Postgraduate Research Programmes

Postgraduate Research

The PhD in Engineering at the University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) is a research degree that allows students to pursue original research across a wide range of engineering disciplines. Progress is assessed through PhD progression reviews, culminating in the submission of a research thesis and a viva voce examination.

Course Code

Course Code

(R2/0710/8/0045)
05/28 MQA/FA3035

Intake

Intake

Anytime throughout the year

Duration

Duration

3-4 years (full-time);
4-7 years (part-time)

Delivery Model

Delivery Model

Full Research

Course Structure

What You Will Study

The PhD in Engineering allows students to pursue original research aimed at addressing real-world engineering challenges. Research covers a diverse range of topics and projects, including:

Research Areas

  • Acoustic Engineering
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biofuel and Combustion
  • Blockchain Technology
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Experimental Aerodynamics
  • Fibre-Reinforced Composites
  • Internet of Things
  • Material Testing and Modelling
  • Mechanics of Polymer and Rubber
  • Metallic Coating
  • Smart Farming Technologies
  • Smart Materials and Sensors
  • Smart Grid and Power Electronics
  • Speech Signal Processing
  • Solar Photovoltaic Systems
  • Wind and Renewable Energy
  • Wireless Communication

Research Environment

Research at UoSM is driven by world-leading groups and centres, offering a wide range of PhD opportunities, including joint projects with other facilities, partner institutions, and industry collaborations.

You will receive rigorous training, specialist knowledge and guidance from a dedicated supervisory team while working within internationally recognised UK research groups.

With outstanding facilities and strong industry links, UoSM provides a stimulating environment to develop as a world-class researcher.

PhD Programmes

We offer PhD programmes in:

  • Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
Why Study this Course Image

Why Choose the University of Southampton Malaysia

Graduate Employability & Career Opportunities

A PhD in Engineering can prepare graduates for research-intensive and specialist roles across academia, industry and research organisations.

Possible career paths include:

  • Research Scientist
  • Postdoctoral Researcher
  • R&D Engineer
  • Academic Lecturer
  • Technical Consultant

Graduates may pursue opportunities in universities and research institutions, engineering and technology companies, and organisations involved in collaborative research and innovation. Career pathways will depend on each graduate’s research expertise, skills, experience and professional interests.

Professional Recognition and Global Industry Alignment

Postgraduate research at the University of Southampton Malaysia provides opportunities to pursue original research under the guidance of experienced academics across a range of engineering and technology disciplines.

Expert Academic Supervision
Industry-Relevant Research
Global Research Community

Research students are supported in developing advanced subject knowledge, independent research skills, and practical solutions to real-world challenges. The research experience prepares graduates for careers in academia, industry, innovation, and specialist technical fields.

Fee and Scholarships

We offer attractive scholarships. Chat with our counsellors to understand your options.

Learn More

Entry Requirements

Our typical entry requirements may subject to change.

Learn More

Academic Staff & Student Research

View current research projects undertaken by our academic staff and postgraduate students. From emerging technologies to applied engineering research, our work contributes to advancements across multiple disciplines.

Academic Staff Research Area PhD Research Project

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gan Khong Wui
K.W.Gan@soton.ac.uk 

  1. Fibre reinforced composites
  2. Finite element analysis (FEA)
  3. Digital image correlation (DIC)
  4. Multiaxial testing 
  5. Smart composites
  1. Laser-induced graphene for health monitoring of composite materials.
  2. Novel application of recycled carbon fibre composite.
  3. Structural health monitoring of engineering structures using electrospun fibres.

Prof. Suan Hui Pu
Suanhui.pu@soton.ac.uk 

  1. Printed electronics and sensors
  2. Wearable sensors for health monitoring
  3. Flexible and electronics
  4. MEMS sensors and actuators
  1. Flexible sensors for respiratory health monitoring applications.
  2. Wearable sensors for human hydration monitoring.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Wong Kok Hoe

K.H.Wong@soton.ac.uk

  1. Wind Energy
  2. Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
  3. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD)
  4. Wind tunnel testing
  5. Product design and manufacturing
  1. Aerodynamic performance and wake characteristics of an origami-based vertical axis turbine at low Reynolds number. 
  2. Expandable and morphing savonius rotor. 

