Research in the Department of Architecture and the Built Environment

The Department of Architecture and the Built Environment has an extensive programme of research and consultancy combining academic excellence and policy relevance, for which it has a well-established national and international reputation.

We have a strong track record of securing project funding from bodies which include the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the European Union. We also work with a wide range of clients in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

View our latest publications

Research centres

Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research

Developing innovative approaches, technologies and techniques that support the design, management, reconfiguration, maintenance and operation of buildings and their environments.

Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments

The Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments (SPE) aims to develop understanding of how to achieve places that are environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically competitive.

WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments

Promoting sustainable settlements through research, teaching, consultancy, knowledge exchange and publications. We work closely with external organisations including the WHO European Healthy Cities network.

Faculty of Environment and Technology (FET) PhD Studentships

The Department of Architecture and the Built Environment has a number of PhDs available with start dates in October 2021 or January 2022. The areas of study are:

Investigating the impact of decarbonisation and net zero policies and delivery on racial and ethnic minorities – the case of Bristol, UK.
Soundscape digital placemaking.
Smart, circular and zero-carbon bio-based construction.
Data-driven climate responsive neighbourhood design.
Decarbonising the building stock: Enhancing the public understanding of energy retrofitting.
Socio-spatial technology interactions for wellbeing.
Biomimetic adaptive design strategies for integrated solar envelopes.

These positions will be part-funded with fees covered for three and a half years' duration of the doctoral studies. Candidates are encouraged to apply ideally with living costs covered by an employer, personally or via a loan under the Doctoral Loan Scheme. A small number of positions will also provide a bursary for living costs. UK-based and overseas students (with the appropriate IELTS scores) will be accepted.

As an introduction to these studentships, the Faculty of Environment and Technology will be conducting a Webinar on Wednesday 16 June 2021 from 10:00 to 12:00 GMT via MS Teams. This Webinar will introduce the studentships, talk about PhD study at UWE Bristol and will have a breakout session from 10:40 to 11:40 GMT about the selected PhD programmes of study introduced by the prospective Director of PhD Study.

The agenda for the Webinar is as follows:

Time (London time GMT)	Details
10:00-10:15	Welcome: Professor Catherine Hobbs, Faculty of Environment and Technology Research and Studentships
10:15-10:25	Professor Richard McClatchey, PhD Support and Supervision
10:25-10:40	Dr Barkha Javed, “The PhD Experience in FET”
10:40-11:40	Break out groups to discuss Departmental PhD opportunities
11:40-11:50	Q&A session with Professor Hobbs, Professor McClatchey and the Graduate School
11:50-12:00	Wrap up and next actions

Postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research

The Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research (CABER) welcomes applications from students wanting to gain a PhD research degree in a range of built environment themes.

View PhD opportunities

Postgraduate research

We welcome enquires from those interested in postgraduate research study with us. With state-of-the-art facilities and experienced academic staff, we are perfectly equipped to carry out some of the most unique and exciting research in our subject areas.

Postgraduate research study