Introduction to the EPSRC CDT MRes + PhD in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE3 CDT) is a four-year course that aims to develop the next generation of PhD graduates to champion the urgent, complex, inter-connected, and cross-disciplinary transition to net-zero infrastructure. This program comprises an initial MRes year, followed by a three-year PhD program, with continuation to the PhD conditional on satisfactory performance in the MRes year.

Program Objectives

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 graduates with a deep insight into system complexities, resource constraints, barriers to change, and the identification of user needs and stakeholder priorities.
• Offer extensive opportunities for students to collaborate with industry and the wider academic community.
• Deliver high-relevant inspirational training on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Trusted Research, Environmental Sustainability, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
• Promote advanced transferable skills through a dedicated program of training, including innovation, entrepreneurship, idea generation, industry engagement, and impact.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the MRes course, students will have developed skills and understanding in:

• The fundamentals of net-zero infrastructure research methods, experimental methods, and theory.
• Challenges and trends in net-zero infrastructure, as well as the critical evaluation of technical problems and competing solutions.
• Cross-disciplinary aspects of infrastructure engineering problems.
• Developing a personalized development plan to maximize the benefit of the MRes year towards PhD study.
• Producing a detailed PhD proposal.
• Teamwork through cohort-based projects.
• Academic research and presentation skills.
• External exposure via strong links with industry.
• Business practice and tools, technology transfer, and commercial exploitation.

PhD Outcomes

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.

Program Structure

• The first year of the program is the MRes in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment, which has training and research elements.
• PhD topics are centered around four thematic enablers: existing and disruptive
  ew technologies, radical circularity and whole-life approach, AI-driven digitalization and data, and risk-based systems thinking and connectivity.

Funding

Full funding is available for eligible applicants.

Key Information

• Duration: 1+3 years full-time.
• Study Mode: Research.
• Degree: Doctor of Philosophy, with a Master of Research in the first instance.
• Department: Department of Engineering.
• Start Date: October 1, 2026.
• Application Deadline: April 15, 2026.
• Funding Deadline: December 3, 2025.

Similar Courses

• Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (part-time) EPSRC CDT PhD.
• Engineering for Sustainable Development MPhil.
• Engineering PhD.
• Engineering MPhil.
• Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment PGCert.

University of Cambridge

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Overview:

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