PhD Civil Engineering

The PhD in Civil Engineering programme represents the pinnacle of academic achievement in the field, catering to aspiring scholars and experts who seek to make groundbreaking contributions to the ever-evolving realm of civil engineering. With a profound commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation, this programme is designed to empower students to push the boundaries of their discipline and redefine the future of civil engineering.

In the course of this rigorous doctoral programme, students will engage in intensive research across a spectrum of specialised domains within civil engineering, enabling them to master the complexities of the field and to transcend conventional boundaries. They will be challenged to explore, question, and innovate in areas ranging from structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and transportation engineering to water resources engineering and construction management.

Emphasising both theoretical and practical knowledge, our PhD candidates will not only conduct cutting-edge research but also translate their findings into practical, sustainable solutions. Through a blend of advanced coursework, hands-on experimentation, and research projects, they will develop a deep understanding of the complexities of civil engineering and gain expertise in addressing real-world challenges.

The PhD programme is committed to fostering the next generation of leaders and professionals in civil engineering. Graduates will emerge as influential figures who are capable of making transformative contributions to the field, inspiring innovation, and leaving a permanent mark on the future of civil engineering.

Mission

To produce graduates equipped with creative, self-directed thinking and a multidisciplinary approach to global challenges, driving sustainability and prosperity, while becoming versatile professionals, committed researchers, and impactful leaders.

Objectives of Programme

The objectives of the PhD Civil Engineering programme are:

To produce graduates with technical and advanced engineering knowledge, enabling them to synchronise the problems with modern techniques and investigation procedures.

To produce graduates with advanced professional development in a manner that they successfully and ethically practise in all the related fields of Civil Engineering society.

To produce graduates with motivation for lifelong learning, impart knowledge of design aspects and sustainability, and contribute towards substantial growth in Research and Development.

To produce graduates with strong capability of teamwork, possessing leadership qualities, focusing on entrepreneurship, and vigilant connection with stakeholders.

Approval of Statutory Body

The PhD programme of Civil Engineering is approved by the:

Board of Studies, Department of Civil Engineering.
Board of Faculty, Faculty of Engineering Science & Technology.
Academic Council, Ziauddin University.

Every PhD student must select one Area of Specialisation (AoS) in consultation with FEST RC members. A PhD student must take four courses from AoS as major subjects, including Independent Study. There are two compulsory courses for PhD students, namely Research Methodology and Simulation & Modelling. A programme structure of PhD Civil Engineering is given as:

Course Description	No. of Courses	CH
Area of Specialization (AoS)	4	12
Compulsory Courses	2	6
Thesis/Dissertation		30
Total Coursework Credit Hours		48

18 years of education with relevant specialisation, a minimum CGPA of 3.00/4.00 or First Division (in the Annual System) in MPhil/MS/Equivalent is required, Passed NTS/HEC GAT (Subject) or the University admission test.
In the case of the GAT Subject test with minimum of 60% marks is required to take admission. Presently, the following subjects are available for GAT subject test and are eligible to apply for a PhD in Civil Engineering, If the Test is not available in GAT subject list, then a University Committee consisting of at least three PhD faculty members in the subject area and approved by the HEC will conduct the Test at par with GRE Subject Test and qualifying score for this will be 70% score.

Students admitted to PhD programmes have to submit the requisite GAT Subject or GRE Subject at the time of admission, preferably, or before the end of the first semester of the respective programme.

PhD Course Work

Coursework of 18 credit hours, preferably in the first year, is required to be completed, scoring a minimum 3.0 CGPA out of 4.0, and followed by a comprehensive examination for granting candidacy as a PhD researcher.

Comprehensive Examination Procedure

After the declaration of the result/completion of all the requirements for the coursework, the PGP office shall write to the student to fulfil the administrative requirements for the written comprehensive exam within three weeks’ time. It may include fee clearance, exam request form submission, and a proposed date within the allowed duration of six months from the date of declaration of the result of the last course taken by the candidate.

The candidate may be asked to submit a tentative synopsis of the research work/selected specific research area before the written exam. Two relevant courses to that synopsis may be chosen from the candidate’s transcript either by FEST-RC or the candidate by self.

