We have 62 urban development PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

The rise to prominence of the concept and practice of sustainable development over the past few decades has paralleled an increasing number of theoretical platforms upon which to understand the concept. Read more

Supervisor: Dr CM Moobela

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Leverhulme Doctoral Programme for Regenerative Innovation (Regnr8-i): Reimagining Urban Water through Regenerative Technologies

University of Dundee UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science

Exponential growth of the built environment, associated with rapid urban expansion and increasing urban populations, is already placing considerable pressure on the urban water cycle, critical infrastructure, and urban waterways that represent primary pathways (or conduits) within this cycle. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Cuthbertson, Dr A Black, Dr S Halliday

3 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Assessment Framework for Inclusive Sustainable Public Places

Edinburgh Napier University School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment

Traditional social life. While the social aspect is the most recognisable benefit known for urban places, many other benefits could be identified. Read more

Supervisor: Assoc Prof I Kenawy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Leverhulme Doctoral Programme for Regenerative Innovation (Regnr8-i): Sustainable Green Urban Spaces: Assimilation of Citizen-Science Data for Air Quality Monitoring via Digital-Twin Simulation

University of Dundee UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science

Green urban spaces offer vital clean-air zones for residents, but their typical proximity to major traffic routes poses significant challenges for air quality monitoring and maintenance. Read more

Supervisors: Dr T Eaves, Prof M Woods

3 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for Urban Air Quality Simulation and Management

Canterbury Christ Church University SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN

This research project offers an exciting opportunity for individuals passionate about addressing the critical issue of urban air quality through cutting-edge computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. Read more

Supervisor: Dr H Hassanin

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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PhD studentship in Public Health: Exploring how local economic development is influencing the obesogenic environment

Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute

Award summary . 100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend (living expenses) of £19,237 (from 24/25) Significant additional funding given for training and conference attendance. Read more

Supervisor: Dr PB Bhatnagar

29 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Transition Engineering Lab on the Housing Ecosystem. The Problem of Finding an Affordable, Decent Place to Live, within a Net Zero Community. A breakthrough in the accelerated transition of cities to net zero, thriving environments

Heriot-Watt University School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

Research Group: Institute of Life and Earth Sciences

This project will be based at Heriot Watt Orkney campus. Rapid emissions reductions[1] require transition of personal transport and freight, and reduction of energy in buildings and embedded in vehicles, and construction in urban areas. Read more

Supervisor: Prof S Krumdieck

30 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Spatial decision support analysis for sustainable mobility policies

Edinburgh Napier University School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment

This PhD project aims to develop a spatial framework to integrate sustainable mobility into current urban transport planning policies. Read more

Supervisor: Assoc Prof I Kenawy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Digitally twinned rating systems for low energy housing in Scotland

Edinburgh Napier University School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment

This PhD Project aims to develop innovative ‘digitally twinned’ rating systems for low energy housing in Scotland. Energy efficiency is becoming a pressing issue that must be addressed in current and future housing developments. Read more

Supervisor: Assoc Prof I Kenawy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Valuing green and blue urban landscapes

Kingston University Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment

During this prolonged period of neo-liberal development our discourse in the West has become fragmented between a growing concern for climate change/sustainability and a continued need to promote intensive growth and prioritise the needs of capital. Read more

Supervisor: Dr P Garside

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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PhD Studentship (3 years): Developing a Digital Twin for Designing Disaster-Resilient Smart Cities

Aston University College of Business and Social Sciences

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship, supported by the College of Business and Social Sciences to be undertaken within the Department of Operations and Information Management at Aston University. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Sajadi

3 June 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Discover Doctoral Opportunities in Architecture

University of Sheffield Faculty of Social Sciences

The University is rated consistently in the top 100 QS World University Rankings, priding itself on research-led critical thinking that aims to make an impact in the world. Read more

Funded PhD Programme (European/UK Students Only) Social Sciences Research Programme

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How effective is digitalisation as a tool for balanced regional development in Ireland?

