Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
In our PhD program, you’ll advance the field of mechanical engineering. Your independent, original research will combine with coursework to enrich your studies, and your dissertation will showcase your work.
Many of our PhD graduates hold positions in academic institutions, research laboratories or industry.
| Expected length | Project or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | Yes | No |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Doctorate
- Study options:
- Full-time study
- Program delivery:
- On-campus
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Outcomes
Graduates with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering will be able to:
- develop a coherent understanding through synthesis across subjects and related disciplines
- use a wide range of resources to discover new knowledge, methods and technologies available in the literature
- conduct valid, data-supported, theoretically consistent and ethically responsible research
- perform independent research on an original, novel topic in mechanical engineering
- use appropriate technologies and tools to solve problems and analyze the results
- communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- work in academia, research facilities and industry
Find a supervisor
PhD students must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:
- you must list a potential supervisor on your application
- this faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission
- include an email from your supervisor with your application
To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you’ve found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.
Afzal Suleman
Professor Multidisciplinary design optimization, computational and experimental mechanics with application to aerospace structures and systems
Ben Nadler
Professor Continuum mechanics, computational mechanics, nonlinear mechanics, multi-scale modelling, anisotropic solids and fluids, inelastic solids, Cosserat media.
Bosco Yu
Assistant Professor Architected cellular materials, hybrid materials, additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, mechanical properties, solid mechanics, mechanics of materials
Brad Buckham
Chair, Professor Underwater vehicle, dynamics and control, finite element methods.
Caterina Valeo
Professor Disturbance modelling in forested regions, sustainable urban development of water resources, climate change impacts and analysis using artificial neural networks, pollutant dispersion modelling in rivers and nearshore regions
Christopher Dennison
Associate Professor (Program Director Biomedical Engineering) Biomechanics and biomedical instrumentation and focuses on understanding mechanisms of traumatic injury in contexts spanning civilian life, sports and defense.
Curran A. Crawford
Professor Multidisciplinary design optimization, wind turbine analysis and design, variable fidelity aerodynamic and structural modelling, sustainable energy systems
Daniela Constantinescu
Undergraduate Program Director, Professor Haptics, mechatronics, robotics, dynamics and control
Elizabeth Croft
Vice-President Academic and Provost, Professor Human Robot Interaction, Trajectory generation, Motion planning, Social robotics
Henning Struchtrup
Professor Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, microscale transport, aerosol coagulation
Homayoun Najjaran
Professor Autonomous vehicles and robots, Control systems, Artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, expert systems, MEMS and wearables in intelligent transportation and advanced manufacturing systems.
Jason Keonhag Lee
Assistant Professor Electrochemical energy conversion technology, Hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers, operando imaging, multi-phase transport, porous medium, advanced interface manufacturing.
Josh W. Giles
Assistant Professor Orthopaedic biomechanics: in-vitro experimentation and in-silico modelling, orthopaedic device design, integration of biomechanical models and mechatronic systems, patient-specific biomechanically-informed surgical planning
Karolina Valente
Assistant Teaching Professor Her teaching interests include materials science, 3D printing, bioprinting, biosensors, and microfluidics.
Keivan Ahmadi
Graduate Program Director, Associate Professor Structural dynamics, Mechanical vibrations, Modal analysis, Dynamics and vibrations of machine tools, modelling of machining processes for Virtual Machining Systems, Process optimization for high performance machining
Marianne Black
Assistant Professor Augmented reality for health and surgery, orthopedic biomechanics, musculoskeletal quantitative medical imaging (MRI and CT), medical device development and design.
Mina Hoorfar
Dean of Engineering and Computer Science, Professor Theoretical and experimental advancement of surface science and microfluidic technologies
Mohsen Akbari
Associate Professor Applications of micro- and nanotechnologies for biomedical engineering (Bio-MEMS) and energy, tissue engineering, organs-on-chip, microfluidics and sustainable energy
Nikolai Dechev
Associate Professor Biomedical systems design, MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems), mechatronics, robotics and automation
Peter Oshkai
Professor Unsteady flows, flow-acoustic coupling, fluid-structure interactions
Rodney Herring
Associate Professor Crystal growth, electron microscopy, confocal holography
Rustom B. Bhiladvala
Associate Professor Nanoscale materials, mechanics and transport, nanoscale synthesis and fabrication techniques, fluid and biomedical sensor development, energy and sustainable development
Samira Gharehkhani
Assistant Teaching Professor Advanced functional nanomaterials, Energy materials, Biomass, Heat transfer, Engineering pedagogy
Sravya Tekumalla
Assistant Professor Metal additive manufacturing, materials design, light alloys and composites, microstructure and crystallographic texture control, multi-scale mechanical testing, materials characterization.
Stephanie Willerth
Professor Biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biomaterials scaffolds for controlling stem cell differentiation. 3D bioprinting human tissue models, drug delivery, and biomaterials, design and entrepreneurship.
Yang Shi
Professor Systems and control, networked and distributed control systems, MPC and distributed MPC, mechatronics, navigation and control of autonomous vehicles, optimization and control of energy systems
Zuomin Dong
Professor Integrated multiphysics modelling, simulation and global optimization, next generation hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell systems, optimal 5-axis CNC tool path generation, smart grid, green ship, and intelligent systems
Show me program details
Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:
Your program details
Application deadlines
January – apply by October 1
May – apply by February 1
September – apply by June 1
January – apply by October 1
May – apply by February 1
September – apply by June 1
Note: International students should get their paperwork in order as soon as possible. Processing times are often lengthy and can delay your program entry.
Admission requirements
Program specific requirements
- Two assessment reports (from academic or professional references who are familiar with your work)
- A current résumé
- One-page letter of intent
- Post-secondary transcripts
Program specific requirements
- Two assessment reports (from academic or professional references who are familiar with your work)
- A current résumé
- One-page letter of intent
- Post-secondary transcripts
Completion requirements
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
View the minimum course requirements for this program.
Funding & aid
Tuition & fees
Estimated minimum program cost*
* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.
Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.
Ready to apply?
You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.
Faculties & departments
Related programs
Need help?
Contact Keri Jones at mech.grad@uvic.ca or 250-721-8921.