The written exam shall be scenario-based and include a complex problem to be solved by using the knowledge area(s) of interest identified by the candidate either by synopsis or the opted courses.

2-3 Experts (internal/external or both) from the relevant area may set the question paper with mutual consultation and assess the paper individually. The qualitative assessment shall be done based on the approach presented to solve the given problem. The outcomes may be Pass, Pass with condition (to appear and pass the oral examination), Failure with retake, and Failure.

Pass: All or a majority of experts are satisfied.

Pass with Condition: Majority of the experts are partially satisfied.

Failure with retake: None of the experts are satisfied at all. The candidate should follow the whole process as defined for the written comprehensive exam and reappear.

Failure: None of the experts are satisfied at all in the second attempt. It leads to termination from the PhD programme. The transcript may be issued for the taken courses after due clearance.

The Director PGP shall convey the decision to the students and the FEST-RC not later than three weeks from the date of conduct of the written examination.

Oral Examination

The focal person is the AD-PGP for all the relevant communications between the student and FEST-RC. FEST-RC shall fix the date and examiner panel for the said exam. The date must be communicated to the student and the expert panel (essentially the same as that for the written examination) at least two weeks before the commencement.

The Panel shall be composed of at least two FEST-RC members, preferably with the relevant expertise. The satisfied experts of the comprehensive exam may be excluded from the panel of oral examination. A qualitative assessment of the panel shall result in Pass, Retake, or Failure.

Pass: The majority, including all experts (for the written exam), are satisfied.

Retake: The majority (FEST-RC members only), but none of the experts (for the written exam), are satisfied.

Failure: The majority (either FEST-RC Members or the experts) of the panel are not satisfied. The candidate should reattempt the comprehensive written exam following the defined procedures.

Results must be announced within 5 working days of the date of conduct of the oral examination.

Designating a Supervisor

Pass: The majority, including all experts (for the written exam), are satisfied.

Retake: The majority (FEST-RC Members only), but none of the experts (for the written exam), are satisfied.

Failure: The majority (either FEST-RC Members or the experts) of the panel are not satisfied. The candidate should reattempt the comprehensive written exam following the defined procedures.

Results must be announced within 5 working days of the date of conduct of the oral examination.

Formatting of Designating Evaluation Committee

A doctoral GEC will be formed right after the supervisor(s) assignment. There must be three PhD members (preferably FEST-RC members with relevant specialisation) in addition to the supervisor and co-supervisor (if any). At least one GEC member must be from a reputed university/relevant industry/R&D organisation. The GEC shall be formed by the Director PGP with the consultation of the assigned supervisor(s). The approval for the formed GEC must be taken from Director PGP and VC ZU.

Once GEC is constituted, the composition of the committee can only be changed upon recommendation by both the faculty research advisor and the Director PGP and the approval of FEST-RC.

The Director PGP shall inform the candidate about GEC and ask to submit a written proposal within 6 weeks of the date of information.

In case of delay, the PGP office shall write to the candidate and supervisor. Upon the appropriate response, the two weeks’ time may be given for submission of the proposal.

Proposal Submission & Defense Procedure

Passing the proposal phase is partially achieved by acceptance of all/majority committee members (FEST-RC/ZU-BASR) of the written proposal.

Written proposal must be well structured with all the required ingredients, like the title must be well elaborated and specific to the scope of work. Motivation Problem identification, Problem definition, Literature Review, proposed methodology, measurable objectives and timeline.

Proposal with missing or lacking in any of the aforementioned details shall not be accepted, and the candidate may be asked to resubmit either with the same or a different title. Although in case of minor deficiency(ies), with the consent of the members of the committee candidate may qualify for oral defence.

After the decision of the FEST-RC/ZU-BASR, Director PGP shall communicate the same to the candidate and the supervisor for further required action.

For the oral defence, the proposal defence date may be proposed by the supervisor and the candidate not later than a week from the date of the decision received.

