Research Studentships
School of Natural and Built Enviroment
Research Studentships
WELCOME
In order to be considered for a studentship, you must first meet the MPhil/PhD admission requirements, in addition to meeting the eligibility criteria for funding. Below you will find information about our PhD entry requirements, the application process, and sources for available studentships and funding. It is possible to apply for a place to study towards a PhD at any time. However, please note that deadlines for funding competitions vary. We are delighted to receive applications from international/non-EEA students. The normal duration of the Doctoral programme is three years full time or six years part time.
MPhil/PhD Academic Requirements
The normal minimum requirement for admission to an MPhil or PhD research degree programme is an upper second-class honours (2.1 Hons) degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.
English Language
Applicants who are non-EEA nationals must also satisfy the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements for English language for visa purposes. If you have not yet obtained an acceptable English Language qualification at the required level before sending us your application, your formal offer for postgraduate admission will include an English language condition which you must satisfy before the start of your programme. Further information on English language requirements.
Your Research Proposal
A research proposal for an MPhil or PhD forms an important part of your application and there are two possible routes to devising a suitable proposal. The first is to develop your research proposal in consultation with a potential supervisor based in the School before you apply; the second is to apply for an advertised staff-driven proposal.
How to Find a PhD Supervisor
Potential supervisors may be found on our School staff pages or through the University's Find a PhD Supervisor database.
How to Apply
Once you have identified a potential supervisor and completed your research proposal, you should submit your application to the Queen’s University Postgraduate Applications Portal ensuring you upload all relevant transcripts and final degree certificates (for completed qualifications).
How to Search for Funding
The eligibility criteria for funding is detailed in the individual studentships. Please note that there are differences between the PhD entry requirements and requirements for funding, which are often assessed separately.
You can search the A-Z of Research Opportunities for both funded and unfunded PhD Studentships at Queen's University Belfast.
Look for additional Postgraduate funding and scholarship opportunities available at Queen’s.
International students should visit the University's international postgraduate research scholarships webpage.
The School of Natural and Built Environment also posts available PhD studentships on Find a PhD (search for 'Queen's University Belfast' or 'Natural and Built Environment').
Studentships currently available
Geotechnical and geophysical testing of microbial induced precipitation in soils and construction wastes
Funded by Invest NI-US Ireland, Closing Date: Friday 11 September 2020
The successful candidate will be funded through a studentship at the 2020/21 rate, a stipend of £15,285 and Home/EU fees. The candidate must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years (with no restrictions). EU residents may be eligible for the studentship covering fees-only.
Further details about this project and how to apply may be found on FindaPhD:
The Department for the Economy (DfE) Studentship, Closing date: 11 September 2020Just Coastal Transitions: Exploring Community Vulnerabilities and Responses
The successful candidate will be funded through a DfE studentship at the 2020/21 rate, a stipend of £15,285 and Home/EU fees. The candidate must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years (with no restrictions). EU residents may be eligible for the studentship covering fees-only.
Further details about this project and how to apply may be found on FindaPhD: Just Coastal Transitions: Exploring Community Vulnerabilities and Responses
If you need advice about any of these studentships, please contact Catherine Boone at c.boone@qub.ac.uk
Deadlines Now Passed
The Department for the Economy (DfE) Studentship, Closing date: 29 May 2020
The successful candidate will be funded through a DfE studentship at the 2020/21 rate, a stipend of £15,285 and Home/EU fees. The candidate must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years (with no restrictions). EU residents may be eligible for the studentship covering fees-only.
Three advertised projects are in competition for this funding. Only one of these will go ahead. The selection will be based on the project which receives the best application from the following:
- Learning lessons on water demand management from water-scarce countries
- Improving the environmental and social appraisal of infrastructure projects
- Plastics Recycling
Further information and how to apply may be found at the above project links on FindaPhD.
If you need any additional advice, please contact Catherine Boone at c.boone@qub.ac.uk
Living Museums: Creating a Built Heritage Asset Management Information System (BMIS) to assist decision making in the Heritage Sector
The Department for the Economy (DfE) Studentship, Closing date: 30 June 2020
The successful candidate will be funded through a DfE studentship at the 2020/21 rate, a stipend of £15,285 and Home/EU fees. The candidate must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years (with no restrictions). EU residents may be eligible for the studentship covering fees-only.
Further details about this project and how to apply may be found on FindaPhD: Living Museums
If you need any additional advice, please contact Catherine Boone at c.boone@qub.ac.uk
Funding for Early Stage Researchers
H2020 Marie Curie COFUND Doctoral Training, Closing date: 4pm UTC 10 July 2020
The School has been successful in nominating 5 projects as a result of the University’s successful bid to the H2020 Marie Curie COFUND DTP. These projects come under the University’s project proposal ‘CITI-GENS (Collaboration in Training and Innovation for Growing, Evolving and Networked Societies)’ and will fund 20 Early Stage Researchers from across the University to complete a PhD project in a 3-year period. The five nominated projects were submitted by G Amato, S Nanukuttan, W Sha and G Kacmaz Erk.
Full details of these projects may be found at:
For more details including detailed project information, funding and the application process please visit go.qub.ac.uk/citigens
Development of a Lift-Based Wave Energy Converter
EPSRC 3.5 year Doctoral Training Partnership, Closing date: 17 July 2020
The successful candidate will be funded through an EPSRC 3.5 year doctoral training partnership, including stipend and Home/EU fees. Candidates must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years (with no restrictions). EU residents may be eligible for a fees-only studentship.
Further details about this project and how to apply may be found on FindaPhD: Development of a Lift-Based Wave Energy Converter.
If you need any additional advice, please contact Catherine Boone at c.boone@qub.ac.uk
Embedding spatial data in local government using web-based geoportals: a case study of Belfast City Council
The Department for the Economy (DfE) Studentship, Closing date: Extended to 21 August 2020
The successful candidate will be funded through a DfE studentship at the 2020/21 rate, a stipend of £15,285 and Home/EU fees. The candidate must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years (with no restrictions). EU residents may be eligible for the studentship covering fees-only.
Further details about this project and how to apply may be found on FindaPhD: Embedding spatial data in local government using web-based geoportals
If you need any additional advice, please contact Catherine Boone at c.boone@qub.ac.uk