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Engineering Sciences PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Engineering Sciences PhD (2024), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

£6,215

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)

£33,000

Duration

4 academic years

Programme starts

October 2025

February 2026

May 2026

Applications accepted

Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to your preferred start date.

Rolling: 20 Dec 2024 – 01 Jun 2025

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., crime science, computer science, engineering, mathematics, statistics and some behavioural and social sciences) with Merit, or a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Work experience may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The new Double UCL-UC Chile PhD Programme is a specialist and international research programme spanning two institutions.

You’ll gain the core skills and knowledge needed to operate at the forefront of your chosen field. What’s more, as the first double PhD launched by UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences it represents a unique opportunity for candidates to conduct cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary research.

This approach ensures that you achieve deep domain-specific expertise while developing into an individual who can resolve problems using a range of tools and methods and be confident in your ability to work effectively with experts in a range of global settings.

Delivered in English (e.g. meetings, writing of the thesis), the PhD programme has a duration of 4 years (48 months) full time. You'll spend time across both institutions working on a research project of your design that falls with within any discipline at UCL and within the scope of disciplines covered by the School of Engineering at UC Chile.

Who this course is for

This programme is most likely to appeal to students who are passionate about finding solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems. You should have a background suitable for the scope of the proposed research project, be able to work independently but also have a collaborative mindset and wish to expand your knowledge of research theory, tools and techniques.

Before registering for this programme, you must initially have successfully a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university in a subject appropriate to the chosen field, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

This degree offers the folllowing range of benefits and opportunities:

A research degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025).
Contribute to innovative solutions that improve human experience and make a societal and global impact.
Build strong collaborative skills and gain industry experience by working with UCL and UC Chile experts on research projects and public engagement activities, and, where applicable, with the universities' government and industry partners.
Benefit from UCL's state-of-the-art and award-winning facilities and equipment across London, as well as UC Chile's Centers of Excellence. These resources offer opportunities to observe and conduct experiments that will enhance your research.
Join the UCL Doctoral Skills Development (DSDP) programme and take advantage of multiple training courses, such as our teaching training scheme, to gain relevant skills for research and your future career. You can also undertake training via the UC Chile Graduate School.
Spend some of your doctoral study time in London, the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2025).

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

This degree opens doors to an array of prestigious employment opportunities in industry and academia. According to data taken from the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey, 90% of PhD graduates (2021-22) from UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences were in highly-skilled work across 35 countries. Many have gone on to academic positions at world-leading institutions such as UCL, University of Oxford, King Saud University and Zhejiang University, while others have gone on to careers across a range of industries, with destinations including Google, GlaxoSmithKline, JP Morgan, and various UK and international government agencies.

UC Chile’s most recent accreditation reports suggest that 69% of graduates from the PhD in Engineering Sciences (2019-2023) are now working in the academic field, either as lecturers or in postdoctoral positions in national and international universities and research centres. A further 26% have gone on to roles in industry, for example as consultants, researchers, and developers.

Employability

Having gained a comprehensive skillset across two global contexts of this programme are equipped to excel across various sectors, spearheading projects, influencing policy decisions, and contributing to the advancement of the international engineering landscape.

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build professional and industry contacts in and outside of UCL as part of your degree.

Receive input and advice on your research project from academics, researchers, and industry experts both within and beyond UCL.
Engage with peers across the world, industry experts and faculty members all united in their desire to help shape the future of engineering.
Take part in collaborative group projects, seminars, site visits, case studies, and workshops with the department and industry partners.
Gain insights into real-world engineering challenges by attending seminars, lectures, and exhibitions led by in-house members and industry leaders at UCL.
Access UCL Careers for a variety of resources and events to support your career development, including workshops, employer fairs, and one-to-one guidance.

Teaching and learning

The programme teaching and learning methods will vary, depending on your project's specific requirements. You can expect to run laboratory experiments, computational analyses, or field investigations.

Assessment for this programme is related only to the student’s chosen research project, and is overseen by the programme’s JMC. Assessments include:

Upgrade from MPhil to PhD examination: a written report from the student outlining the work accomplished so far, and the programme of further work that will lead to a successful thesis. This is followed by an upgrade viva. The upgrade is expected to take place between 9-12 months after start date.

Post-upgrade annual checkpoints: these follow-up activities consist of a progress report, a presentation to be delivered openly (seminar format), and an examination/discussion with the student’s supervisors. These activities are to be conducted annually (namely, by the end of years 2 and 3).