The GEC and the candidate shall be informed after the approval of the date by the FEST-RC. The Director PGP shall be responsible for the necessary arrangements and announcements regarding the oral defence. GEC members will assess the proceedings. The assessment will be quantitative (Performa) as well as qualitative in terms of remarks. The outcomes may be Pass, Conditional Pass, Retake or Failure.

Outcome	Qualitative Comments	Quantitative Score	Status/Action
Pass	Satisfied	80% or above	Proposal Approved
Conditional Pass	Needs improvement	60% – 79%	Proposal approved but with a condition e.g extra course in the perceived area of weakness, external evaluation required or as suggested by house
Re-take	Major problem in the proposed methodology or feasibility issue	50% – 59%	Proposal neither approved nor rejected till the re-exam. The revised presentation in compliance to the given observations is required for the re-exam.
Failure	Unsatisfactory/Weak problem definition /exhausted area of study/conventional solution with known results	Less than 50%	Proposal rejected

The result shall be announced within a week’s time by the PGP office. For the Pass candidate, the first progressive is due within 8 to 10 months of the proposal approval. For Conditional Pass, the candidate should fulfil the condition within a maximum of 6 months from the date of announcement of the result.

In case of external evaluation, the PGP office should send the case to the Dean with the pool of examiners within 10 working days from the date of announcement of the result. The pool shall be formed by the PGP office with the consultation of the supervisor, but the final examiner will be confidentially set by the Dean within a week’s time upon the response. The PGP office will then send the proposal for evaluation. The evaluation must be sent to the GEC members, the candidate, the Dean and the Director. The candidate must report to the Supervisor with the revised proposal (if required) within a month or two at maximum. If the supervisor is satisfied with the modifications and revisions, then the proposal must be sent to the PGP office for further submission and final approval to GEC.

Only one retake is allowed. For a re-take, a new date will be proposed by the supervisor in consultation with the candidate to the PGP office. The date should not be farther than 6 months’ time from the date of announcement of the result.

First-time failure leads to the resubmission of the written proposal with all predefined procedures as that for the first-time submission. Second-time failure is the termination from the programme.

PhD Candidacy

Qualification and advancement to PhD candidacy is subject to:

Passing PhD coursework with required CGPA
Passing PhD qualifying examination
Formulation of Guidance & Examination Committee (GEC)
Writing and successfully defending the research proposal

Dissertation Credits

In addition to coursework, all PhD scholars must register in doctoral research of 30 Cr Hrs and submit progress reports approved by the supervisor.

PhD Progress Evaluation

There will be three progressive presentations before the final defence. The first progress evaluation should be done within 8-10 months’ time from the date of the approval of the Research Proposal. The second and the third progress evaluations are due after every 6 months (minimum) or 8 months (maximum) of the successful previous evaluation. The Supervisor should request for the date of due evaluation (1, 2 or 3) based upon the respective checklist.

Checklist for 1st Progress Presentation:

Literature review; any new development relevant to the proposed methodology since the time of proposal defence.
In case of external evaluation of the research proposal, the recommendations and observations (if any) of the expert are incorporated and addressed.
Magnitude of the work done; status of targeted objectives (as per the given timeline at the time of proposal defence) must be completed. In case of partially achieved objectives, due justification must be provided by the candidate.
Preliminary results; in terms of development and implementation of the proposed methodology /Test bed/ verification platform/protocol design
Next target identification for the 2nd progressive

Checklist for 2nd Progress Presentation:

Review Paper/ Preliminary results published or at least accepted for publication in any ISI indexed conference proceedings. (List of ISI Indexed conferences available at Thomas Reuter’s official website)
Completion of milestones as committed in the 1st progress evaluation
Observation(s) received by the panel in the previous evaluation are incorporated
The current status of results is satisfactory and in the direction of the goal set for the study.
Next target identification for the 3rd progressive

Checklist for 3rd Progress Evaluation:

Publication requirement must be fulfilled as per HEC criteria / ZUFEST Ph.D. policy
Observation(s) received by the panel in the previous evaluation are incorporated
Final results are obtained
Analysis of results is sufficient to draw a conclusion.
Research outcomes/preliminary conclusions are clearly defined.
The first draft of the thesis is ready to present (optional).

