Building Engineering (PhD)
Doctorate (PhD)
Program overview
The PhD in Building Engineering is the highest-level degree offered in the field and allows students to gain expertise through intensive research. You will increase your analytical knowledge through a combination of specialized courses and a research thesis completed under the supervision of one of our faculty members. Some examples of subfields studied include building science, construction management, energy efficiency and rehabilitation of urban infrastructures. Where possible, research related to the industry is encouraged.
Program details
Admission on a full-time basis
- Master’s degree or equivalent with high standing in engineering or computer science, or in a cognate discipline.
- Holders of a bachelor’s degree will, in general, be considered for admission to a master’s program only. After completion of a minimum of two terms of full-time study, they may, upon application, be considered by the GCS Graduate Studies Committee for admission to a PhD program.
Admission on a part-time basis
- Master’s degree with high standing in engineering, computer science or a cognate discipline.
Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the Graduate Admission page for further information on the Language Proficiency requirements and exemptions.
Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 90 credits.
12 credits – Coursework
See the full list of Engineering Courses. Each student’s program must be approved by a supervisory committee consisting of three members of faculty, including the student’s research supervisor.
2 credits – PhD Seminar
ENCS 8011 - Doctoral Seminar in Electrical Engineering (2 credits)
Comprehensive Examination (no credit value)
ENCS 8501 - Comprehensive Examination (no credit value)
6 credits – Doctoral Research Proposal
ENCS 8511 - Doctoral Research Proposal (6 credits)
70 credits – Research and Thesis
ENGR 8911 - Doctoral Research and Thesis (70 credits)
or
COMP 8901 - Doctoral Research and Thesis (70 credits)
or
SOEN 8901 - Doctoral Research and Thesis (70 credits)
Applications for MASc and PhD programs, once complete, are sent to BCEE Department for review by potential supervisors. This entire process may take up to 8 weeks. To accelerate the process, applicants may wish to contact research faculty in your area in order to express your interests and qualifications. It is recommended that you submit a research dossier that includes:
- Student ID and a detailed CV.
- A brief statement of your research interest and background, or a research proposal.
Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures.
1. Submit your application and pay a $100 CAD application fee. A student ID number will be issued
2. Log on to MyConcordia.ca portal to upload documents
3. A completed file that is ready to be assessed will include:
- Application form and Fee
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three Letters of Reference and assessment form
- Statement of purpose
- Transcripts (with mark sheets if applicable) for all post-secondary institutions attended
- Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
- Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit official language test scores, unless exempted.
4. An admission offer will not be issued until a supervisor match has been made. Students are encouraged to review the list of faculty members' field of interests and directly contact those with whom you would like to work.
For initial assessment purposes, scanned and uploaded copies of documents are accepted. To finalize a file, once admitted, Concordia University will require official documents.
| DEGREE |
FALL (September) |
WINTER (January) |
SUMMER (May/June) |
| Building Engineering | ||||
| Canadian / International / Permanent Resident |
PhD | June 1 | Oct. 1 | Feb. 1 |
Priority will be given to those who apply within the official deadlines listed above. Some programs may continue to accept applications after these deadlines. For more information, please contact the department.
For curriculum information, please see above: #4 of Degree requirements
For course lists by topic area, please see the Graduate Calendar.
For course descriptions, please see the Building Engineering Courses in the Graduate Calendar.
Research in building engineering falls into a number of categories, including: computer-aided design, performance of building envelope and materials, building environment (HVAC, acoustics, illumination, air quality), building and energy, wind effects on buildings, building structures, and construction management.
Admission into the PhD program is also conditional on the availability of a thesis supervisor, facilities and funding.
After submission of the complete application, potential students may wish to contact research faculty in your area in order to express your interests and qualifications. It is recommended that you submit a research dossier that includes, where applicable:
- Student ID and detailed CV with complete list of research publications.
- A brief research proposal.
- Visit Scholarships & awards for more information.