Atlantic Technological University Research

The Postgraduate Research Programme in Innovation, Digitalisation, Enterprise and Society (IDEAS) offers 12 PhD research scholarships to commence in 2024. Read more

Supervisors: Dr RS Sweetman, Dr AV Vega

29 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Smart Cities 4.0

Edinburgh Napier University School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment

The intelligence of smart cities has been the subject of much academic debate over the past 20 years. This PhD opportunity shall study the latest version of smart cities as the urban and regional innovation system of the fourth industrial revolution. Read more

Supervisors: Prof MD Deakin, Assoc Prof S Jaradat

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Leverhulme Doctoral Programme for Regenerative Innovation (Regnr8-i): Catalysing thriving and inclusive places for lasting urban regeneration: Another Eden in the City of Dundee

University of Dundee UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science

This Regnr8-i Studentship will explore how the creative economy can contribute to urban and regional development during the prevailing climate emergency, inclusive of both planned and autonomous adaptations. Read more

Supervisors: Prof J Rowan, Ms CS Sweeney, Mr BP Parkin, Prof GH Hutton

3 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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STRESSORS: Monitoring and Assessment of Urban Nature-based Solutions

Heriot-Watt University School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

This project is part of the NERC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training, ECOWILD. For more details, and for a full list of projects offered under this programme, please visit. Read more

Supervisors: Dr D Green, Dr S Arthur, Dr N Archer, Dr E Jew, Dr O Moore

29 April 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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School of Education and Communities (EDUCOM) Research Excellence PhD Studentships

University of East London

The University of East London (UEL) invites applications from highly qualified and motivated students for 3 Excellence PhD Studentships starting in September 2024. Read more

Funded PhD Programme (Students Worldwide) Social Sciences Research Programme

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Binks Institute for Sustainability: Practical and theoretical approach to sustainable urban, suburban, and rural densities.

University of Dundee Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design

The aim of this research is to develop prototypes for the city edge, comprising new high density communities that create more housing and more greenbelt at the city edge. Read more

Supervisors: Dr L Holm, Dr H Al Waer

30 April 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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PhD Study in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning

University of Sheffield Department of Urban Studies & Planning

All our PhD students have the support of two (or more) supervisors to guide them through their projects, a dedicated training programme of support within our Department (which includes weekly workshops), and wider training provided by the University and the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP). Read more

Funded PhD Programme (Students Worldwide) Social Sciences Research Programme

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Blue Spaces in Urban Places: Lipidomics Underpinning Community Empowerment

Sheffield Hallam University Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre

The Industry and Innovation Research Institute (I2Ri) draws on talents, expertise and facilities across Sheffield Hallam University. Read more

Supervisors: Dr R Schwartz-Narbonne, Dr ML Lacey, Dr R Sharpe

10 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Urban flooding: Blue-green infrastructure as a strategy for resilience

University of Salford School of Science, Engineering and Environment

Information on this PhD research area can be found further down this page under the details about the Widening Participation Scholarship given immediately below. Read more

Supervisors: Prof N Entwistle, Prof M Hardman

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Modelling and Optimisation of Urban Evacuation Procedures

Imperial College London Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Background. Evacuation constitutes the most fundamental strategy in the response to a humanitarian disaster. Key among the factors impeding evacuation is the unique traffic patterns that arise due to the sudden surge in travel demand, which contravene nominal traveller behaviour. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Escribano

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Ecology and behaviour of urban wildlife

University of Reading Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The construction and development of urban areas is a relatively recent phenomenon. Urbanisation does, however, impose a range of advantages and disadvantages for biological organisms and which can bring them into conflict with humans. Read more

Supervisor: Dr P J Baker

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Research Excellence PhD Studentships

University of East London

The University of East London (UEL) invites applications from highly qualified and motivated students for 2 Research Excellence PhD Studentships starting in September 2024. Read more

Funded PhD Programme (Students Worldwide) PhD Research Programme

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Green cities: how our decisions affect landscape biodiversity

Anglia Ruskin University ARU School of Life Sciences

Research Group: Applied Ecology Research Group (AERG)

Research Group. Applied Ecology Research Group (AERG). Proposed supervisory team. Dr Alvin Helden. Dr Tom Ings. Theme. Smart Cities. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Helden, Dr T Ings

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Artisan, Agency, Place: Making Local Fashion

University of the Arts London Research

A collaborative, practice-led doctoral research project situated in the Olympicopolis in partnership with London College of Fashion, UAL East and Creative Wick, Creative Zoning, East London. Read more

Supervisors: Dr Paul Bevan, Prof L Orta

20 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Spatio-temporal drivers of insect biodiversity and conservation

University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences

The School of Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

Supervisors: Dr C Hassall, Dr R Neely, Assoc Prof E.J. Duncan, Prof W E Kunin

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Using Extended Reality (XR) to improve team performance and enhance training for maintenance of future vehicles

Coventry University Centre for Future Transport & Cities (FTC)

September 2024 Entry. Introduction. Read more

Supervisor: Prof S Birrell

27 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Revitalizing retail amidst technological disruption

Aberdeen University Business School

The built environment is increasingly susceptible to socio-economic, environmental and technological, disruptions that distort well-established institutional practices, and threaten the overall sustainability of the urban landscape. Read more

Supervisor: Dr MB Bolomope

19 May 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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