PhD and postgraduate research opportunities in the College of Arts, Environment and Technology
Join a thriving and expanding postgraduate research community.
What are my study options?
Studentships
Our offered studentships are in specific subject areas required by industry, and occasionally the project itself will already be defined. Your tuition fees and living expenses are usually covered for three years and applications need to be submitted by a set deadline.
Self-funded opportunities
If you already know what you want to study (and it fits within one of our areas of expertise), then you have the choice to self-fund your studies, providing more flexibility in what it is you research. Some of our current students are sponsored by their employers, so this can be another option.
Our research expertise
Air Quality Management Resource Centre
Find out about expertise and teaching at the Air Quality Management Resource Centre (AQMRC), which undertakes a continuous and extensive programme of research around air quality and carbon management.
For further information about AQMRC research opportunities please email aqmrc@uwe.ac.uk.
Bristol BioEnergy Centre
Find out more about Bristol BioEnergy Centre, which has a team based at Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) researching energy solutions utilising microbial fuel cells.
For further information about research opportunities please email Dr Amir Bolouri at Amir.Bolouri@uwe.ac.uk.
Bristol Robotics Laboratory
Find out more about postgraduate opportunities at Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK. BRL is a collaborative partnership between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol.
For further information about research opportunities please email info@brl.ac.uk.
Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research
View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research (CABER) across a range of built environment themes.
For further information about CABER research opportunities, please contact Professor Bill Gething at Bill.Gething@uwe.ac.uk, Professor Jessica Lamond at Jessica.Lamond@uwe.ac.uk or Professor Lamine Mahdjoubi at Lamine.Mahdjoubi@uwe.ac.uk.
Centre for Machine Vision
Find out more about the Centre for Machine Vision. Part of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), we solve real-world practical computer vision problems. Our particular excellence lies in 3D reconstruction and surface inspection.
For further information about research opportunities please email Professor Melvyn Smith at Melvyn.Smith@uwe.ac.uk or Professor Lyndon Smith at Lyndon.Smith@uwe.ac.uk.
Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments
View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments (SPA). Join projects which are focused on creating places that are environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically competitive.
For further information about SPA research opportunities please email Danielle Sinnett at Danielle.Sinnett@uwe.ac.uk.
Centre for Transport and Society
View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Transport and Society (CTS)across our seven strategic theme areas, from promoting low carbon travel to supporting sustainable mobility strategies.
For further information about CTS research opportunities please email Professor Graham Parkhurst at Graham.Parkhurst@uwe.ac.uk.
Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience
View all our postgraduate opportunities in the Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience (CWCR). Join established inter-disciplinary teams working on different national and international water security initiatives at UWE Bristol.
For further information about CWCR research opportunities please email Professor Lindsey McEwen at Lindsey.McEwen@uwe.ac.uk.
Computer Science Research Centre
Find out more about the Computer Science Research Centre (CSRC) and our research activities that cover many of the facets of 21st century computer science, from artificial intelligence to graphene sensors for IoT applications.
For further information about research opportunities please email Professor Larry Bull at Larry.Bull@uwe.ac.uk.
Creative Technologies Laboratory
Find out more about the Creative Technologies Laboratory (CT Lab), an interdisciplinary research group that spans and intersects computer science and the creative arts, aiming to create and evaluate seamless interfaces between people and technology.
For further information about research opportunities please email Dr Tom Mitchell at Tom.Mitchell@uwe.ac.uk.
Engineering Modelling and Simulation Group
Find out more about the Engineering, Modelling and Simulation Group, which brings academics and researchers together to carry out high-quality research in key engineering fields by applying modern and advanced modelling and simulation techniques.
For further information about research opportunities please email Professor Yufeng Yao at Yufeng.Yao@uwe.ac.uk.
Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology
Find out more about the Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology (IBST), which collaborates within industry and academia to develop novel bio-sensing technologies together.
For further information about research opportunities please email Associate Professor Tim Cox at Timothy.Cox@uwe.ac.uk.
Mathematics and Statistics Research Group
Find out more about the Mathematics and Statistics Research Group (MSRG), which aims to deliver internationally excellent mathematics research, including real-world impact, develop research collaboration, apply its research to outstanding learning and generate income.
For further information about research opportunities please email Dr Vadim Zverovich at Vadim.Zverovich@uwe.ac.uk.
Robotic Engineering and Computing for Health Care
Find out more about Robotics Engineering And Computing for Healthcare (REACH), which researches robotics technologies, intelligent sensors and machine learning to realise person-focused innovative healthcare solutions.
For further information about research opportunities please email Dr Virginia Ruiz Garate at Virginia.RuizGarate@uwe.ac.uk.
Science Communication Unit
Find out more about postgraduate research opportunities at the Science Communication Unit (SCU), which is internationally renowned for its diverse and innovative activities, designed to engage the public with science.
For further information about research opportunities please email Science.Communication@uwe.ac.uk.
Unconventional Computing Group
Find out more about the Unconventional Computing Group, which employs complex dynamics in physical, chemical and biological media to design novel computational techniques, architectures and working prototypes of non-linear media-based computers.
For further information about Unconventional Computing Group research opportunities please email Professor Andrew Adamatzky (Andrew.Adamatzky@uwe.ac.uk).
What funding support is available?
Find out more about fees and funding for PhDs and postgraduate opportunities from the Graduate School.
How to apply
To apply, please contact one of the relevant Centre contacts from the drop down list above, or visit the how to apply section of the Graduate School.
Support during your degree
Support from the Graduate School available to postgraduate researchers at UWE Bristol, including useful contacts.
Skills development for researchers
UWE Bristol offers a comprehensive range of workshops which aim to help staff to develop and broaden their research and personal transferable skills.
Our facilities

Architecture facilities
Spaces and facilities to inspire tomorrow's architecture.

Computer Science and Creative Technologies facilities
Collaborate, create and turn ideas into reality in labs designed to emulate a real-world software development environment.

Construction, Property and Surveying facilities
Develop and hone your practical skills with the support of experts using the latest industry-standard equipment.

Engineering facilities
Be in good company with Rolls Royce, Airbus and others, as you build your engineering skill-set at UWE Bristol.

Geography and Environmental Management facilities
Enjoy first-class facilities including specialist laboratories, social learning spaces and computer laboratories equipped with the latest professional software.

Planning facilities
Immerse yourself in collaborative, practical skill-building workshops, model-making facilities, dedicated project room, cartographic resource centre.
You may also be interested in

Research in the School of Architecture and Environment
Our extensive programme of research and consultancy combines academic excellence and policy relevance, and holds a well-established national and international reputation.

Research in the School of Computing and Creative Technologies
Our research covers a wide range of subjects within the fields of computer science, computer systems and information systems.

Research in the School of Engineering
Our research applies novel engineering, statistical and mathematical techniques to solve problems of direct relevance to industry, society and the environment.