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Civil Engineering (Transport) MPhil, PhD

Newcastle University conduct world-leading research with commercial impact. Develop your innovative research through working with our experts.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:


Start date(s):

  • September 2025
  • January 2026
  • April 2026
Virtual Open Day. Wednesday 27 November. 10.30 - 13.00 & 16.00 - 18.30 (GMT)

Overview

Our Transport and Operations Research group is a leading centre of transport technology in Europe. By pursuing research you'll join a successful research group focussing on:

  • transport
  • civil engineering

Our mission is to foster, promote and conduct research of international quality. We attract high-quality graduates and researchers and train them to international standards.

Research into transport and civil engineering is done by our Transport Operations Research Group (TORG). TORG is one of the leading centres of transport technology in Europe. We are central to key research in areas such as:

  • road user charging and smartcards
  • developing both the policy ideas and the underlying technologies

We are running a world-leading trial in electric vehicles and public charging infrastructure in the north east of England. This research is informing:

  • policy
  • international standards development
  • its impact on energy demand and environmental emissions

We have also developed a low-cost wireless sensing technology called Motes. This is being used to:

  • track traffic pollution
  • help develop strategies to manage traffic demand
  • reduce emissions

This world-leading technology is being used commercially by several local authorities. It is being assessed for deployment in some high profile international cities.

Our main research areas are:

  • land use and network models
  • passenger transport and policy
  • transport and the environment
  • infrastructure design and telematics

We supervise MPhil and PhD students in the following areas:

  • freight and traffic loading
  • public transport management and operations
  • traffic management and control
  • road traffic safety and accident analysis
  • transport emissions and the environment
  • transport telematics and image processing
  • intelligent transport systems (ITS)
  • travel behaviour
  • highway design and engineering
  • operating speed models
  • environmental impact and monitoring of transport activities

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Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

How you'll learn

Your development

Placement opportunities

We have extensive UK and international contacts. Research can be carried out in collaboration with industry and government agencies. Research projects are supervised by staff with a wide range of industrial and academic experience.

Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) researcher development programme

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

  • perform better as a researcher
  • boost your career prospects
  • broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

  • techniques for effective research
  • methods for better collaborative working
  • essential professional standards and requirements

Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

  • Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
  • Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

  • they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
  • you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
  • they’re often interdisciplinary
  • your PhD may be funded

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

IAPETUS2 Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Facilities

The School of Engineering has an exceptional range of laboratories. These are equipped with a wide range of analytical instrumentation supporting our:

  • research
  • teaching
  • contract research projects

Find out about our:

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

  • matriculation
  • registration
  • tuition (or supervision)
  • library access
  • examination
  • re-examination
  • graduation

Find out more about:

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

How to apply


Using the application portal

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You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.


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Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Postgraduate Research Administrator
School of Engineering
Email: soe.pgr@ncl.ac.uk 
Telephone +44 (0) 191 208 6323

Online

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