The PhD Program in Architecture is strategically positioned to serve as a high-impact hub for advanced research, innovation, and educational excellence within the evolving field of Architecture and the Built Environment. The core purpose of this program is to foster a new generation of scholars capable of addressing complex global and local challenges through rigorous inquiry into three critical, interconnected domains: Technology, Sustainability, and Traditional Knowledge Systems.
Interdisciplinary approaches are now favoured in architectural research and education; colleges across the world report a shift towards advanced research degrees and integrated specialisations because complex built-environment problems demand cross-disciplinary perspectives. Traditional Indigenous architectures illustrate how long-standing knowledge systems create healthy relationships between people and their environment, suggesting that contemporary designers can learn from such traditions to design holistic and sustainable habitats.
This program directly supports the University’s overarching goal of strengthening academic quality and enhancing its global standing. The research trajectory is designed to reinforce Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s deep commitment to compassionate research with societal impact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly given its demonstrated global leadership in SDG impact, ranking highly worldwide for areas such as Quality Education (SDG 4), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Climate Action (SDG 13). By focusing research on climate adaptation and low-carbon construction, the PhD program functions as a crucial mechanism for quantifying and amplifying these existing institutional strengths. The expected strategic outputs are translational and measurable: generating high-quality publications, securing research projects and patents, initiating robust industry collaborations, and delivering community-driven innovations. This action-oriented research, focused on societal benefit and improving quality of living, will significantly enrich the university’s research ecosystem and reinforce its foundational role as a leader in transformative, value-based education.
To ensure the high standard of incoming scholars, applicants for the PhD program must possess the following qualifications:
Scholars benefit from access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a high-tech computer lab essential for advanced computational design and data modelling, and a well-equipped library with specialized literature on architecture and design. Beyond the school level, the program leverages the extensive research ecosystem of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, which includes specialized research centres and cutting-edge facilities critical for pioneering action-oriented research and translating technological innovations for societal benefit.
Major Research Project from ICSSR, Ministry of Education, Govt of India Longitudinal Studies in Social and Human Sciences. Topic – Resilience in Transition: A Longitudinal Study on Post-Tsunami Housing Reconstruction and Livelihood Revitalization in the Vulnerable Coasts of India
The top reasons to choose Amrita for your career
Dr Pratheek Sudhakaran,
Associate Professor,
School of Architecture, Coimbatore
Email: s_pratheek@cb.amrita.edu
