Postgraduate Research

If you are looking to study for a degree by research, then you will find Geography and Environmental Science an ideal choice.

We welcome mature and international students.

You can study for your PhD as a full-time or part-time student working at the University or away. Full time PhD programmes run for between three and five years (3 years for students working at the University; 5 years for students working away). Part time programmes run between five and seven years.

We offer:

A broad spectrum of expertise in Human Environments and Earth Systems Science with strong interdisciplinary links within and beyond the University.

Supervision by experienced, successful academics to guide and support your research.
Excellent PhD completion rates and a thriving community of research students.
The opportunity to gain life and work skills as well as academic success.
Postgraduate Open Day

Open Day Date TBC

If you are interested in learning more about studying for a PhD or a Masters at Reading, why not join us for our Open Day? A visit to the Department will give you a chance to check out our facilities and our campus, find out more about what we do, and to talk to staff and students about your interests and choices. The next open day will be held in the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science (Archaeology Building) Whiteknights Campus (University Maps), and will run from c.13.30-16.00. Tea and coffee are included.

If you would like to attend, please drop us an email specifying the particular course or subject area that you are interested in. We look forward to seeing you!

Topic of research

Often students will come to us proposing their own PhD topic, based on a personal research interest or linked to pressing problems in their country of origin (water/nutrient shortage, salinity problems, HIV etc).

In other cases, students apply to specific topics, often linked to current research projects, generally funded by UK Research Councils (NERC, BBSRC, EPSRC, AHRB or the EU).

For information about funded research projects and research topic ideas, read the postgraduate research opportunities

 

Each of the degrees will prepare you for a broad range of careers. Our Environmental Science and Environmental Science with Professional Experience BSc programmes are accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences

Environmental Science
Our Environmental Science degrees look at the physical, chemical and biological parts of the Earth System, how they interact and change through time as well as the impact of human activity on the Earth

BSc Environmental Science (F851) 3 years full time or with optional year of Professional Experience (F852) 4 years full time (also available part time)

and our extended masters level course

MEnvSci Environmental Science (F754) 4 years full time or with optional year of Professional Experience (F755) 5 years full time (also available part time)
The first two years of all these programmes are the same.

Geography

Geography affects all our lives, in ways ranging from global problems of territorial conflict or climate change to local issues of social deprivation or water pollution. We offer the following courses:

BSc Geography and Economics (LL17) 3 years full-time (a joint ‘Regional Science’ degree with the Department of Economics)
BSc Human Geography (L722)
BSc Human and Physical Geography (F841)
BSc Physical Geography (F840)