uses light to interrogate the optical properties of tissue. This project aims to develop a wearable system for long-term respiration monitoring using NIRS powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to aid in analysis.
In this project you will be working with a large research team in Southampton and with our colleagues from the University of Texas, USA on heterogeneous integration of silicon photonics devices with barium titanate (BaTiO3 or BTO), a material that has one of the largest modulation effects, using mass manufacturable techniques and new design ideas.
This PhD project aims to develop low-carbon, high-performance cementitious materials to combat marine corrosion and reduce global CO₂ emissions. Using advanced material characterisation techniques, this project explores microstructure evolution and long-term durability for sustainable ocean infrastructure.
Nanobubbles, characterised by their unique features, present a compelling opportunity to improve biological treatment process performance and efficiency. This project will investigate the application of nanobubbles in biological waste treatment and their potential for retrofitting existing systems.
This PhD project will investigate the electrical, thermal and economic modelling of a range of electrical energy storage types (e.g. lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, flow cells and fuel cells), with a view to further investigation of the potential to directly hybridise these energy stores.
This project will focus on electrolyte design to address critical scientific and engineering challenges in next-generation flow batteries, aiming to understand the relationship among redox couples, electrode materials, transport phenomena, and electrochemical mechanisms. It will develop high-performant semi-organic flow batteries with increased capacity retention.
In this PhD studentship, you will further develop novel composite material ARF (CM-ARF) technology, spanning the multidisciplinary remit between cleanroom based, 2D materials fibre integration technology for the highly innovative CM-ARF platform, with applications in active photon management and light processing functions.
This project aims to investigate the effect of varying excitation and loading on the change of electrical impedance of the ultrasonic surgical devices during tissue cutting. It also seeks to implement intelligent and self-adaptive control algorithm. The goal is to achieve a state of autonomously matched impedance between the load and the ultrasonic resonance tracking system. This will help maximise the ultrasonic energy transmission efficiency.
This PhD project is about pushing the boundaries in manufacturing, and making lasers become autonomous decision-makers, guiding us into a future of faster, cleaner, and more precise production processes.
This project aims to develop machine learning (ML) techniques for processing data collected from an array of hydrophones (underwater microphones). While our team and other international groups have harnessed ML's capabilities for single hydrophone data analysis, there has been limited exploration of the optimal approach for combining information across multiple hydrophones.
We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate to join our research team for a project focused on developing photonic integrated circuits for UV-green wavelengths.
The primary goal of this project is to model the impact of ice build up using computational fluid dynamics.
Magnetometers are crucial in aerospace, geological mapping, and drone technology. Our innovative project leverages distributed quantum sensing, implemented on an array of optomechanical metasurfaces, to create room-temperature, chip-scale remote magnetometers with high signal-to-noise sensing capabilities in complex environments.
This project explores quantum computing to enhance large-scale stochastic optimisation for energy system planning, addressing uncertainty in renewables. By integrating quantum and classical methods, it aims to solve large-scale models, advancing methodologies and supporting the energy transition.
The aim of the project is to develop a novel platform technology for quantum reservoir computing, a promising approach for quantum neural networks where quantum information can be used as data in machine learning algorithms.
This project aims to develop cutting-edge on-device continual learning for resource-constrained robots. It tackles the stability-plasticity dilemma, enabling robots to learn multiple tasks efficiently while retaining prior knowledge.
In this project you will be working on the design and fabrication of silicon photonics circuits that operate in the mid-infrared wavelength region where the drugs have distinct absorption fingerprints.
The aim of this project is to provide a solution for intra data centre communications which is sustainable, and uses minimal power.
This project aims to develop a robot-integrated ultrasonic drilling system for minimally invasive, high-resolution assessment of inhomogeneous damage in degraded concrete. By combining ultrasonic sensing and force measurement during drilling, the system enables real-time subsurface characterization in extreme environments such as underwater or post-fire, supporting safer infrastructure inspection and maintenance.
This PhD project will develop advanced ultrasonic array techniques for hydrogen leak detection, localisation and characterisation in complex, noisy environments. Combining mathematical modelling and physics-informed signal processing with AI-driven methods (including PINNs), the research aims to enhance robust, cost-effective leak detection with industrial applications on complex sites.
We offer a wide range of fully funded studentships. We run several of our PhD studentships in partnership with doctoral training centres, meaning you'll benefit from enhanced training and guaranteed funding.
These studentships:
Doctoral training centres offer fully funded studentships which include:
In association with the UK joining the EU Horizon Programme, the University of Southampton will be introducing and applying an EU fee waiver for students joining us from EU and Horizon associated countries. This means that PGR students joining us from 2024-25 will pay the same fees as UK PGR students.
See here for full information terms and conditions
We offer scholarships and teaching bursaries ourselves. Your potential supervisor can guide you on what is available.
If you’re an international student you may be able to apply for a scholarship from your country.