The outcomes of the 1st progressive may be Satisfactory, Partially satisfactory or Unsatisfactory based upon the qualitative assessment done by the GEC on a prescribed Performa. The major attributes to be checked will be points 3 and 4 of the respective checklist. The results should demonstrate the following:

Key parameters of the study
Effect of input on expected outputs
Validation of results by comparing either with experimental data & the theoretical model or with reference to the published results
1. Highlighting deviations/improvements and their justifications

Outcome	Quantitative Score	Action
Satisfactory	80% or above	Through for the 2^nd progress evaluation
Partially Satisfactory	60% – 79%	Through for the 2^nd progress evaluation with the condition that point 3 given in the checklist for the aforementioned is compulsory to be fulfilled before the next evaluation
Unsatisfactory	Below 60%	1^st Attempt: Re-take the Progress evaluation within 3 months of the date of conduct of the 1^st evaluation
Unsatisfactory	Below 60%	2nd Attempt: Candidates may choose among the two options; 1.Termination from the PhD degree programme with a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) 2. Repeat the procedure for the re-submission of the fresh Research Proposal The outcomes of the 2^nd progressive may be Satisfactory, Partially satisfactory or Unsatisfactory based upon the qualitative assessment done by the GEC on a prescribed Performa.

Outcome	Quantitative Score	Action
Satisfactory	80% or above	Through for the 3^rd progress evaluation
Partially Satisfactory	60% – 79%	Through for the 3^rd progress evaluation with the condition that point 2 given in the checklist for the aforementioned is compulsory to be fulfilled before the next evaluation
Unsatisfactory	Below 60%	1^st Attempt: Re-take the Progress evaluation within a month time from the date of conduct of the evaluation
Unsatisfactory	Below 60%	2nd Attempt: Termination from the PhD degree programme with a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)

Outcome	Quantitative Score	Action
Satisfactory	80% or above	Through for the thesis submission and evaluation
Partially Satisfactory	60% – 79%	Through for the thesis submission and evaluation after complying all the observations and recommendations of the GEC. The supervisor will check the compliance.
Unsatisfactory	Below 60%	1^st Attempt: Comply all the observations and recommendations of the GEC and submit within a month from the date of evaluation. DRC shall check the compliance (either by documented evidence or by hearing candidate) to approve the case for thesis submission and evaluation.
Unsatisfactory	Below 60%	2nd Attempt: Candidate may choose either termination from the PhD degree programme with a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) or to appear for MPhil Exam.

Thesis Submission and Evaluation Procedure

The candidate should submit the thesis in the specified format to the office of AD PGP with the proper approval of the assigned supervisor(s) not later than 3 months of 3rd Progress Evaluation.

Director PGP shall send the thesis for scanning to the PGP examination department within 3 days. Scanning report should not be delayed more than 5 working days from the date of received by the examination.

If the report is satisfactory then Director PGP should write to the supervisor to submit the pool of external (foreign) and internal (national) evaluators for the thesis, not later than 10 working days of the request.

If the report is unsatisfactory then Director PGP should communicate the result to the candidate and share the report with the supervisor. The candidate should resubmit the revised thesis draft within a month time for rescan.

The Dean/ZU-BASR shall finalise two evaluators from each pool. The Director PGP shall acquire the consent and send the thesis draft to the chosen experts. In case of regret, the case may be redirected to the Dean for the re-nomination of the evaluator(s).

The Evaluation reports should be received in 3-4 months time. If not, then a reminder may be sent by Director PGP to the relevant expert. The evaluation report should be immediately sent to the GEC and the candidate.

In case of minor revisions, the supervisor may request and propose the date for the thesis defence in consultation with the candidate. FEST-RC shall take a decision in this regard.

In case of major revisions, GEC shall advise the FEST-RC about the required time to address and remove the observations made by the experts.

Depending upon the quantum of change in the results and conclusion that may occur due to the required revisions, the FEST-RC shall take a decision about the re-evaluation. If the re-evaluation of the thesis is required, then the thesis should preferably be sent to the same evaluator, provided his consent. In case of regret, the case may be redirected to the Dean for the re-nomination of the evaluator(s).

