Civil Engineering and Surveying PhD (Distance Learning)

University of Portsmouth

Civil Engineering and Surveying contributes to the design, construction and management of infrastructure used by millions of people around the world every day, such as waste plants, office blocks and railways – and within our School, we're committed to creating sustainable, built environment projects by encouraging creativity and new ways of thinking among our students and researchers. We have a track record of successfully preparing students for employment – the last three HESA surveys (2017-2020) show over 90% of our students were in work or further study 18 months after graduation. And we have a longstanding history of producing quality surveyors, celebrating 50 years of teaching surveying in 2019. Gender equality commitment We hold a departmental Athena Swan Silver award for gender equality, and we're committed to promoting equality of opportunity and to making careers in the built environment more attractive to women and under-represented communities. Teaching Within the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, we emphasise practical, hands-on learning. Our students put theory into practice on field trips where they explore the built and natural environment, and conduct site visits which mirror those done by professional Civil Engineers and Surveyors. Students can study the viability of coastal defences at Highcliffe, soil erosion on the Isle of Wight, and the longevity of railways at Meon Valley Railway. Our exceptional teaching staff help transform our students into graduates who are ready to become successful surveyors and civil engineers, complete with the technical skills and experience demanded by the industry. Our students complete placements in the field, and benefit from the School's strong links with employers in the civil engineering and surveying industry, including companies such as Fluor, Mott MacDonald and AECOM. After graduating, many of our students return to work for the company where they worked during their placement year. We want to rethink how people build. We do this through collaborative and cross-disciplinary research into the ways civil engineering and surveying contribute to creating sustainable built environments and resilient infrastructure. Our researchers have made significant contributions to understanding the sources and impacts of microplastics in the environment. We are developing models for better places for people to live through integrating green infrastructure into developments to provide flood protection and deliver cleaner water and also establishing how heritage areas can also contribute to green community spaces. Our work is global, with recent projects finding better ways to remove pesticides from drinking water in Thailand and understanding the international distribution of COVID related PPE litter.