The PhD programme offers flexible supervision between The University of Nottingham Ningbo, China (UNNC) and The University of Nottingham, UK. Depending on the proposed research, students may be required to spend part of their studies at The University of Nottingham, UK. Still, students will be registered at UNNC, and graduates will be awarded a University of Nottingham, UK degree which is also recognised by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Advanced Energy and Environmental Materials & Technologies

Head of Research Group: Professor Cheng Heng Pang

Advanced Composite Materials, Granular Materials and Geotechnology and New Energy and Environmental Materials

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Advanced and Intelligent Manufacturing

Head of Research Group: Professor Xiaogang Yang

Conventional & Non-conventional Material Removal Processes, Processes for Adding Materials, Modelling, Dynamics and Control of Manufacturing Processes, Reactive Manufacturing Processes, Automation of Manufacturing Processes, Process Planning and Lean Production, and Fluid Dynamics in Advanced Manufacturing Processes

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Artificial Intelligence and Optimisation

Head of Research Group: Professor Ruibin Bai

Computational Intelligence, Computer Vision and Image Processing, Big Data, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Deep Reinforcement Learning, , Edge Computing, Software Testing, Computer Security, Fuzzy Systems, Internet of Things, Algorithms, Logic, Human-Computer Interaction, Computational Economics, Digital Twin, Scheduling, Smart Transportation. 

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Composites

Head of Research Group: Professor Xiaosu Yi

Carbon fiber reinforced composites for aerospace, electrically conductive composites, lightning-strikeprotection composites, biomedical composites and application, bio-sourced resins and green composites, material recycling, composite manufacturing, composite modelling and simulation, structural damping composites, fire-retardant materials, noise absorbing and acoustically dark materials, 3D printing of composites, and thermoplastic composites

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Fluids and Thermal Engineering

Head of Research Group: Professor Yong Shi

Micro/nanoscale flows, Mass and heat transfer, Design of microfluidics and lab on a chip, Thermal management for energy systems, Multiscale (micro, meso and macro) modeling, Physicochemical transport processes in energy conversion and storage devices (batteries, fuel cells, Internal combustion engines and supercapacitors), Kinetic theory of gases, Space micropropulsion, Multiphase flows and heat transfer, Sustainable energy technologies, Machine learning approaches for thermofluids and energy analyses, Gas turbine aerodynamics and heat transfer, Multidisciplinary design optimization for aircraft and gas turbine design, Aerodynamic and aeroacoustic design of UAM electric propulsion systems

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Geospatial and Geohazards

Head of Research Group: Dr Nicholas Hamm

Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy, Remote and in situ measurements, Positioning and Navigation Technologies, Building Information Modelling and Management, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Science, Geospatial and Environmental Data Science, Geohazards, Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, Structural Engineering, Structural Health Monitoring, Bridge Engineering

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Natural Resources and Environment

Head of Research Group: Professor Jun He

Air Quality and Pollution Control, Urban Climate Change, Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment, Aquatic Resource and Soil Management, Solid Waste Management and Treatment

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Partial Differential Equations

Head of Research Group: Professor Behrouz Emamizadeh

Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations, Calculus of Variations, Nonlinear Analysis, Rearrangement Optimization Problems, Free Boundary Problems, Free Discontinuity Problems, Regularity of Solutions, Fractional Differential Equations, Shape Optimization Problems, Eigenvalue Problems, Overdetermined and Symmetry Problems, Numerical Analysis, Finite Element Methods, Error Estimates, Mathematical modeling, Blow up problems in fluids, Navier-Stokes equations, Pattern formation, asymptotic methods, Childress conjecture on the Keller-Segel model and their generalization for several chemotactic species

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Power Electronics, Machines and Control

Head of Research Group: Professor Giampaolo Buticchi

Power Electronics, Novel Electrical Machine Topologies, Drive Control, Mechanical Design, Thermal Management, Diagnostics and Health Monitoring, Power Converter, More Electrical Aircraft, Aerospace Electrification, New Energy Vehicle, Transport Electrification, Servo Motor Drive

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Sensor, Sensor Networks, and Instrumentation

Head of Research Group: Dr Boon Giin Lee

• Healthcare (medical imaging, OMICS, health monitoring)
• Whole cell biosensors for biomedical applications (pollutants, antibiotics)
• Human-computer interaction (mixed reality, human factor analysis)
• Smart sensing (wearable technology, Internet-of-Things, bio-signal processing & analysis)
• Intelligent systems and applications (smart space, smart transportation, smart education)

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Sustainable Built Environment

Head of Research Group: Professor Wu Deng

The SBE Research Group aims to promote multidisciplinary research across two broad research themes: Architecture and urbanism (A + U), and Architectural Engineering, Environmental Design and Energy (AEEDE). Among the many research topics that arise from the built environment, the following are of particular interest to the SBE Research Group:

• Architectural humanity and history across various cultures, climates and geographic locations;
• Past and contemporary urban transition and related sustainability issues in China and beyond;
• Identification of best practices in the area of sustainable building and city development;
• High performance building technologies and system integration

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Science and Engineering Education

Head of Research Group: Dr Sherif Welsen

Digital transformation in higher education, Online and blended learning, Future of the engineering education, Scholarship of teaching and learning, Development of engineering educators, Engaging undergraduate students in research, Student-centered learning environments, Data-driven engineering education, Lifelong learning in a changing world, Game-based learning and gamification for engineering education, Lab concepts (traditional, online, remote, pocket) in engineering education, University and industry/institutions and connections.

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For any general enquiries about the FoSE PhD programmes, please contact: 

PGR@nottingham.edu.cn

FOSE_Research@nottingham.edu.cn

To be considered for admission to a postgraduate research programme, applicants should have met both the minimum academic and English language requirements.

You should be aware that some other factors are also important for your application.

The following will be considered when making an offer:

• Academic performance during the undergraduate and postgraduate study
• Research papers published in international academic journals
• Quality of the research proposal
• Research potential and attitude
• English proficiency

Click here to check the entry requirements in detail.

Key dates

Application deadlines and registration dates

How to apply

We welcome qualifying applications all year round. You may consider either a Spring or Autumn entry that better suits your study plan. To ensure you will be able to register on your desired date, please submit your application at least 3 months in advance. If you are applying for a PhD scholarship, please refer to each scholarship's deadline.

Click here to check your application procedure.

If you want to apply for a PhD program in Faculty of Science and Engineering, please refer to Graduate School's website for more information.