The FEST-RC decision shall be immediately conveyed to the candidate and the supervisor(s).

Final Thesis Defense Procedure

Upon receiving the decision of FEST-RC about the supervisor’s request to conduct the Thesis Defense, the Director PGP should get the consent of the internal evaluators of the thesis to assess the oral defense as an external examiner. In case of regret, the Dean and the Vice-Chancellor shall nominate the external examiner from the submitted list of internal evaluators/examiners’ pool by the supervisor.

The examination panel shall include nominated external examiners and GEC members, Director PGP. The Dean must also be invited by the Director PGP.

The outcome of the defence may be Successful, Conditionally Successful or Unsuccessful based upon the qualitative assessment done by the GEC on a prescribed Performa.

Policy for Publications

A student must have a minimum of 02 research papers published/accepted for publication, preferably presented in HEC-approved journals/international conferences of good repute, out of which at least one research paper must be published in an ISI-indexed journal (with impact factor) in the relevant area as specified by FEST-RC.
Only those publications related to the research work will be counted in which the student name appears as 1st author and the supervisor or co-supervisor as 2nd or 3rd author and clearly mentions student affiliation with Ziauddin University, Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology.
FEST-RC is the final authority on determining whether the research publication meets the prescribed standards and requirements.

Plagiarism Test

It is a mandatory part of dissertation evaluation process. The supervisor will make sure that prior to submission, research work passes through anti-plagiarism software before it is sent for evaluation.

Degree Requirement

18 Cr. Hr. Coursework with CGPA 3.0 or above
30 Cr. Hr. Thesis with two Research Publications in the HEC-approved journal list.

Individuals pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering can aim at a vast array of different careers in different fields. Civil Engineering is in high demand with the passage of time and growing trends. In recent times, there has been an increase in the number of developments of high-rise buildings and infrastructure; hence, there is an immense need to be part of the Civil Engineering profession from a broader perspective. The area of Civil Engineering is very broad and linked with the industrial development of the country. In addition, CPEC and other big international projects have increased the demand for new buildings, airports, transportation and roads infrastructure, which is directly linked with Civil Engineering.

Graduates can pursue careers as infrastructure project managers, overseeing large-scale infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, and utility systems, ensuring their successful completion and compliance with regulations.
Graduates can focus on urban planning, revitalisation, and development, contributing to the growth and improvement of cities and metropolitan areas.
Graduates can explore roles in technology and innovation, working on the development of new construction technologies, materials, and methodologies to improve efficiency and sustainability in the construction industry.
Graduates can work as sustainability consultants, helping organisations and communities develop eco-friendly and sustainable infrastructure projects, aligning them with environmental regulations and sustainable practices.
Graduates can start their own construction-related businesses, offering a wide range of services, from construction management and consulting to materials testing and inspection services.

Graduates of the PhD in Civil Engineering programme at Ziauddin University will emerge as highly skilled researchers, innovators, and leaders in the field. They will contribute to advanced research, sustainable infrastructure development, and engineering solutions that address global challenges. Equipped with expertise in structural engineering, geotechnical analysis, transportation systems, and environmental sustainability, they will excel in academia, research institutions, government agencies, and private industries. Their ability to conduct independent research, publish in high-impact journals, and develop innovative engineering solutions will prepare them for influential roles in policymaking, consultancy, and leadership positions, shaping the future of civil engineering worldwide.

Fee Description	Collection Type	Non Subject Fee	# of Cr. Hr	Fee/Cr. Hr	Amount
Admission Fee	One Time	20,000	–	–	20,000
Security Deposit	One Time	–	–	–	–
Application Fee	One Time	2,500	–	–	2,500
Tuition Fee	Semester	–	10	5,000	50,000
Examination Fee	Semester	–	10	500	5,000
Other Charges	Semester	–	–	–	–
Semester Registration Fee	Semester	5,000	–	–	5,000
Total Fees	—	—	—	—	82,500

PhD Civil Engineering

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