Civil Engineering: Fully Funded PhD studentship in High-Order Mesh Generation for Complex Industrial Geometries with Multiscale Features (RS927)

Funding provider: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Subject area: Computational Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering

Project start dates: 1 October 2026** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates)

Supervisors: Prof Rubén Sevilla & Prof Oubay Hassan

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Civil Engineering 

Mode of study: Full-time

Please of study: Bay Campus, Swansea University

Project description:

High-order solvers offer clear accuracy advantages, yet their effectiveness is fundamentally limited by the availability of suitable high-order meshes for complex industrial geometries. Current workflows rely heavily on geometric de-featuring, an expert-driven, manual, and time-consuming process used to simplify CAD models so that meshing tools can cope with small-scale features such as fillets and manufacturing details. This de-featuring is not only expensive but also problem-dependent, as the relevance of a geometric detail varies with the physics being simulated. Concepts such as virtual topology have emerged to make meshing more flexible by allowing elements to span across multiple CAD faces without explicitly modifying the geometry. However, these ideas have not yet been developed in high-order settings, where curved elements, geometric fidelity, and element quality requirements make the problem considerably harder. 

The aim of this project is to develop new methodologies and software tools that enable high-order meshes to be generated automatically for large, intricate industrial geometries without requiring extensive de-featuring. The key idea is to allow high-order elements to traverse multiple CAD surfaces, extending the virtual topology concept to curved, high-order discretisation, while preserving accuracy, mesh validity, and robustness. This will involve advances in CAD–CAE interfacing, curved element optimisation, multiscale geometric feature detection, and error-controlled surface approximation. The resulting technology will be tested on real industrial geometries provided by partners in aerospace and energy such as Airbus and UKAES, where current workflows still depend on substantial manual model clean-up. By removing the reliance on de-featuring and enabling reliable high-order meshing of complex shapes, the project will substantially shorten preparation times and accelerate the adoption of high-order methods in industrial design and analysis. 

As the PhD researcher on this project, you will develop the numerical, geometric and algorithmic techniques needed to generate reliable high order meshes for complex, multiscale industrial geometries. You will work within a technically focused research group that maintains regular interaction with major industrial partners, giving you direct exposure to the challenges companies face when preparing large CAD models for high fidelity simulation. This project will allow you to work with demanding real-world geometries and to build specialist expertise in high order mesh generation, geometric modelling and CAD to CAE integration. These capabilities are of growing importance to industry yet remain available to only a small number of researchers, providing you with a rare and highly valued skill set that aligns strongly with careers in scientific computing and engineering simulation. 

Funding duration: 3 years

UK & International students 

EPSRC DLA studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. Once the limit has been reached, we are unable to make offers to international students. We are still accepting applications from international applicants.  International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rates. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. 

English Language 
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.  

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page. 

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance. Further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.  

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer.  

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26).

To apply, please complete the entire application form

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS927

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:  
  • the RS Code, RS927 and 
  • the scholarship title.   
• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) please select Yes 
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to PDF) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected. 

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case: 

1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable). 
2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert. 
3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

• CV 

• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 

• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project. 

• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 

• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 

• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable) 

• Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact: Professor Oubay Hassan O.Hassan@swansea.ac.uk

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co-funding of a scholarship project is applicable. 

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.