Research profile
This interdisciplinary PhD programme engages researchers from aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering. See below more detail about each area.
Research activities within the aerospace and aviation engineering degree programmes at Brunel cover a wide-ranging and diverse field of topics. Academic staff involved within these programmes investigate fundamental and complex problems relating to aerodynamics and aeroacoustics, flight physics and performance, helicopter rotor dynamics and structural mechanics together with Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Elements Analysis code development and application.
Learn more about research in this area.
Research activities within the civil engineering degree programmes at Brunel cover a wide-ranging and diverse field of topics. Academic staff involved in these programmes investigate the management of urban waste, bio-based building products, and natural fibre composites in construction. They also develop an understanding of the behaviour of structures under extreme conditions such as fire, impact and seismic loadings and find solutions to coastal engineering problems such as coastal wave dynamics and coastal resilience against natural hazards such as storm surges, tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides.
Learn more about research in this area.
The aim of mechanical engineering at Brunel is to develop novel theories, methods and procedures in applied mechanics, and to apply these to real-life problems within the aerospace, offshore, construction, energy and medical engineering industries. Our industry-focused expertise is supporting the future development of new transport technologies, helping address the challenges of producing cleaner, more efficient vehicles and fuels along with integrated intelligent transport systems.
Learn more about research in this area.
You will benefit from this integrated PhD programme immensely if you want to:
- receive a more much guided and hands-on supervision of your learning and research process, especially if you come from more traditional teaching cultures
- increase your chances for timely completion of your PhD programme in comparison to students taking traditional route PhD, cutting down the expenses associated with prolonged study
- access to tailored, highly specialist research training not available as part of the support provided to traditional route PhD students
- maximise your chances for a successful research analysis by applying practical assignments and training which are part of the integrated PhD directly to the research you do for your thesis
- receive an official Postgraduate Diploma in Research in addition to your PhD award to certify the completion of skills training which may be required by employers in some countries if you wish to pursue an academic career
Browse the work of subject-relevant research groups
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Find a supervisor
Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team.
You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.
PhD topics
While we welcome applications from students with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:
- Additive manufacturing and sustainability, supervised by Eujin Pei
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) enabled autonomous robots for non-disruptive inspection of utility and sewage systems, supervised by Md Nazmul Huda
- Ambient Vibration-Based Calibration of Finite Element Models of Bridges, supervised by Michael Rustell
- Automatic computational fluid-dynamics, supervised by James Tyacke
- Autonomous Drone Surveys and Convolutional Neural Networks for Bridge Maintenance: A Predictive Approach Using Finite Element Analysis, supervised by Michael Rustell
- Autonomous robots for non-disruptive inspection of utility and sewage systems, supervised by Md Nazmul Huda
- Bridging the Gap: Integrating Neural Radiance Fields and Micro-drones for Enhanced 3D Volumetric Finite Element Analysis, supervised by Michael Rustell
- CFD modelling of plasma flow control, supervised by James Tyacke
- Crystal Plasticity Modelling of Hexagonal Closed-Pack (HCP) Materials for Manufacturing, supervised by Rui Ramos Cardoso
- Developing a device for marine life and water quality monitoring, supervised by Gera Troisi
- Development of a miniature capsule robot for capsule endoscopy, supervised by Md Nazmul Huda
- Development of an Optical Shape Sensing Method Using Optoelectronic Sensors for Soft Flexible Robotic Manipulators in Minimally Invasive Surgery, supervised by Yohan Noh
- Development of resilient hospitals through enhanced built environment design and research, supervised by Kangkang Tang
- Dynamics of seawater intrusion in heterogeneous coastal aquifers, supervised by Ashraf Ahmed Mohamed
- Fracture assessment of large-scale structural components, supervised by Marius Gintalas
- Intelligent, Interpretable and Adaptive Design of Steel Structures using Deep Learning and NLP, supervised by Michael Rustell and Tatiana Kalganova
- Large Language Models (LLM) for Automated Finite Element Analysis, supervised by Michael Rustell and Tatiana Kalganova
- Life cycle assessment and circular economy for built environment, supervised by Muhammad Shafique
- Machine learning for sustainable transportation systems, supervised by Muhammad Shafique
- Optimisation of geothermal energy extraction, supervised by James Tyacke
- Precision control of Nano-fuel production, supervised by Yang Yang
- Prediction of early-age cracking in structural concrete, supervised by Kangkang Tang
- Reliability Analysis of Adhesively Bonded Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites, supervised by Sadik Omairey and Mihalis Kazilas
- Study of stray current induced corrosion in railway construction, supervised by Kangkang Tang
- The sustainability of hydrogen production for future energy uses, supervised by Colin Axon and Peter Hewitson
- Use of Large Language Models (LLM) as a Structural Engineering Design Assistant, supervised by Michael Rustell and Tatiana Kalganova
- Using Machine Learning to Simulate Macroscopic phenomena for Fluid Dynamics, supervised by Nadine Aburumman
Research journey
The Brunel Integrated PhD combines PhD research with a programme of structured research, professional and subject training. The programme typically takes 4 years (compared to 3 years for a non-integrated PhD programme). On successful completion, you will be awarded a PhD with an Integrated Postgraduate Diploma in Research in your chosen subject specialisation.
The programme involves demonstrating through original research or other advanced scholarship the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge at the forefront of an academic discipline or professional practice, the ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the general of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline.
The programme of taught modules runs in parallel to your research work during the first three years of study, with the fourth year providing time for you to focus on writing up your PhD thesis. The taught modules cover research and professional skills as well as providing discipline-specific content. The Brunel Integrated PhD aims to support an individual’s development as a research professional. It aims to produce researchers who are well prepared to embark on careers as academics or professional researchers. As well as the skills to conduct and disseminate high-quality academic research, researchers will develop a range of broader (‘transferable’) skills to help ensure that their work has an impact in the wider world.
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Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here: Research degree progress structure.
Research support
Careers and your future
You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.
In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.
UK entry requirements
The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1).
An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face.
Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement and a research statement.
Please contact your proposed supervisor, where possible, to receive feedback and guidance on your research statement before submitting it. Learn how to prepare a research statement here.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/5 entry
International
£23,615 full-time
£11,805 part-time
UK
£4,786 full-time
£2,393 part-time
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
Some courses incur additional course related costs. You can also check our on-campus accommodation costs for more information on living expenses.
Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. Recently the UK Government made available the Doctoral Student Loans of up to £25,000 for UK and EU students and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.