Prof. Ng Jo-Han

J.Ng@soton.ac.uk

  1. Biofuels (Biodiesel & Biojet Fuels)
  2. Combustion 
  3. Transesterification
  4. Energy-Water-Food Nexus
  5. Sustainability
  1. Biojet Fuels for Green and Sustainable Aviation.
  2. Microfluidic Devices for Sustainable Biofuels Production.
  3. Energy-Water-Food (EWF) Nexus for Sustainable Transport Sector to Achieve Carbon Neutrality.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Gooi Wen Pin
G.wen-pin@soton.ac.uk 

  1. Miniature electrical tomography
  2. Multimodal tomography imaging technique
  1. Dual-modality ECT system for lab-on-chip tomography imaging.
  2. Machine learning based dual-modality UT-ECT tomography system with acoustic beamforming for 3D lab-on-chip tomography imaging.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khor Jing Huey

J.Khor@soton.ac.uk

  1. Privacy Preserving Protocols
  2. Internet of Things (IoT)
  3. Blockchain Technology
  1. Public Blockchain-based Federated Learning for Resource-constrained IoT Devices. 
  2. Cognitive Radio Boosted Communication Coverage Extension for Environment-Aware Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Experiencing Non-Line-of-Sight Situations.
  3. Exploring Patients' Medical Data-Sharing Activities Using Social Media Applications Among Healthcare Providers.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Karim Ashari

K.Ashari@soton.ac.uk

  1. Repetitive Structures
  2. Vibration
  3. Acoustic Black Holes
  1. Vibrational characteristics of repetitive structure embedded with the acoustic black hole effect.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ch'ng Shiau Ying

S.Y.Chng@soton.ac.uk

  1. Mechanics of Polymer
  2. Materials Modeling
  1. Fabrication and characterisation of green composite. 
  2. Constitutive modelling of the mechanical properties of electrospun polymeric membranes.   

Assist. Prof. Dr. Beh Shiao Lin

S.L.BEH@soton.ac.uk

  1. Experimental Fluid Flow
  2. Numerical Heat Transfer
  1. Performance of Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant. 
  2. Fast Local Transient Solution for a Field Problem Using Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Adrian Wei Yee Tan

Adrian.Tan@soton.ac.uk

  1. Metal Additive Manufacturing
  2. Thermal Spray Technology
  3. Metallic and Composite Coatings
  4. Micro and Nanostructure, and Mechanical Analysis
  1. Study of Thermal Sprayed Coatings for Automotive and Aerospace Applications. 
  2. Study of Metallic Depositions by Wire-arc Additive Manufacturing For Restoration of Metal Structures. 
  3. Laser Welding of Metallic Materials for Industrial Applications. 

Assist. Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Syahrin Idris

a.s.idris@soton.ac.uk

  1. Internet of Things (IoT)
  2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  3. Automated Bio-Manufacturing
  1. Characterisation and Analysis of Cell Culture Growth for Automated Bio-Manufacturing Using AIoT Towards IR4.0.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Varun Thangamani

V.Thangamani@soton.ac.uk

  1. Experimental Aerodynamics
  2. Flow Oscillations and Control
  3. Energy Harvesting
  1. Investigation of Energy Harvesting Prospects From Cavity Flow Oscillations.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Chin Vun Jack

C.Vun-Jack@soton.ac.uk

  1. Solar Photovoltaic Systems
  2. Artificial Intelligence and Soft-Computing Techniques
  3. Fault Detection and Diagnosis of Photovotaic Systems
  4. Grid Interation of Renewable Energy Resources
  5. Smart Farming Technologies
  1. Semi-supervised Learning Based Parametric Study of PV Array Output Characteristics for the Diagnosis and Quantification of Concurrent Faults.
  2. Self-correcting Heuristics of Dynamic Reconfiguration of Photovoltaic System to Achieve Optimal Performance Under Faulted Conditions. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siow Yong Low

sy.low@soton.ac.uk

  1. Acoustics Signal Processing
  2. Sparse Reconstruction - Compressed Sensing
  3. Multi-sensor Fusion & Multichannel Processing
  1. Modulation Domain Framework for Acoustic Signal Processing.
  2. Violating Nyquist Sampling Theorem with Sparse Signal Reconstruction. 

