Geography Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

The Department of Geography is in the top tier of UK departments and has consistently been identified as one of the highest performing in successive research assessments (most recently, ranked 2nd in REF2014). We have over 30 members of academic staff and notable research concentrations in Quaternary science, social, cultural, and historical geography, the GeoHumanities, geopolitics and security, development studies and sustainability. Ours is a vibrant postgraduate community of over 120 students, including some 80 PhD candidates, drawn from across the world. Subject to eligibility criteria, students can access funding from AHRC, ESRC, NERC, and EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships and Centres.

PhD students sit at the heart of our research culture and are supported in their work by world-leading academics and a dedicated team of technical staff. PhD students enjoy access to well-equipped laboratory and computing facilities and benefit from the exceptional range of partnerships the department has developed with charities, NGOs, industry, government departments, museums, and the creative sector.

The department’s research environment is driven by a number of well-established research centres and groups:


- the Centre for the GeoHumanities


- the Centre for Quaternary Research


- the Geopolitics, Development, Security and Justice research group


- the Social, Cultural and Historical Geography research group.