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PhD (River & Urban Drainage Engineering) - River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre

OVERVIEW

The River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC) offers a graduate programme encompassing several areas pertaining to River Management at the Doctor of Philosophy levels. These areas are River Management, Urban Drainage Management, Hydro informatics and Environmental Hydraulics Management. This programme is open to all students of USM or other universities, local or international, who are qualified to pursue their graduate studies through research mode.

Research Thrust Areas:

River Management

  • River Morphology
  • Sediment Transport
  • Stream Conservation and Restoration
  • Flood Plain Management
  • Stream Bank Control Using Bio-engineering
  • Riparian Vegetation Management
  • Biological Impacts of River Canalisation
  • River Modelling
  • Integrated River Basin Management

Urban Drainage Management

  • Runoff Quality Control (Constructed Detention/Retention)
  • Source Control Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • Treatment Control BMPs (Gross Pollutant Trap, Constructed Ponds & Wetlands)
  • Subsoil Drainage
  • Storm Water Modelling
  • Stochastic Modelling
  • Integrated Storm Water Management
  • Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS)

Hydro informatics

  • Flood Risk Mapping Using GIS
  • Infiltration Mapping Using GIS
  • Integrated River Management Decision Support System

Environmental Hydraulics Management

  • Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
  • Erosion Sediment Control Plan (ESCP)
  • Surface Water Quality Modeling
  • Groundwater Quality Modeling

Expertise available in the following Centre:
River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre

redac.eng.usm.my

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should possess one of the following:

  • A Master's degree in research mode; or
  • A Master’s degree in related area with CGPA 3.00/4; or
  • A Master’s degree in related area with CGPA 2.50-2.99/4 with additional requirements; or
  • Bachelor’s degree in related area with minimum CGPA 3.67/4 (fast-track to PhD)
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

(Applicable for International Applicants Only)

The minimum score for each programme can be vary from the below list, candidates are required to check for each programme requirements.

  • A minimum score of 40 for TOEFL (Internet-based); or
  • A minimum of Band 7.5 for TOEFL Essentials (Online); or
  • A minimum of Band 5 for IELTS; or
  • A minimum score of 47 for PTE; or
  • A minimum score of 154 for Cambridge English (CAE/CPE); or
  • A minimum score of 154 for Linguaskill Online; or
  • A minimum of Band 3.5 for MUET

Exemption is given to candidate if:

  • English is the candidate’s mother tongue or National Language; or
  • Candidate graduated from an Institution of Higher Learning in which the medium of instruction at Bachelor and/or Master degree level is English (statement of proof required)
DURATION

Full-time: Min 4 semesters / Max 10 semesters

Part-time: Min 6 semesters / Max 15 semesters

FEES
Malaysian (MYR)
Full Time Part Time
  • Registration Fee : 310.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) :3,700.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 1000.00
  • Convocation Fee : 200.00
  • Research Methodology : 320.00
  • Registration Fee : 310.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 3,085.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 1000.00
  • Convocation Fee : 200.00
  • Research Methodology : 320.00

 

International (USD)
Full Time Part Time
  • Registration Fee : 222.50
  • Personal Bond : 1000.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,388.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 375.00
  • Convocation Fee : 50.00
  • Research Methodology : 80.00
  • Registration Fee : 222.50
  • Personal Bond : 1000.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,238.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 375.00
  • Convocation Fee : 50.00
  • Research Methodology : 80.00

** Fees are subject to change

** New fees to be imposed starting from Academic Session 2025/2026 (October 2025 intake onward)

Malaysian (MYR)
Full Time Part Time
  • Registration Fee : 310.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 3,700.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 750.00
  • Convocation Fee : 200.00
  • Research Methodology : 320.00
  • Registration Fee : 310.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 3,085.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 750.00
  • Convocation Fee : 200.00
  • Research Methodology : 320.00

 

International (USD)
Full Time Part Time
  • Registration Fee : 222.50
  • Personal Bond : 1000.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,850.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 250.00
  • Convocation Fee : 50.00
  • Research Methodology : 80.00
  • Registration Fee : 222.50
  • Personal Bond : 1000.00
  • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,570.00
  • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 250.00
  • Convocation Fee : 50.00
  • Research Methodology : 80.00

** Fees are subject to change