Prof. Dr. Won SeungHwan

s.won@soton.ac.uk

  1. Optimal Synchronisation in Wireless Communications
  2. MIMOs in mmW & sub-Terahertz Communications
  3. Non-terrestrial Networks Assisted Communications
  4. Intelligent Drone Navigation
  5. Intelligent Internet of Things
  1. Hierarchically Layered Non-Terrestrial Communications for the 'Always-On' Intelligent Information Society. 
  2. Intelligent Multi-Sensor Fusion Schemes for Environment-Aware Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Applications.
  3. Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) Aided Autonomous Navigation for Environment-Aware Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Applications. 
  4. Cognitive Radio Boosted Communication Coverage Extension for Environment-Aware Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Experiencing Non-Line-of-Sight Situations.  

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lenin Gopal

L.Gopal@soton.ac.uk

  1. Cooperative Wireless Communications
  2. Smart Grid 
  3. Machine Learning
  1. Robust Beamforming Design for Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) with Partial Channel Information. 
  2. Machine Learning Based Prediction Model for Voltage Fault in the Hybrid AC/DC Microgrids. 
  3. Real-time Cyber-Attack Detection Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks in Microgrid Systems using Reinforced Learning Approach.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Grace Chai Mei Ting

Grace.chai@soton.ac.uk

  1. Semiconductor Devices
  2. Spectroscopy Studies
  3. Intelligent Fall Prevention System
  4. Computer Vision for Engineering Application
  1. Computer Vision for Engineering Applications.
  2. The Study of Carbon-Doped ZnO Nanostructures and the Photoluminescence for Photocatalytic Applications.
  3. Intelligent Fall Prevention System.

Your Pathway into Advanced Engineering Research

Pursue independent doctoral research in engineering with expert academic supervision at the University of Southampton Malaysia. Develop specialist knowledge, contribute to impactful research, and work towards a doctoral thesis and viva voce.

Ready to take the next step?

Apply for the PhD in Engineering or speak with a UoSM education counsellor about research opportunities, funding, and entry requirements.

Apply Now Speak to an Education Counsellor

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The PhD in Engineering at the University of Southampton Malaysia is a research degree that allows candidates to pursue original research across a range of engineering and technology areas. Research opportunities may include fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, biomedical engineering, computational fluid dynamics, renewable energy, smart materials and sensors, wireless communication, and other areas aligned with supervisor expertise and ongoing research projects.

Pursuing a PhD in Engineering at UoSM allows candidates to undertake advanced research in Malaysia within the University of Southampton, a Russell Group university. Candidates benefit from academic supervision, access to research facilities and opportunities to engage with research networks and collaborations. Funding opportunities may also be available through UoSM PhD Studentships or external sources, subject to eligibility and availability.

Graduates can pursue research-intensive and specialist roles such as Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher, R&D Engineer, Academic Lecturer and Technical Consultant. Career opportunities may be available across universities and research institutions, engineering and technology companies, and organisations involved in research and innovation, depending on each graduate’s expertise, skills and experience.

Progress is monitored through periodic PhD progression reviews throughout the research period. Candidates complete and submit a doctoral thesis, followed by a viva voce examination as part of the final assessment.

Applicants typically need a first class Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree (or recognised international equivalent), in aeronautics and astronautics, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related subject. Applicants with other qualifications may be considered based on their academic background and suitability for doctoral research. Speak with a UoSM education counsellor for guidance on your specific qualifications and eligibility.

Applicants generally need an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components, corresponding to Band C. Other equivalent English language qualifications may also be considered.

Tuition fees for the PhD in Engineering are RM49,600 for local students and RM57,500 for international students per annum. International student fees are subject to a 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) in accordance with Malaysian government regulations.

Yes, UoSM PhD Studentships may be available on a competitive basis for outstanding candidates and can provide funding towards tuition fees for up to 3.5 years. 

Speak with a UoSM education counsellor for the latest eligibility criteria, funding terms and application details.

 

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Apply now

Select programme type ‘Research’, ‘Full-time’, ‘2025/26 Academic Session’, ‘Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences’

Select ‘PhD Engineering (Malaysia Campus) (Full time)’

In Section 2 of the application form, insert the name of the supervisor

Applications should include:
· Research proposal
· Curriculum vitae (resumé)
· 2 academic reference letters
· Degree transcripts/certificates to date

Contact us
For further information, please email pgr-uosm@soton.ac.uk.