Civil Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Engineering 7

Engineering 7 (E7) Building on Waterloo's East Campus.

If you’re driven by curiosity and a desire to solve challenging, complex problems, then join the thriving research community at Waterloo Engineering — a top destination for future research leaders.

With the PhD in Civil Engineering program, you’ll undertake independent and unique research. You'll generate knowledge and find real-world ways to apply it.

In the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, we pride ourselves on nurturing a collaborative research environment. We conduct multidisciplinary research with students, staff and faculty from the Schools of Architecture and Planning, and the Departments of Earth & Environmental Sciences and Biology.

Upon completion of your degree, you’ll be prepared to critically analyze and present new information in your field of research and will be ready for a career in academia, the public sector, or private industry.  

Research fields

  • Environmental and Water Resource Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Structures, Mechanics and Construction Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering

Research project opportunities for this program

Improving Indoor Air Quality in Buildings

People in North America spend about 90% of their time indoors, making indoor environments the primary source of exposure to airborne pollutants. We aim to improve the health and well-being of building occupants by enhancing indoor air quality. We design and develop strategies and interventions to achieve this goal while improving building sustainability and resilience for future climate conditions.

Drone-Based Computer Vision for Infrastructure Inspection

Computer Vision for Smart Structure Laboratory (CVISS) at the University of Waterloo, led by Dr. Chul Min Yeum, invites applications for graduate studies (Direct Ph.D. and Ph.D.) in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Our lab focuses on practical, application-driven research, utilizing advanced technologies to integrate intelligence into the physical built environment, aiming to bolster infrastructure safety and resilience.

This position focuses on developing mobile robotic sensing and analysis systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), for infrastructure inspection and management. Additionally, the role involves designing intuitive human-robot interaction frameworks for collaborative inspection and teleoperation. Students who have experience in mobile robotics, computer vision, and augmented/virtual reality are recommended to apply for this position. 

External Flaming From Mass Timber Compartments

This research project will utilize an existing experimental set-up at the University of Waterloo's Fire Research Facility to develop medium-scale compartment fire experiments. The candidate will form a critical part of the UW Fire Research Facility team and will benefit from collaborations and discussions with partner institutions and industry within the mass timber construction and fire safety engineering sector in Canada.

Program overview

Department/School: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Doctoral, Research
Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis

Application deadlines

  • February 1 (for admission in September)*
  • June 1 (for admission in January of the following year)*
  • October 1 (for admission in May of the following year)*

*NOTE: If the posted application deadline has passed, domestic applicants and international applicants with minimal visa processing times are encouraged to contact civegrad@uwaterloo.ca for alternate deadline information.

Key contacts

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Supervisors

Admission requirements

  • A master's degree, an 80% average in coursework and evidence of ability to pursue independent research.

Degree requirements

Application materials

  • Resume

  • Statement of interest

    • A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to, uploaded as a supporting document in the online application. Review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion.

  • Transcript(s)

  • References
    • Three references are required; at least two from academic sources.
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
    • TOEFL 80 (writing 22, speaking 20, reading 20, listening 18), IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.0, speaking 6.0)

Tuition and fees