Rural Studies PhD

MPhil and PhD supervision covers a number of research topics supported by research active academic staff. Our broad range of research areas relate to land use, natural resources and environmental change; rural planning, community governance and resilience; rural change, culture and wellbeing; and rural economy, enterprise and innovation. <br/><br/>Areas of research include:<br/>•impact and implications of ‘local-global’ processes and relationships for rural areas<br/>•characteristics and performance of rural businesses and households<br/>•rural governance<br/>•demographic ageing and social change<br/>•living with environmental change.<br/><br/>Opportunities are available for postgraduate research in the following areas:<br/><br/>Land use, natural resources and environmental change<br/>•multifunctional land use and the evolving role of small farms<br/>•land use and food security<br/>•the management and governance of natural resources<br/>•agri-environment policy<br/>•environmental valuation and choice modelling<br/>•access to land for outdoor recreation and leisure<br/>•protected areas management.<br/><br/>Rural planning, community governance and resilience<br/>•relationship between rural development policy and communities in a changing political landscape<br/>•rural policies and the role of communities in policy development<br/>•neo-endogenous or networked rural development<br/>•rural housing and trends in counter-urbanisation<br/>•community asset management<br/>•rural partnerships and stakeholder relationships<br/>•community resilience.<br/><br/>Rural change, culture and wellbeing <br/>•perceptions of rurality<br/>•rural social change<br/>•the role of rural women<br/>•the needs of a changing rural community<br/>•wellbeing and quality of life<br/>•rural social capital<br/>•social exclusion and rural poverty<br/>•changing perceptions of farming.<br/><br/>Rural economy, enterprise and innovation<br/>•rural enterprise and its economic contribution<br/>•innovation and entrepreneurialism<br/>•networks and knowledge exchange<br/>•the nature and needs of rural enterprise<br/>•technological adoption and innovation in agriculture<br/>•linkages between urban and rural economies<br/>•business collaboration and networking<br/>•expertise and knowledge exchange<br/>•social and community enterprise<br/>•the green economy.<br/><br/>Delivery:<br/><br/>We offer a number of different routes to a research degree qualification, including full-time and part-time supervised research projects. We attract postgraduates via non-traditional routes, including mature students and part-time postgraduates undertaking study as part of their continuing professional development. Off-campus (split) research is also offered, which enables you to conduct trials in conditions appropriate to your research programme.<br/><br/>Facilities:<br/><br/>Centre for Rural Economy:<br/><br/>The Centre for Rural Economy is a Newcastle University Research Centre specialising in interdisciplinary social science, researching rural development and policy, food and society, and the wellbeing of rural communities.