PhD viva examination: the student must prepare a PhD thesis for examination. To take the thesis examination, the candidate must have an article submitted for publishing in a Web of Science-indexed journal as first or corresponding author; or be the inventor of a patent applied for in Japan, USA or Europe as a result of the doctoral research. The PhD viva comprises an open presentation and the assessment of the PhD thesis with 2 external examiners.

Students can expect a well-balanced division of their time between various learning activities such as tutorials, lectures, seminars, practical sessions, and personal guidance. A typical full-time PhD student is expected to spend an average of approximately 35-40 hours per week working on their PhD, although this will vary, with some periods of more intensive research.

Research areas and structure

Research environment

Students on this programme are supported by a warm and supportive research environment at both institutions.

At UCL, students are fully supported by the Postgraduate Research Team at UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (CEGE). This Department administers the programme at UCL. New starters to the programme will also receive a comprehensive introduction to the PhD programme, and to key staff and facilities in the home department of their UCL supervisor.

At UCL, you’ll benefit from allocated workplace within your PhD supervisor’s department, and access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities, that meet your research project needs.

Notably, UCL actively encourages embedded wellbeing practices. The Postgraduate Research team form part of the local pastoral support available, alongside research supervisors, departmental student representatives, Wellbeing Champions and Mental Health First Aiders.

At UC Chile, the Deputy Director for Student Affairs of the Office of Graduate Studies at the School of Engineering is responsible for providing academic and pastoral support to the students. There is also a dedicated coordinator for internationalisation in the Office of Graduate Studies to assist students. For issues regarding visa or immigration, students can also access support from the International Relations Coordinator of the School of Engineering.

On a university level, the UC Chile Graduate School also offers academic and pastoral assistance where required.

The PhD programme has a duration of 4 years (48 months) full time.

Typically, students will spend the first 12-18 months in their Primary University, then they will spend 12-24 months in the Secondary University, before returning to their Primary University to complete their PhD. For example, students starting at UCL would spend their first year at UCL, including their MPhil to PhD upgrade exam. Then, students would go to UC Chile for between 1 and 2 years, and then return to UCL to finish the research, write up the thesis, and conduct the PhD viva examination.

The Double PhD is a fully research doctoral programme and does not consider any taught component. Besides the research project, students must complete a supplementary transversal doctoral skills training scheme throughout the programme, which includes mandatory training on ethics and research integrity. This mandatory training must be completed at both universities to allow for compliance with local standards. Other transversal training can be taken at either university according to the availability of courses at UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme and UC Chile Graduate School.

The university where the student starts the programme will be called the “Primary University”, and the partner institution will be called the “Secondary University”. Students are required to spend at least 12 months in the secondary university. If they do not, the student will not have the right to be awarded the Double PhD. A Completing Research Status (CRS) period of up to one year is considered under specific circumstances.

The scope of the PhD research can be within any discipline at UCL but must also fall within the scope of disciplines covered by the School of Engineering at UC Chile. Each student will be supervised by a team composed by at least two academics, one from UCL and one from UC Chile. The student’s main supervisor will be based in the Primary University, while the second supervisor will be based in the Secondary University.

All students will apply to the programme in both institutions simultaneously to comply with both universities’ regulations. Admission decisions will be dealt with jointly by the two institutions through a Joint Management Committee (JMC). Once accepted, students will register in both institutions.

The programme’s delivery and students’ progress is be monitored continuously by the JMC, which comprises staff from both institutions.The scope of the JMC includes admissions, arrangements for the MPhil/PhD upgrade, post-upgrade check points and the PhD viva examinations, and resolution of any type of conflicts arising during the programme delivery.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£6,215
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£33,000

Information about fees charged during enrolment at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) is available on their website.

Additional costs

Fee deposit information to be confirmed.

Additional costs should be discussed with your prospective supervisor as each research area differs.

Since this programme will involve time spent at UCL and at UC Chile, students will incur travel and visa costs. No Additional Fee Element (AFE) can be added to a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded studentship. This means that neither flights and relocation to/from Chile nor living costs to/from Chile are covered by a grant.

We advise students to budget approximately £2000 - £3000 for travel to and from these locations across the four year programme. Living costs may vary based on location and personal preferences.

Please note that applicants to this programme should discuss costs with their prospective supervisors and submit a plan at the point of application which details the costs for the student’s stay in the partner institution and from where funding will be sourced. These costs include return flights and accommodation in the partner university country, as well as any costs for field work and experiments. The financial feasibility of the research project will be assessed by the JMC as part of the application process.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholarship

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

You are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors before submitting a formal application. It is important that you find a supervisor who shares the same research interest and expectations and is available to take a new student. Supervisors at UCL welcome emails enquiring about your potential study. Their contact details are searchable via the UCL Directory.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.