Overview
This iteration of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE3 CDT) aims to develop the next generation of PhD graduates to champion the urgent, complex, inter-connected and cross-disciplinary transition to net zero infrastructure.
Through conducting world-class, cutting-edge and user-need-focused cohort-based training and research, we transformatively equip our graduates with the knowledge, skills and qualities they need to lead the design and implementation of the infrastructure net zero agenda in the UK.
This four-year course comprises an initial MRes year, followed by a three-year PhD programme. Continuation on to the PhD is conditional on satisfactory performance in the MRes year.
The course aims to:
- provide the core theoretical, experimental and computational research training necessary to lead innovation and change in the area of net zero infrastructure;
- equip its graduates with a deep insight into system complexities, resources constraints, barriers to change, and the identification of user needs and stakeholder priorities, enabling them to translate their PhD research into real-world impact, and to work collaboratively with others in order to create and implement viable net zero infrastructure solutions throughout their subsequent professional careers;
- provide extensive opportunities for students to collaborate with industry and with the wider academic community, including experiencing industrial input into training, and producing ‘year 1’ outcomes of collaborative implementable actions to address specific short-term user needs;
- deliver high relevant inspirational training on RRI, Trusted Research, Environmental Sustainability and EDI;
- promote advanced transferable skills through a dedicated programme of training including innovation, entrepreneurship, idea generation, industry engagement and impact, as well as giving students opportunities to engage in outreach to inspire the next generation of net zero champions.
By the end of the MRes course, the students will have a strong foundation of broad research skills and have developed a proposal for a PhD project. PhD topics will be centred around four thematic enablers: (1) existing and disruptive/new technologies, (2) radical circularity and whole life approach, (3) AI-driven digitalisation and data, and (4) risk-based systems thinking and connectivity.
Full funding is available for eligible applicants.
Learning outcomes
The first year of this programme, the MRes in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment, has training and research elements. Graduates of the MRes course will have developed skills and understanding in the following broad areas:
- the fundamentals of net-zero infrastructure research methods, experimental methods and theory within the context of future infrastructure and built environment;
- challenges and trends in net-zero infrastructure, as well as the critical evaluation of technical problems and competing solutions in this area;
- cross-disciplinary aspects of infrastructure engineering problems, including knowledge of research and methods in inter-related disciplines (eg civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing and information engineering; architecture; computer science; land economy; management and business; the physical sciences; the social sciences);
- developing a personalised development plan that will maximise the benefit of the MRes year towards the PhD study;
- producing a detailed PhD proposal, following a topic selection at the application stage;
- teamwork, through cohort-based projects;
- academic research and presentation skills including planning, executing and critically evaluating original pieces of research work, and preparing formal reports;
- external exposure via strong links with industry;
- business practice and tools, technology transfer and commercial exploitation in the areas of civil engineering design and construction;
- transferable skills including critical reasoning, information-gathering, time-management, independent and group-working, and assessing the relevance and importance of ideas to others.
By the end of the PhD, successful students will have produced original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in the area of net-zero infrastructure.
Study
Teaching
The MRes course is a mix of core and elective modules (some offered by other departments), group activities, presentations, project reports and an MRes dissertation. The taught and research training elements are aimed at providing research practice training at the first-year PhD level, and occur in the Michaelmas and Lent terms. Written examinations will take place at the start of the Easter term, after which work on the MRes dissertation starts.
Students will also gain extensive transferable skills and benefit from professional development training, including sessions with professionals, and will participate in the entrepreneurial programme, EnterpriseTECH. They will also work in small groups with a CDT industry partner on a mini-project module.
Successful MRes students will then proceed to a three-year programme of supervised doctoral research, during which time they will continue to be supported by the CDT. They will maintain participation in CDT seminars, conferences and outreach activities, and participate in the CDT industry days and events.
