PhD in Architectural Engineering

The programme covers aspects of past and modern building materials science, engineering structures, and building frames. Furthermore, it also focuses on areas closely related to the program’s priorities, such as environmental planning, settlement planning and energy design.

In view of the specific features of the discipline and the wide range of subjects – that is, the interdisciplinary nature - of the various fields of research, the course curriculum lays special emphasis on ensuring that doctoral candidates gain the necessary knowledge and competence while also catering to their individual research topics.

The prime objective of the Training Programme is to assist doctoral candidates of the school in preparing a dissertation of high standard and in complying with the requirements of a doctoral degree.

The duration of the doctoral studies is 2+2 years, divided into 8 semesters. The education starts at the beginning of September in each academic year. In the first two years students take courses and do research as well.

The first phase ends with a so-called complex examination that has two parts: measures the general knowledge in the research field and evaluates the research work carried out in the first two years. Doctoral students must present the research plan for the remaining period as well.

If the complex examination is successful, students can enter the next phase. In the second 2 years there are no courses, only the research work should be continued and finished. Normally, at the end of this period the dissertation should be completed and the defense process can be started.

In order to receive a PhD degree, students must accomplish the following:
- pass all courses (achieve the absolutorium)
- pass the Complex Exam
- have at least four publications in English related to the area of doctoral research
- prepare the PhD Dissertation
- defend the PhD Dissertation

The programme covers aspects of past and modern building materials science, engineering structures and building frames. Furthermore, it also focuses on areas closely related to the program’s priorities, such as environmental planning, settlement planning and energy design. In view of the specific features of the discipline and the wide range of subjects – that is, the interdisciplinary nature - of the various fields of research, the course curriculum lays special emphasis on ensuring that doctoral candidates gain the necessary knowledge and competence while also catering to their individual research topics. The prime objective of the Training Programme is to assist doctoral candidates of the school in preparing a dissertation of high standard and in complying with the requirements of a doctoral degree.