Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering

PhDDoctoralEnvironmental Science

About This Programme

A research doctorate in environmental engineering and sustainability.

Course Highlights

  • Taught at UAEU, ranked #217 in the QS World University Rankings 2027
  • American-style credit-hour degree taught in English
  • Research doctorate with supervision across the college's research areas

What You'll Study

Taught full time, in person, on an American-style credit-hour system, primarily in English.

Coursework

24 credit hours: 3 credit hours college requirements plus 21 credit hours specialization requirements drawn from core environmental courses and electives

  • PhD Research Seminar1 credit
  • Research Methods2 credits
  • Aquatic Chemistry3 credits
  • Contaminant Fate and Transport3 credits
  • Biological Treatment of Waste Streams3 credits
  • Physical and Biochemical Treatment Processes3 credits
  • Sustainable Water Treatment Systems3 credits

Specialization courses are organized into a core environmental group and an elective group, including water resources courses (sustainable management, systems analysis, urban water, subsurface hydrology, sediment transport, modeling, hydrometeorology)

  • Advanced Topics in Environmental Engineering3 credits
  • Sustainable Civil Infrastructure Engineering3 credits
  • Contaminant Subsurface Hydrology3 credits
  • Nanoscience and Nanotechnology3 credits
  • Advanced Membrane Technology3 credits
  • Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics3 credits
  • Optimization Methods for Engineering3 credits

Comprehensive / Qualifying Examination

Comprehensive Exam and Research Proposal (0 credit hours) taken after coursework to advance to candidacy

Dissertation Research

30 credit hours of supervised original doctoral research. Research areas (from the department's doctoral specialization courses): aquatic chemistry, contaminant fate and transport, biological and physicochemical treatment of waste streams, sustainable water treatment, and water resources management

  • Dissertation Doctoral Research30 credits

Dissertation Defense

Dissertation Defense (0 credit hours). Minimum 54 credit hours total for the degree

Entry Requirements

Academic: A relevant master's degree from an accredited university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
English: IELTS Academic 6.5 (or 5.0 for Arabic-medium doctorates).

Full transcripts, two references and, where required, a research proposal are needed.

Careers

Graduates pursue careers in environmental consulting, sustainability, government and research, or continue to postgraduate study.

Accreditation & Professional Recognition

Licensed and accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA); UAEU also holds US institutional accreditation from WSCUC.

Programme Details

Award

Doctor of Philosophy

Start Date

August (Fall intake)

Typical Offer

A relevant master's degree from an accredited university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Duration

4 years

Qualification

Doctorate

Subject Area

Environmental Science

Campus

Al Ain

Course Type

Doctor of Philosophy

Study Pattern

Full time

Delivery Format

In person