Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton➞Postgraduate study

Research Degrees

Students from all over the world choose to study a PhD at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS), undertaking research degrees that contribute to pushing the boundaries of our knowledge of ocean and Earth science.

Graduate School of the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (GSNOCS)

GSNOCS is a centre of excellence. We are large, international, scientifically diverse and genuinely interdisciplinary with over 120 registered PhD supervisors and more than 200 PhD students with backgrounds in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Geophysics, Mathematics, Meteorology, Natural Sciences, Oceanography and Physics.

We ensure all PhD students:

receive the best possible education and training
develop the skills and knowledge to operate at the cutting edge of research
are equipped with the motivation and ethos that leads to successful careers

You can search the current list of graduate school (GSNOCS) projects or identify a topic, funding and potential supervisor independently.

One-to-one contact with practising researchers is the most important component of postgraduate education. We host a large cohort of academic staff at NOCS involved in supervising our PhD students; there are many hundreds more working in related disciplines across the University. You will be assigned a supervisory team who will mentor and guide you in the development of your professional skills and an advisory panel will monitor student progress.

Geology and Geophysics

With around 60 research staff and PhD students, Southampton's Geology and Geophysics Research Group is among the most active in this field in Europe

Marine Biology and Ecology

The MBE Group is one of the largest and most active international research teams studying the biodiversity of pelagic and benthic ocean systems

Palaeoceanography and Palaeoclimate

This group seeks to understand past changes in the Earth System for future climate prediction. Its global research covers the Arctic, through to the equatorial Pacific to the Southern Ocean

Marine Biogeochemistry

We research the cycling of nutrients, carbon and other elements in the global ocean, as well as interactions with ocean biology and anthropogenic impacts

Geochemistry

Our geochemists and postgraduate students apply state-of-the-art geochemical analysis and modelling to scientific questions of major societal, economic and environmental importance

Physical Oceanography

Research in this area seeks to understand, quantify and predict the physical character of the ocean, and the dynamic processes that control its circulation and mixing

Graduate School of NOCS (GSNOCS)

What's related

Choosing to undertake my PhD in a dynamic environment such as NOCS, with the fantastic opportunities for field oceanographic research around the world has been one of the most personally challenging and yet rewarding decisions.