Research Degrees in
in the Faculty of Science and Engineering
Do you want to advance or change your career, deepen your expertise in a topic, or expand your research and practical skills?
With a PhD or other postgraduate research degree in the areas of Geography and Environment you will:
We can supervise a wide range of projects across the fields of Geography and environmental studies. Particular focus areas include:
You will become a part of a large, multidisciplinary research community focused on theoretical and applied ecological and environmental research.
We are home to several prominent research centres and programmes:
Our research is characterised by strong collaborations across disciplines (including Geography, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Biology) and with external partners (including universities, industries and NGOs). Through these collaborations, we undertake research that delivers solutions that address challenges posed in environmental change and sustainability; socio-economic, cultural and political change; health; and advanced materials.
As a postgraduate researcher, you will be a core part of this research community. You will be encouraged to attend the regular seminars, workshops and lectures that take place on campus. You will also undertake a comprehensive range of research training to enhance your practical and theoretical skills.
Find out more about the different research degrees we offer
The majority of our students enrol in October. We offer further enrolment points in January, April and July.
Research degrees are available to study on-campus or through distance learning.
A postgraduate research degree equips you with advanced skills and knowledge that enable you to build a rich and successful career in a range of sectors.
Our comprehensive training opportunities will help you develop theoretical and practical skills for careers in areas such as as academia, the charity sector, politics, research organisations, local and multinational corporations, NGOs, and urban and regional planning groups.
This course is research based. You will independently conduct research into your own topic or a topic that we advertise. Your supervisory team will offer expert guidance throughout your studies and review work in progress.
Each year, you will follow a programme of training and development to enhance your research methods, subject-matter expertise and professional skills.
Please refer to our Fees page for more information on tuition fees.
Many of our PhD and Professional Doctorate programmes are eligible for the government's Doctoral Loan Scheme. MPhil and MA/MSc by Research degrees are eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.
Each year we offer a number of competitive scholarships to support high quality research projects. Current scholarship opportunities in Ecology and the Environment are advertised on our site.
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You should, as a minimum, have a first or 2.1 honours degree or an equivalent qualification.
International students must demonstrate a sufficiently high standard of English language ability.
In order to enter most postgraduate courses the English requirements are IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 575, and TOEFL computer-based 230.
We welcome interest from applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We will take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment into consideration.
See more about our standard entry requirements.
Before applying for a research degree, you should have a preliminary discussion with a member of staff about your project and ideas. To arrange this, please email Dr Oliver Sutcliffe, o.sutcliffe@mmu.ac.uk, the Research Degrees Co-ordinator for the Department of Life Sciences.
For further information on the application process, contact the Admissions team pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk, +44 (0)161 247 2966.
To apply for this degree, please select one of the study options below to begin your application.
Before you apply, you should discuss your project with a member of academic staff. You should also complete the postgraduate research degree thesis proposal form, which you will need to upload as part of your application. The document can be attached at the final checklist section after you’ve submitted your application.