Civil Engineering, Ph.D. Distance Learning

Top 201-275 in the World (Engineering – Civil & Structural)

(QS World University Rankings 2025)

Concrete structure

Course Overview

The PhD Civil Engineering - Distance Learning is subject to the same University regulations as the standard PhD programme, except that all meetings with the academic supervisors and other relevant Swansea University staff members can be held online. The student is welcome, but not required to visit Swansea University in-person, unless if told otherwise if/when some presence is required on campus.

Start dates: PhD/MPhil - 1st October, 1st January, 1st April & 1st July.

Swansea University has been at the forefront of international research in the area of civil and computational engineering.

Internationally renowned engineers at Swansea pioneered the development of numerical techniques, such as the finite element method, and associated procedures that have enabled the solution of many complex engineering problems.

The has excellent computing facilities, including a state-of-the-art multi-processor supercomputer with virtual reality facilities and high-speed networking.

Recent PhD theses supervised in the area of Civil Engineering:

  • Finite Element Simulation of Damage Assessment of Concrete Bridges subject to Seismic Loading
  • Numerical Modelling and Optimisation of new RHS Column-to-I Beam Connections
  • Cohesive Discrete Element Modelling and Industrial Applications
  • Characterisation of Porous Media using the Lattice Boltzmann Method
  • Compressible computational fluid dynamics for fluid structure interaction simulation