Postgraduate research
Geography and environmental science
Join our researchers working on major global challenges including poverty, climate change and conservation.
About
Geography and environmental science at Southampton is recognised as a UK leader for its research outputs.
You'll join a friendly, diverse and international community of postgraduate researchers while working within one of our world-leading research groups. You'll use emerging theory, novel analytical tools and ethical field-based research methods during your degree.
As well as being supervised by researchers who are internationally-recognised experts in their disciplines, you'll be mentored by 2nd and 3rd year PhD students.
Alongside your project, you'll have opportunities to teach, help out with field courses and develop activities to achieve impact and engagement outside academia.
We also offer employability workshops and professional development training.
Our interdisciplinary approach means your project may be jointly supervised by colleagues from other schools across the University, such as:
- Engineering
- Ocean and Earth Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Economic, Social and Political Sciences
- Humanities
Main areas of research
- population, health and wellbeing
- landscape dynamics and ecology
- environmental change and sustainability
- economy, society and governance
Similar research degree topics
Find a research project
We advertise most of our PhDs between September and November, with closing dates at the end of February, but these dates can vary.
You can apply for a project advertised by one of our University supervisory teams, propose your own project idea, or apply to one of our doctoral training partnerships.
Advertised PhD research projects
Funding and fees
Find a funded PhD project
We offer a wide range of fully funded research degrees. These cover the fees associated with your study and come with a maintenance grant to help towards living costs. Many also offer additional help towards your research and training activities.
Funded projects through doctoral training partnerships
Doctoral training partnerships offer funded research degrees through a structured 4-year programme. These include additional training in research methods and skills. You will propose your own research project idea within specified topics in physical geography and environmental science, or human geography.
Projects in physical geography and environmental science:
- Interdisciplinary Southampton Partnership for Investigators Researching the Environment (INSPIRE)
- South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SoCoBio DTP)
Projects in human geography:
Interdisciplinary projects:
- NERC FLOOD CDT
- Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships Programme for Interdisciplinary Resilience Studies (PIRS)
- SustAI CDT
Scholarships
We offer several scholarships to make PhD-level study available to more students. These include:
- Black Futures Scholarships
- Innovation and Social Impact Scholarships
- China Scholarship Council Scholarships
More ways to fund your PhD or research degree
There are many other ways to fund your PhD.
Take out a PhD loan
You can borrow up to £29,390 for a PhD starting on or after 1 August 2024. Doctoral loans are not means tested and you can decide how much you want to borrow.
Find out about PhD loans on GOV.UK
Apply for funding from a charity
You may be able to win funding from one or more charities to help fund your PhD.
Fees
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 |
2024 to 2025 entry:
| UK | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | £4,786 | £26,100 |
| Part time | £4,786 | £13,050 |
2025 to 2026 entry:
| UK | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | To be confirmed 2025 | £26,700 |
| Part time | To be confirmed 2025 | £13,350 |
Alumni discount
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.
Potential supervisors
Research institutes, centres and groups
Landscape Dynamics and Ecology
Researching the changing environments and landscapes using the appliction of novel methodological approaches.
Economy, Society and Governance
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.
Environmental Change and Sustainability
We carry out geospatial analysis and experimentation to understand environmental change and potential solutions.
Population, Health and Wellbeing (PHeW)
We combine expertise in population, health and wellbeing with the application of technical excellence in geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis and qualitative methods.
WorldPop
We develop and implement open, robust and peer-reviewed geospatial methods. These are used for mapping population distributions, demographics and dynamics, with a principle focus on low and middle income countries.
GeoData
We manage, analyse and process environmental data. Our consultancy services and interdisciplinary research projects range from managing river catchments and coastal zones to the wider fields of environment, social and economic development.
Southampton Geospatial
The Southampton Geospatial team has the tools and expertise to collect, combine and interpret datasets about locations.
Sustainability and Resilience Institute (SRI)
We bring together colleagues from across the University, and work with experts from around the world to answer one of the most pressing questions of our time: “How will we choose to manage our planet for ourselves and future generations?”
Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute
We work with partner organisations to tackle global marine and maritime challenges, from developing green technologies to influencing government policy.
Institute for Life Sciences
We bring together interdisciplinary researchers with expertise across the themes of health and medicine, living systems, disruptive life technologies, and insights through data
How to apply
-
Choose your project type
Decide whether to apply to an advertised research project or create your own proposal.
-
Contact your potential supervisors
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.
-
Gather your supporting documents
You'll need to send us:
- your CV with details of your academic record and research interests
- your academic transcript
- details of 2 current academic referees, with their institutional email addresses
- a short statement of your research interests and reasons for choosing the projects you're applying for
- IELTS or TOEFL certificate if English is not your first language
-
Apply
When you use the application system, you will need to do the following:
- For 'programme type' select 'research'.
- For 'academic year' select the year you want to begin your study.
- Enter 'geography environmental science' in the search field.
- Select 'Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences'.
Apply now
Facilities
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Main library
Improve your subject knowledge and academic skills in the Hartley Library. With resources over 5 floors it's one of the largest university libraries in the south. -
Environmental Processes Laboratory
This Laboratory Suite supports research and teaching in Physical Geography. -
Paleoenvironmental Laboratory
We specialise in the study of environmental change over recent Geological time. -
Geospatial computing facility
The Geospatial computing facility is a specialised IT facility for Geospatial data. -
Environmental Sensing at Southampton
Uncovering new frontiers of understanding using environmental sensing. -
Centre for Environmental Science
Our laboratory suite supports research and teaching in Environmental Science. -
Field Spectroscopy Laboratory
Fully equipped dark room suitable for a variety of spectroradiometric experiments.
Entry requirements
Check the specific entry requirements for the project or opportunity you're interested in.
In general, you'll need to have a 2:1 honours undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification. You may also be able to apply if your grade was lower than 2:1, but you'll need to show you've made good process since your degree.
English language requirements
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.
Advertised projects
Check the specific entry requirements listed on the project you're interested in before you apply.
Programmes and durations
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.
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 |