PhD in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (2025 Entry)

Course code

P-F343

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

4 years full-time;
7 years part-time

Qualification

PhD

Led by

HetSys Centre for Doctoral Training (School of Engineering)

Location

University of Warwick

PhD in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (2025 Entry)

Course code

P-F343

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

4 years full-time;
7 years part-time

Qualification

PhD

Led by

HetSys Centre for Doctoral Training (School of Engineering)

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

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Find out more about our Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems PhD.

HetSys is an EPSRC-supported Centre for Doctoral Training at the University of Warwick which recruits students from across the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering and trains them to use their mathematical and computational modelling skills to solve complex problems in heterogeneous materials.

The transferability of this training allows HetSys students to address a very broad range of challenges in understanding the behaviour of heterogeneous materials across a range of length and time scales.

This is vital for the competitiveness of the UK's high-value manufacturing, high-tech and automotive industries.

Course overview

CDT training will run throughout the four-year PhD programme, you will be recruited directly onto a project and will have a supervisor from the start of the course, as well as a second supervisor in a related area and a cohort mentor for academic and pastoral advice. In projects with industry links there will often also be an industry co-supervisor.

Teaching and Learning

HetSys' training programme is designed to enable you to become a high-quality computational scientist who is comfortable working in interdisciplinary environments, has excellent communication skills, and is well prepared for a wide range of future careers in areas where there is demonstrable need.

During the first year of the programme you will study four core modules (Quantum and Atomistric Modelling, Continuum and Mesoscale Modelling, Scientific Software Development and Predictive Modelling and Uncertainty Quantification). You will also participate in a Group Software Development Project supported by academics and RSEs. You will carry out an independent research project in the area of your PhD project assessed through a written report and viva 12 months into the programme. During the first 18-24 months you will also take at least two optional modules that complement your PhD project.

The individual project also leads to a peer-to-peer activity early in the second year. These activities will contribute to the formal award of a postgraduate diploma (120 credits), which must be successfully completed 18-24 months into the programme.

In Years 2-4 the majority of your time will be spent conducting PhD research. There will be ample opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange through cohort-wide activities.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 honours degree at BSc/BEng or an integrated Master’s degree (e.g. MPhys, MChem, MSci, MEng etc.) in a physical sciences, mathematics or engineering discipline.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

Band A
Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 and minimum component scores not below 6.0.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Research themes

Our research

Overarching research themes

Our organisational structure connects our research with our study programmes to ensure quality research-led teaching.

We have four disciplines shaping our framework, they are:

Civil and Environmental
Electrical and Electronic
Mechanical, Materials and Process
Systems and Information

Discipline streams

Civil and Environmental

Our Civil and Environmental researchers work on a broad range of global research challenges underpinning civil engineering.

Combining modelling with practical experimentation, they tackle issues such as:

Low carbon structures and structures using high-performance materials.
Structural dynamics and structural health monitoring
Vibration serviceability
Human interaction with structures
Resilient infrastructure to Climate Change
Environmental Pollution
Sustainable ground improvement material and techniques
Geohazards prediction and mitigation
Offshore geotechnics
Tunnelling and underground space

Key specialisms within the Civil and Environmental Engineering stream include Water and Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Geotechnical Engineering.

Electrical and Electronic

The Electrical and Electronic Engineering research group covers a range of Power, sustainability, and improved communications at the heart of our Electrical and Electronic stream.

Key areas of research include:

Artificial olfaction (or 'electronic nose')
Electrical energy conversion
Grid-scale energy storage
Nanoscale communications
Quantum devices

Key specialisms include Communications, Electrical Power and Sensors and Devices.

Mechanical, Materials and Process

Our Mechanical, Materials and Process Engineering discipline is our largest and most diverse stream. The stream has research groups in the fields of:

Chemical engineering
Fluid mechanics
Materials
Measurement
Sustainable thermal energy technologies

Current research interests include: efficient production of green chemicals and low carbon fuels; investigating flow dynamics from the nanoscale to global environmental systems; atomic scale modelling of materials to improve their functional properties; experimental materials science for applications including silicon photovoltaic solar cells, terahertz imaging, optoelectronic devices based on 2D materials, sensing, and photoelectrochemical water splitting; developing methods of precision measurement for automotive, aerospace, bioengineering, healthcare applications; developing new technology for sustainable energy systems such as solar collectors, heat pumps and thermal storage.

Systems and Information

The Systems and Information research group bring together expertise in:

Nonlinear and stochastic systems
Modelling of human activity
Biomedical Systems Modelling and Data Analytics
Neural engineering
Telemedicine
Imaging
Synthetic biology

Much of the research undertaken is around health and security and the nature of the work means that many labs are cross-group. Key specialisms include Biomedical and Biological Systems, Data Analytics and Systems Modelling and Control.

Explore our research areas on our Engineering web pages.Link opens in a new window

Supervisors and proposals

Find a supervisor

HetSys offers a range of research projects. A research proposal is not required. Instead, you should nominate one to three projects that you are interested in, in order of preference.

Learn more about our groups and projects.Link opens in a new window

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

HetSys Funding Opportunities

Learn about the various funding opportunities that are available for our Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems PhD.

Department

HetSys Centre for Doctoral Training at Warwick

Our well-integrated cohort approach benefits from our close integration of researchers from 7 departments: Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics and Warwick Manufacturing Group, on a single-site campus. Students receive training from leading computational scientists to develop and implement new modelling methods in close collaboration with other scientists. Innovative training approaches include group software development projects and Industry Study Groups.

The cohesive, interdepartmental cohorts lower the barriers to interdisciplinary work and demonstrate our vision for the future of scientific endeavour, where teams of researchers work together to combine their skills and expertise. Only a critical mass of students and a large and highly collaborative team of supervisors makes this targeted and fully inclusive training approach feasible.

HetSys supports the delivery of EPSRC's Physical and Mathematical Sciences Powerhouse strategic priority, helping to provide the platform on which research and innovation is built.

The HetSys programme is embedded in Warwick’s School of Engineering which is one of the leading engineering schools in the UK. You can read more about our research staff, students, and projects on the School’s website.

Apply now

How to apply checklist

Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application

Read the checklist

I'm ready to apply

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Application deadlines

The application process for course that start in September and October 2026 opens on 2 October 2025.

For research courses that start in September and October 2026 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2026. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

Useful links

Applicant portal
After your applied
Admissions statement
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2025 entry

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We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

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Live chats
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Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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PhD in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (2025 Entry)

PhD in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (2025 Entry)

Find out more about our Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems PhD.

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

HetSys Funding Opportunities

How to apply checklist

I'm ready to apply

Explore ways to connect with us

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

8th in the UK

6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

5th best student city in the UK

Gold standard teaching

92% of our research

Page updates

About the information on this page

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