PhD in Architecture is a well-established research degree programme at Sheffield Hallam University, allowing candidates to investigate a research topic of their choice during a period of supervised study and make an original contribution to knowledge in architecture.
We are rooted in Sheffield and South Yorkshire and engaged globally. 86% of our research in Architecture, Built Environment and Planning was assessed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. Our doctoral projects offer critical, real-world insights into environmental, social and political issues. You will develop your own research programme with experienced researchers and practitioners in architecture.
We invite PhD applications on any topic related to our research specialisms below, or multidisciplinary projects across the Institute. Our research contributes to all eight research themes of the Sheffield Creative Industries Institute:
------------------------------------------------
Health & Wellbeing: indoor environmental quality, including lighting perception, daylighting, thermal comfort and occupants' behaviour and wellbeing; the emotional and experiential qualities of space.
Design for Health & Green Design: design for wellbeing and life transitions; environmental and bioclimatic design; urban ecology and green infrastructure; urban microclimate and heat island mitigation; green and elevated public spaces in dense cities; climate adaptation and landscape-led design.
Environment, Sustainability & Climate Emergency: building performance and energy simulation; decarbonisation and net-zero buildings; life cycle assessment and embodied carbon; sustainable retrofit, adaptive reuse and circular design; climate-responsive technologies.
Social/Spatial Justice & Intersectional Inequalities: feminist and critical disability spatial practice; urban inequalities and environmental justice; housing affordability; architectural education and inequality; socially-engaged design practice and pedagogy.
Democracy & Rights: democratic city-making; participation, co-production and citizen-led development; the politics of commissioning and procurement; community ownership and social enterprise practice; civic architectural practice; housing democratisation and the right to the city.
Public Space and Communities: participatory and co-design methods with communities; superdiverse neighbourhoods and intercultural public space; inclusive parks, festivals and events.
Digital Cultures & Materialities: craft, interaction design and digital materialities; interactive objects; urban data and everyday life in smart cities.
Creative Technologies: computational design and digital architecture; immersive technologies (VR/XR); generative AI; digital twins, the Internet of Things and smart buildings.
------------------------------------------------
PhD in Architecture at SHU
You will join a PhD programme with outstanding student satisfaction scores in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey. You will benefit from guided project planning and supervision and have opportunities to contribute to a range of seminars, workshops, and conferences. We provide flexible training and development opportunities covering research and career-related skills. You will have access to dedicated postgraduate office space and excellent research, workshop, modelling and fabrication facilities.
------------------------------------------------
• Links to the PhD in Architecture Website: Full-time | Part-time
• Course Leader / Postgraduate Research Tutor: Dr Karam Al-Obaidi k.al-obaidi@shu.ac.uk