Geography and environmental science

Join our researchers working on major global challenges including poverty, climate change and conservation.
Join our researchers working on major global challenges including poverty, climate change and conservation.
Geography and environmental science at Southampton ranks 5th in the UK for research outputs. Our PhDs include field work and lab time using the latest equipment and techniques.
You'll join a friendly, diverse and international community of postgraduate researchers while working within one of our world-leading research groups. Our PhD students make use of outstanding facilities including ancient DNA and chemical preparation labs, environmental sensing systems and extensive field equipment. We also support human geography fieldwork around the globe.
You'll be supported by supervisors who combine social, economic and environmental expertise. our interdisciplinary approach means that your project may be jointly supervised by colleagues from areas including engineering, ocean and Earth sciences, and economic, social and political sciences.
You'll be mentored by a 2nd or 3rd year PhD student when you join us. Alongside your project, you'll have opportunities to teach, help out with field courses and work with schools. We also offer employability workshops.
You can either apply for a structured PhD or propose your own research project idea.
Taking a structured PhD will give you access to additional training, conferences and secondments.
We offer our structured studentships in partnership with:
We also partner with the South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership for arts and humanities interdisciplinary projects.
This multidisciplinary project focuses on addressing why thin flaps of skin (membranes) repeatedly evolve to form wings. Our hypothesis is that aeroelastic interactions simplify the task of evolving flight, and therefore similar wings may be useful in developing simple low-cost micro air vehicles
We offer a wide range of fully funded studentships. We run several of our PhD studentships in partnership with doctoral training centres, meaning you'll benefit from enhanced training and guaranteed funding.
These studentships:
PhD funding is available from the following sources. This is not an exhaustive list. In each case, please check the website of the DTP for specific dates and details of applying:
We offer scholarships and teaching bursaries ourselves. Your potential supervisor can guide you on what is available.
If you’re an international student you may be able to apply for a scholarship from your country.
Find out more about scholarships
Once you've found a supervisor, they can help you with potential funding sources. We offer match funding in some cases.
You'll need to state how you intend to pay for your tuition fees when you submit your application.
Find out more about funding your PhD
You may be able to fund your postgraduate research with funding from your current employer or from industry.
You can borrow up to £26,445 for a PhD starting in 2022. Doctoral loans are not means tested and you can decide how much you want to borrow.
Find out about PhD loans on GOV.UK
You may be able to win funding from one or more charities to help fund your PhD.
2022 to 2023 entry:
UK | International | |
---|---|---|
Full time | £4,596 | £24,600 |
Part time | £2,298 | £12,300 |
2023 to 2024 entry:
UK | International | |
---|---|---|
Full time | To be confirmed | £25,500 |
Part time | To be confirmed | £12,750 |
You're eligible for a 10% alumni discount on a self-funded PhD if you're a current student or graduate from the University of Southampton.
Researching the changing environments and landscapes using the appliction of novel methodological approaches.
Our research addresses the changing relationships between contemporary economies, societies and politics, and focuses on the ways in which human geographies are central to these changes.
We carry out geospatial analysis and experimentation to understand environmental change and potential solutions.
We combine expertise in population, health and wellbeing with the application of technical excellence in geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis and qualitative methods.
Decide whether to apply to an advertised research project or create your own proposal.
It's a good idea to get in touch with potential supervisors to discuss the specifics of your project. You can find out more about their research interests by visiting their staff profiles.
It's best to do this well ahead of the application deadline.
You'll need to send us:
You'll need to have a 2:1 honours undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification. You can also apply if your grade was lower than 2:1 - you'll need to show you've made good process since your degree.
If you have completed a master's degree, you should have achieved a merit or above including 60% for the dissertation. If you have not completed a master's, you'll need to show you can produce high quality writing and analysis.
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
overall score | 6.5 |
---|---|
writing | 6.0 |
reading | 6.0 |
speaking | 6.0 |
listening | 6.0 |
Your awarded certificate needs to be dated within the last 2 years.
Check the specific entry requirements listed on the project you're interested in before you apply.
Our geography and environmental science PhDs are available to study in person or remotely.
A geography PhD can cover both human and physical geography, including areas such as remote sensing and geographic information systems.
If you choose an environmental science PhD, your lead supervisor must be based in the Centre for Environmental Science.
Research degrees have a minimum and maximum duration, known as the candidature. Your candidature ends when you submit your thesis. Most candidatures are longer than the minimum period.
Degree type | Full time | Part time |
Geography PhD | 2 to 4 years | 3 to 7 years |
Environmental science PhD | 2 to 4 years | 3 to 7 years |