Architecture
University of Southampton
About the Project Supervisory Team: Dr Masoud Sajjadian, Climate Change is transforming how homes are designed or refurbished to protect occupants from extreme weather conditions. This project will investigate how adaptive and maladaptive housing design interventions affect public health in the UK. The project aims to generate evidence that supports healthier and more climate-resilient housing.
- Location
- Southampton, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- 9 October 2026
- Funding
- Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
Architecture
Edinburgh Napier University
About the Project The Energy Efficient Scotland programme sets out a strategic roadmap to decarbonise homes, businesses, and public buildings, supporting the Scottish Government’s climate commitments. Existing buildings account for a large share of Scotland’s energy use and carbon emissions [1,2]. Improving their performance is critical for achieving net-zero targets.
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Kingston University
About the Project In an era where the quest for sustainability intersects with the imperative of human well-being, the building sector stands at a critical juncture [1,2]. The project titled "Building Sustainability and Occupant Well-being: Data-Driven Design Optimization " embarks on an ambitious journey to unravel and synergize these two pivotal aspects of modern built environments.
- Location
- London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project Climate change presents novel challenges to the built environment. For individuals with dementia, extreme heat and other climate-related events can impact comfort, mobility, and daily activities, whereas dementia may influence the perception, comprehension, and response to environmental conditions. Although research on dementia-friendly and climate-resilient designs is well-established, these areas have predominantly evolved independently.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project This project proposes to investigate the efficacy and processes of co-produced regenerative and climate-resilient interventions within vulnerable urban communities following climate-related disasters. Situated in contexts affected by extreme weather events, the research will explore how interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with local NGOs facilitate the development of tailored, sustainable solutions.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Salford
About the Project Architectural design is increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence (AI), with generative models such as Midjourney and DALL-E , and parametric BIM tools assisting designers in the creative process. However, while AI can create convincing and aesthetically interesting spaces, it raises the question whether these algorithmic designs can evoke the same emotional, cognitive, and empathetic resonance as those created by human designers.
- Location
- Manchester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Edinburgh Napier University
About the Project Facilities Management (FM) is a critical, multi-trillion-dollar global industry responsible for ensuring the functionality, safety, comfort, and sustainability of the built environment. Facilities management encompasses a wide range of activities, including maintenance, space management, security, and sustainability practices.
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Edinburgh Napier University
About the Project This interdisciplinary project aims to investigate the integration of digital technologies and energy-efficient solutions to develop climate-responsive and adaptable buildings to enhance the experience of diverse users. This research will focus on a case study to identify why a digital twin is needed and what issues it will attempt to address.
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Edinburgh Napier University
About the Project With people spending the vast majority of their lives indoors, the quality of our homes, offices, and schools has a profound impact on our health, wellbeing, and productivity. Simultaneously, the energy used to heat, cool, and light these spaces is a major contributor to global carbon emissions.
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Edinburgh Napier University
About the Project The recent years have witnessed transformative changes in the design of private cars with creative forms and innovative technologies to enhance the experience of the driver and passengers. On the other hand, changes to public transportation vehicles and systems have been generally very limited and very minor.
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project This research proposes to investigate how progressive local authority policies and practices enable community-led development, particularly focusing on affordable housing. It seeks to address the challenge of uneven outcomes by detailing how local policy can become a more consistent enabler for affordable community-led housing.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Salford
About the Project The built environment profoundly influences human wellbeing shaping not only our physical comfort and behaviour, but also our cognitive and emotional states. Yet, despite decades of architectural and environmental psychology research, the mechanisms that link spatial design, perception and neurological response remain poorly quantified.
- Location
- Manchester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project Heat networks are set to aid the replacement of natural gas boilers across the UK as part of national decarbonization efforts. This research proposal examines the reciprocal relationship between heat network infrastructures and everyday practices, focusing on how approaches to the design and delivery of heat networks might better integrate technical solutions with lived experiences.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Kingston University
About the Project Challenges facing the sustainability impact of concrete in 21st century construction includes unsustainable Embodied CO2 (ECO2) with over-reliance of natural aggregate that contribute to diverse anthropogenic effects. These influence on climate change including greenhouse gases (GHG), urban heat island (UHI), acid rain, and other environmental risks associated to heat and pollution.
- Location
- London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Kingston University
About the Project Project Abstract We are seeking an ambitious PhD candidate to join a cutting-edge research project aiming to map the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential for existing building stocks in the UK through the application of deep learning on satellite and aerial image data. The anticipated research outcomes will provide valuable insights for the construction industry to strategically promote solar PV installations across the UK.
- Location
- London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project The UK electricity system is currently undergoing significant transformation as the country moves towards a low-carbon and more sustainable energy future. Increasing electrification of transport, heating, and industry is expected to place new pressures on electricity generation and network infrastructure over the coming decades.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project As many countries grapple with the transition towards a regime of renewable energies, fossil fuels continue to determine the daily existence of the majority of the world’s population. Oil is the culprit hiding behind modern cultural production, from vinyl records to fashion, it continues to flow and inform our imagination. Like with many other societal issues, climate change has magnified our need to move beyond our reliance on crude oil by-products.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project The UK has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The UK's 29 million houses represent 14% of total emissions (CCC, 2019), with nearly 90% of these built more than 20 years ago before stricter energy efficiency standards came into force (Ince & Marvin, 2019). Electrification of domestic energy services is central to achieving carbon neutrality, switching cooking, hot water, and space heating away from fossil energy, particularly natural gas.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Strathclyde
About the Project The persistent need for and the pursuit of dependability across subject areas in built management sustain excellence in professional practices and continuous professional learning and development. This research cluster aims to foster profound interdisciplinary studies on challenging issues regarding construability and reliability in the engineering domain and productivity and supportability in the management domain.
- Location
- Glasgow, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project Project Overview: As global temperatures rise, the need to keep buildings cool is becoming one of the fastest growing energy challenges of our time. By 2050, energy demand for space cooling is expected to triple, driven by urbanisation, population growth, and rising living standards, particularly in hot and humid regions. Today, most cooling relies on electricity-intensive air conditioning powered by fossil fuels.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
Edinburgh Napier University
About the Project The UK construction industry is under increasing pressure to address climate change, reduce embodied carbon, and adopt circular economy principles. A key barrier to achieving these goals is the lack of transparency and traceability of building materials throughout their lifecycle. Material Passports—digital documents containing detailed information on the composition, provenance, and recyclability of materials—offer a promising solution.
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project This research project looks at how the representation of architecture and built environments in sf might be used to inform and enact spatial alternatives within the present.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Salford
About the Project Project Summary This doctoral project investigates how infrastructures of survivability—systems of mobility, protection, sensing, and logistics whose logics intertwine with militarism—reshape contemporary urban environments. It asks how these technical systems mediate relations between people, technologies, and ecologies, and how they transform the very meaning of urban life.
- Location
- Manchester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Reading
About the Project This project marks the latest phase in the development of the 'Propositional Walking Map' (PWM), a new form of city walking map that I have created. The PWM acts as a stimulant to new ways of assimilating the Everyday City, prompting and structuring experiences using observational and narrative techniques made accessible through walking.
- Location
- Reading, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Architecture
University of Salford
About the Project The ‘first wave’ of feminism is often associated with women's movements, women's suffrage and in architecture with pioneering women entering this profession. The RIBA accredited Ethel Charles as the first woman in 1898 but at that time ‘architect’ was not a legally protected term.
- Location
- Manchester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only