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 project explores acoustic scaling between air and water by investigating differences in propeller acoustic radiation in both media. Using full-scale water measurements and partial-scale air measurements, it aims to develop a predictive model for underwater acoustics based on air tests, enhancing our understanding of cross-medium acoustic scaling for propeller noise analysis.
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 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.
The aim of this project is to develop a responsive high-fidelity atmospheric density model that can be updated with additional observation data from satellite tracking for use in precise orbit prediction.
Scaffolds are important physical substrates for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, ultimately leading to the regeneration of tissues. This research aims to develop a novel multi-material functional gradient scaffold that mimics the natural bone and cartilage structure, promoting the regeneration of both, particularly the transition zone between the two.
This project aims to develop a high-performance, low-cost propulsion system for CubeSats, enhancing manoeuvrability and mission longevity. Building on the All-Printed Propulsion System (ALPS) concept, this research will explore plasma acceleration using electric and magnetic fields, enabling a dual-stage propulsion system for improved thrust and efficiency in micro- and nanosatellite applications.
This project aims to develop innovative miniature ultrasonic devices specifically designed for bone surgery. It aims to advance the current design by introducing innovative configurations, incorporating novel structures in miniaturized devices, and integrating them with surgical robotics to enhance precision and improve clinical outcomes.
This project aims to develop an intelligent engineering system to monitor and improve quality of chest compressions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including in out of hospital settings.
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 project aims to investigate fluid-structure interaction using travelling waves for propulsion and micro-pumping applications. It combines structural dynamics, fluid mechanics, and advanced numerical modelling to develop efficient, bio-inspired motion strategies for underwater vehicles, biomedical devices, and microfluidic systems.
This project aims to leverage the advances in ultrasonic testing, including optical fibre-based distributed acoustic sensing and physics-enhanced machine learning, to increase the reliability of nuclear waste storage monitoring.
In-situ CO2 biomethanisation, integrating CO2 biomethanisation with anaerobic digestion of biomass, supports the green energy transition and maximises the value of CO2 for renewable bio-products. This project will tackle some of its critical scale-up challenges by taking into consideration of its full-scale operation, metabolic pathway changes and real-time control strategies.
This project investigates the environmental impact of spacecraft re-entry, focusing on material ablation and its effects on ozone chemistry and Earth’s radiative balance. Using high-fidelity computational models, molecular dynamics, and atmospheric simulations, this research will enhance sustainability in space activities by assessing the long-term consequences of satellite disposal practices.
This PhD will investigate novel methods to improve the operation and efficiency of Hall thrusters, the dominate type of propulsion used in space. This will be in particular towards their lower operational power range, using techniques such as changing their geometry and increasing their current density.
This project will explore gust-wing interactions in curvilinear flows, focusing on vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). It offers a unique opportunity to develop expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), data-driven modelling, and experimental aerodynamics while addressing a critical challenge in renewable energy, such as gust-wing interactions in curvilinear flows.
This project aims to develop advanced nonlinear damping mechanisms for space exploration and extraterrestrial colonisation. Combining numerical modelling, experiments, and compliant mechanisms, this research tackles regolith interactions and extreme conditions to improve structural resilience.
This project aims to investigate nonlinear dynamic behaviour in space structures, focusing on light, flexible systems in extreme environments. It combines numerical modelling, analytical methods, and experimental validation to enhance structural resilience for space exploration and extraterrestrial colonisation in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
This project seeks to develop novel fluidic topology optimisation approaches for gas turbine component design by leveraging cutting edge machine and deep learning methods alongside computational fluid dynamics, ultimately aiming to revolutionise the solution of aerodynamic design problems.
In this project, you will develop and evaluate novel quantum machine learning approaches to solve large scale inverse problems using near term quantum computing systems.
This project aims to develop predictive models for propeller noise generated by in-flow turbulence. It will investigate how background turbulence and upstream obstacles, such as hulls or support structures, impact propeller noise, enhancing our ability to predict and mitigate noise in non-uniform flow environments for improved marine vessel design and operation.
This project aims to develop a criticality ranking system for power grid assets using data-driven approaches. By applying machine learning and statistical models, it prioritizes high-risk assets, enabling proactive decisions, optimised resource allocation, enhanced maintenance efficiency, and improved grid reliability.
This project will explore and develop smart structures, which integrate advanced sensing, actuation and control, with the overall aim of controlling noise and vibration in practical engineering structures prevalent in automotive, marine and aerospace applications.
The aim of this project is to design, develop, and translate 3D nanoscale metamaterials for real-world applications. In this work, nanoscale particles can be assembled into macroscopic structures, creating a new class of materials where the desired properties are enhanced and scaled to a device level.
This project aims to validate the hypothesis that ultrasonic surgical tools can both limit cell damage at the site of cutting and stimulate tissue healing in regions remote from the surgical tip. This is achieved using ultra-high speed imaging based organotypic and hydrogel models for ultrasound-induced effects on bone and soft tissue.
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 |
