The School of Natural and Social Sciences offers postgraduate research supervision across a range of geographical topics. It is also possible to undertake research that draws upon expertise in cognate fields such as biological sciences, social sciences and countryside and community.
Environmental change Research topics include: climate and environmental change from the mid-Pleistocene to late Holocene; luminescence dating of landscape dynamics and hominin in evolution and dispersal; fluvial geomorphology; river channel dynamics using GIS; flood mitigation; landscape evolution using image analysis and physical modelling; remote sensing of glacial change; soil biogeochemistry and species’ response to climate change; conservation ecology, and use of palaeoecology and DNA analysis to inform conservation management.
Research in this area is promoted by the Centre for Environmental Change and Quaternary Research.
Globalisation and Development Research topics include: the city in the developing world including urban and peri-urban agriculture; migration policy, and migrant groups including seasonal agricultural labour; democracy in global governance; representation, development and change in Africa; population health, wellbeing and ageing.The supervisory team also has interests in pedagogic research, with a long history of active research and publications in this area.
See also research opportunities in biological sciences, social sciences, and countryside and community.
All students are required to take and complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods to support the development of their project and their education as researchers.
This research contributes to the research priority area Environmental Dynamics and Governance.
Entry requirements
- MSc by Research/MRes: at least a 2.1 honours degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area. Option to upgrade to a Ph
- PhD: a master’s degree or equivalent in a subject area relevant to the proposed research topic
- We actively encourage applications from students from different backgrounds who demonstrate appropriate research experience and achievement
- EU and international students need IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in any other component) or equivalent
Fees
See the further details of tuition fees when studying a course at the University of Gloucestershire.
Develop your skills in research methods through dedicated modules
Research students who have not already completed a relevant Masters degree or other appropriate postgraduate research methods training will benefit from the university's research methods training modules: Philosophy and Approaches to Research and Methodologies and Methods.
Focus your research in one subject or undertake an inter-disciplinary project
Undertake research in Geography and Environmental Sciences or pursue an inter-disciplinary project by drawing upon expertise in cognate fields such as Biological Sciences and Social Sciences.
Sustainability research
The university is widely recognised as a centre for sustainability research and offers a broad range of research opportunities in biological sciences, encompassing theoretical and experimental science in both field and laboratory settings.