Integration of Circular Economy Principles into Industrialised Construction: A Design Typology for Reusable Infrastructure
Loughborough UniversityLoughborough, United Kingdom
Course overview
Political attention and concerns are growing around the decreasing resources and the low tendency to reuse, repair, refurbish, recycle, or recover existing infrastructure in the United Kingdom. Increased uses and successful applications of industrialised construction (IC) within factory production environments open opportunities for broader Circular Economy (CE) approaches, which can help redefine end-of-life of infrastructure as opposed to the traditional linear approach that focuses on disposal and demolition. Considerable proportion of infrastructure being built is believed to be disjointed from CE, and the provision of the same would transform the ways we interact with infrastructure in its physical end-of-life.
An industry-wide transition in offsite/industrialised construction depends to a large extent on the degree to which systems being used can be standardised in line with established CE principles. The aim of this project is to explore existing CE practices that can support production systems in creating quality factory-built reusable infrastructure. The project is expected to provide insight into our extant knowledge of the intersection between industrialised and circular economy approaches in construction.
The PhD aims to develop and implement an IC CE design typology that can enable manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and/or integrators to better evidence CE principles in their industrialised infrastructure solutions. 94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021
Key highlights
- Research linking industrialised construction with circular economy principles
- Explores reuse, repair and recovery of infrastructure at end-of-life
- Develops a design typology for factory-built reusable infrastructure
- Findings aimed at manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and integrators
- 94% of research impact rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:1 — 2:1
Scholarships
Alumni Bursary
10% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 10% of feesAlumni Discount
UK students: £1,500 tuition fee discount for one academic year. International students: £3,000 tuition fee discount for one academic year.
Care Leaver's Scholarship
Excellence Scholarships
UK students: £3,000 off tuition fees; International students: £6,000 off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary
Our International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary offers a £12,000 tuition fee discount (set against the tuition fees of your chosen postgraduate taught programme ONLY).
Up to £12,000London 10th Anniversary Award
£5,000 off tuition fees.
Up to £5,000Loughborough Business School Scholarship
£1,500 (UK students) and £3,000 (international students) off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
MBA Progress with Purpose Scholarship
50% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 50% of feesQatari Ghanim Al-Muftah Excellence Scholarship
Careers this course leads to
- Academic researcher in construction engineering
- Sustainability consultant
- Circular economy specialist
- Offsite construction manager
- Design for manufacture and assembly engineer
Cost of study
UK/Home: £5,238 | International: £29,500
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Loughborough University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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