International SECO Magnel PhD Prize

What the International SECO Magnel PhD Prize gives you

You get a one-off cash prize of 10,000 EUR for an outstanding doctoral thesis in construction-related engineering. The prize comes from the SECO Group, a Brussels-based construction quality and safety company, and is awarded once every two years. The winner gives a short speech at the award ceremony and writes a short article for a professional journal. If two theses are judged equally strong, the prize can be split.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have completed a PhD (doctoral degree).
• Field: Your thesis is in construction, civil, structural or architectural engineering, or a materials topic, and it can be linked to SECO's work in construction quality and safety.
• Where you did the PhD: You earned your doctorate at a European university that follows the shared Bologna degree system.
• Age: You were under 40 on the day you finished your PhD.
• Language: Your thesis is written in Dutch, French, German or English.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

You send SECO in Brussels two printed copies of your thesis, a short CV, a one-page summary, and a note explaining how your research could be used in practice and how it relates to SECO's work. Digital PDF versions go by email. SECO's Technical Advisory Board reviews all entries and makes the final decision.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single high-value prize for one recent PhD in a narrow field, so it is competitive rather than something you simply qualify for. What decides it is the quality of your thesis and how clearly you connect it to construction practice and SECO's work. The last announced cycle was 2020-2021 with a deadline of 1 November 2022, and no new round has been announced since. Check whether the prize is currently open before you prepare an entry.