The numbers given below reflect the MRes year only, unless otherwise specified.
| One to one supervision | Students can expect at least four one-hour supervisions during the MRes dissertation project.PhD students can expect to attend at least eight hour-long individual meetings with their supervisor every calendar year. This is in addition to daily contact with the research group in which they are placed.The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice for Master’s Students which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision during the MRes year. Expectations for the PhD are set out in a separate Code of Practice for Research Students. |
|---|---|
| Seminars & classes | The MRes core modules are taught in a seminar or workshop format. One of the core modules is taught through a 16-hour seminar programme. The third core module comprises four 3-hour workshops. The Roadmap Project includes six 2-hour workshops. (Total: 40 hours in the MRes year.) |
| Lectures | One of the core modules, and all of the elective modules, are taught in a traditional lecture format; teaching for each of these modules is through a 16-hour lecture programme. (Total: 48 hours in the MRes year.)MRes students will also attend a 4-day intensive lecture series at the start of the EnterpriseTECH programme. |
| Practicals | Students may have the opportunity to attend a number of site visits and study tours throughout the year. |
| Small group teaching | 40 hours per year (research and transferable skills workshops).Students will be split into groups for the EnterpriseTECH programme, with each group being assigned a supervisor. During the course of the programme, the supervisor will typically hold 3 supervisions with the group either in person or online. |
| Literature Reviews | Students will undertake literature reviews as part of the Roadmap Project and MRes dissertation. They may also be required to undertake literature reviews as part of a coursework for core and elective modules. |
| Posters and Presentations | There will be a number of poster sessions associated with the MRes project work. There is also an annual FIBE CDT conference at which students may have the opportunity to make a poster presentation.As part of the EnterpriseTECH course and the mini-project, students will be required to give group project presentations and to answer questions on them. |
| Taught/Research Balance | Predominantly Research |
Placements
With University permission, there may be opportunities from the third year of the course (second year of the PhD element) for students to undertake an industrial or academic placement/secondment.
Feedback
Students can expect to receive termly online reports from the course director during the MRes year, and from their principal supervisor during the PhD. They will receive comments on items of coursework, and will have access to a University supervisor for their MRes dissertation.
Students will have an opportunity to submit an online self-evaluation report during Michaelmas term.
All students will also have personal access to the relevant academic and support staff.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
A major part of the MRes assessment is a dissertation of up to 12,000 words. Students will be required to give a presentation on their research prior to submission.
The doctoral thesis should be submitted by the end of the fourth year (the third year of the PhD element) and must not exceed 65,000 words. A compulsory viva voce examination will follow thesis submission.
Essays
During the MRes programme, all students will be required to complete the following: several written assignments of up to 5000 words in total as part of the Roadmap Project, to engage in a group project (as part of the EnterpriseTECH module) which will be assessed partly through written assignments, to complete an individual mini-project report of up to 3,000 words and to write a coursework essay. Additionally, some of the taught modules will be assessed through coursework, and others through a combination of coursework and written examination. Some modules will require the submission of coursework for which no formal mark will be awarded.
Written examination
Some of the taught MRes modules will be assessed through written and/or oral examination, and others by a combination of coursework and written and/or oral examination.
Other
The assessment of MRes elective modules may also include an oral or poster display component.
At the end of the second year of the programme (the first year of the PhD element), students will be required to submit a report of 10,000 to 15,000 words and have an oral assessment as part of the normal requirements for probationary PhD students.
Requirements
Expected Academic Standard
Applicants for this course should have achieved a High II.i Honours Degree.
If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.
Successful applicants require high level engineering or scientific skills. Candidates are likely to have a background in any relevant engineering discipline (including civil, mechanical, chemical, manufacturing, electrical, information and others) or in any relevant scientific discipline (including materials science, earth science, environmental science, computer science, mathematics and chemistry) or in other relevant disciplines such as architecture, project management and other cognate fields.
University Minimum Academic Requirements
Language Requirement
IELTS (Academic)
| Element | Score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 7.0 |
| Writing | 7.0 |
| Reading | 6.5 |
| Speaking | 7.0 |
| Total | 7.0 |
TOEFL Internet Score
| Element | Score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 25 |
| Writing | 25 |
| Reading | 25 |
| Speaking | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
C1 Advanced
Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)
C2 Proficiency
Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).
Visa Information
If you are made an offer, an ATAS will be required in order to obtain a Visa.
Do not apply for an ATAS unless you have been made an offer.
A CAH3 code, which will be used to make your ATAS application, will be provided in your offer letter.
