PhD Studentship: Exploring Performance and Experience in Ultra-Low Energy Student Housing

PhD Studentship: Exploring Performance and Experience in Ultra-Low Energy Student Housing

An opportunity to apply for a funded full-time PhD in the College of Arts, Technology and Environment, UWE Bristol. The studentship will be funded by UWE and external partners:

Ref: 2526-APRIL-CATE01

The expected start date of this studentship is 01 April 2026

The closing date for applications is 18 January 2026.

Studentship Details

Aims & Objectives:

While Passivhaus buildings are widely recognized for delivering consistently low heating demand and energy use, the lived experience and behavioural adaptations they entail remain under-explored—particularly in student accommodation and within the context of future climate scenarios.

This PhD studentship is centred on Purdown View, the UK’s largest Passivhaus-certified student accommodation, recently completed on UWE’s Frenchay Campus. The project aims to investigate energy performance, environmental comfort, lifecycle impacts, and the lived experience of occupants during the post-occupancy stage. It will examine behavioural adaptations and their implications for health, wellbeing, and climate resilience, while drawing comparisons with conventional student housing and other relevant case studies.

Intended outcomes include, but not limited to:

• Detailed understanding of Purdown View's indoor environmental and energy performance in relation to Passivhaus standards and how these compare in practice to conventional building designs. 
• Understanding of the lived experience and behaviour adaptation of end users and how this compares to end users in conventional building designs 
• Understanding the health and co-benefits of Passivhaus student accommodation
• LCA result, implications and intercomparisons. 
• Climate resilience in future climate scenarios
• Lessons learned

For more details about the studentship see: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-study/how-to-apply/studentship-opportunities/ultra-low-energy-student-housing

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please email jill.zhao@uwe.ac.uk

Funding details

The studentship is available from 01 April 2026 for a period of three and a half years, subject to satisfactory progress and includes a tax exempt stipend, which is currently £20,780 (2025/26) per annum.

In addition, full-time tuition fees will be covered for up to three years (Home).

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Architecture, Architectural Technology, Environmental Engineering, or Building Service Engineering, or in another related field. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience is desirable. Successful candidate is expected to adopt an interdisciplinary approach. Knowledge and experiences in Sociology, or Science and Technology Studies, skills in energy modelling, Lifecycle analysis are desirable.

How to apply

Please submit your application online. When prompted use reference number 2526-APRIL-CATE01.

Supporting documentation:

Please submit

• a cover letter, explaining your suitability;
• your CV (no more than 2 A4 pages);
• a brief research proposal (including research questions, relevant literature, proposed methodology, and a brief timeline, no more than 2 A4 pages);
• a sample of written work (e.g. journal publication or conference paper);
• all your degree certificates and transcripts; and
• your portfolio (optional).
• In addition, a recognised English language qualification is required if English is not your first language.

References: you will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application. They will only be contacted if you progress to interview stage.

Closing date

The closing date for applications is 18 January 2026.

Further Information

It is expected that interviews will take place on weeks commencing 26/01/2026. If you have not heard from us by 26/01/2026, we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.

Advert information