Find out more about scholarships
Once you've found a supervisor, they can help you with potential funding sources. We offer match funding in some cases.
You'll need to state how you intend to pay for your tuition fees when you submit your application.
Find out more about funding your PhD
You may be able to fund your postgraduate research with funding from your current employer or from industry.
You can borrow up to £29,390 for a PhD starting on or after 1 August 2024. Doctoral loans are not means tested and you can decide how much you want to borrow.
Find out about PhD loans on GOV.UK
You may be able to win funding from one or more charities to help fund your PhD.
We charge tuition fees for every year of study. If you're applying for a fully funded project, your fees will be paid for you.
EU Fee Waiver: If your country is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, you will pay the same fees as UK students.
Find out if your country is part of the Horizon Europe programme
2023 to 2024 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and the environment full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Engineering and the environment part time | tbc | £12,750 |
| Engineering and the environment (energy storage and applications) full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Engineering and the environment (next generation computational modelling) full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) full time | tbc | £25,500 |
2024 to 2025 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and the environment full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Engineering and the environment part time | £2,393 | £13,050 |
| Engineering and the environment (energy storage and applications) full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Engineering and the environment (next generation computational modelling) full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
2023 to 2024 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Energy storage applications full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Next generation computational modelling full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Sustainable infrastructure systems full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Defence and security mobility full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Defence and security mobility part time | tbc | £12,750 |
2024 to 2025 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Energy storage applications full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Next generation computational modelling full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Sustainable infrastructure systems full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Defence and security mobility full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Defence and security mobility part time | £2,393 | £13,050 |
Precise topics each year are determined by the research interests of the sponsoring companies, and may be aligned with our current CDTs in
2023 to 2024 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and the environment full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) full time | tbc | £25,500 |
| Transport and the environment full time | tbc | £25,500 |
2024 to 2025 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and the environment full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Transport and the environment full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
2025 to 2026 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and the environment full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Engineering and the environment part time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £13,350 |
| Engineering and the environment (energy storage and applications) full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Engineering and the environment (next generation computational modelling) full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
2025 to 2026 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Energy storage applications full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Next generation computational modelling full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Sustainable infrastructure systems full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Defence and security mobility full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Defence and security mobility part time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £13,350 |
| Engineering and the Environment part-time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £13,350 |
Precise topics each year are determined by the research interests of the sponsoring companies, and may be aligned with our current CDTs in
2023 to 2024 entry:
| Subject | UK fees and Horizon Programme applicants | International fees |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and the environment full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
| Transport and the environment full time | To be confirmed Spring 2025 | £26,700 |
You're eligible for a 10% alumni discount on a self-funded PhD if you're a current student or graduate from the University of Southampton.
Several national centres, industrial units, interdisciplinary research centres and spin-off companies operate under the umbrella of the School of Engineering.
Our research groups are aligned with recent UK Government priority areas, as set out in the UK Industrial Strategy.
We offer 1 programme:
PhD
If you choose a standard research PhD, decide whether to apply to an advertised research project or create your own proposal.
Whichever programme you choose, you'll need to identify potential supervisors. Therefore, it's a good idea to email potential supervisors working within your field of interest to discuss potential PhD projects. It's best to do this well ahead of the application deadline.
You’ll find supervisors’ contact details listed with the advertised project, or you can search for supervisors in the staff directory.
As part of your online application, you’ll need to send us:
The application process is the same whether you're applying for a funded project, or have created a research proposal.
You should have a 2:1 honours undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification.
If English is not your first language, you'll need an IELTS minimum level of 6.5 with a 6.0 in writing, reading, speaking and listening.
Your awarded certificate needs to be dated within the last 2 years.
If you need further English language tuition before starting your degree, you can apply for one of our pre-sessional English language courses.
Check the specific entry requirements listed on the project you’re interested in before you apply.
Research degrees have a minimum and maximum duration, known as the candidature. Your candidature ends when you submit your thesis.
Most candidatures are longer than the minimum period.
| Programme | Full time | Part time |
| Engineering and the environment | 2 to 4 years | 3 to 7 years |
| Engineering and the environment (energy storage and applications) | 2 to 4 years | Not available |
| Engineering and the environment (next generation computational modelling) | 2 to 4 years | Not available |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) | 2 to 4 years | Not available |
| Programme | Full time | Part time |
| Energy storage applications | 3 to 5 years | Not available |
| Next generation computational modelling | 3 to 5 years | Not available |
| Sustainable infrastructure systems | 3 to 5 years | Not available |
| Defence and security mobility | 3 to 5 years | 4 to 8 years |
Our engineering doctorates are only available to study full time.
| Programme | Full time |
| Engineering and the environment | 3 to 5 years |
| Engineering and the environment (sustainable infrastructure systems) | 3 to 5 years |
| Transport and the environment | 3 to 5 years |
