Postgraduate research projects

PhD and Masters by Research projects within the School of Earth Sciences are published on this page. It will be expected that you contact potential supervisors in advance of submitting an application.  

We offer projects eligible for full funding (fees and stipend). Students may be funded from a variety of UK and international industry and government sources, including via our NERC GW4+ DLTP postgraduate training award (see below and the GW4+ website for further details). All funded studentships for which we are currently recruiting are advertised below. 

General information on postgraduate admissions can be found on the University postgraduate webpages at http://www.bris.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/.

For information on the application process, please see How to Apply.

See the Postgraduate Admissions Statement for more application details, including the admission criteria, information required and selection procedure.

NOTE: select 'Geology (PhD)' as the programme in the drop down menu. For Masters by Research, select 'Geology (MSc by Research)'.

MSc by Research: Projects in Volcanology

MSc by Research: Projects in Volcanology

Applications for projects starting in September 2026 are now open.

Students undertaking these projects will be part of a cohort of MScR volcanologists involved in Volcanology research group activities and meetings. Students can either apply for a project designed by a staff member or design their own. Students with their own research area in mind should discuss projects ideas with potential supervisor(s) when preparing their application to ensure viability. 

More details about the Bristol Volcanology Group and staff expertise areas can be found here:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/earthsciences/research/volcanology/ 

Note that the lead project supervisor must be a permanent member of staff.

A list of projects designed by staff can be found here:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/earthsciences/research/volcanology/opportunities/

Application deadline for staff-designed projects: 30th April 2026

Information on University PGR fees can be found here:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/tuition-fees/pgr/

Bench fees: £1000 (per student) – this additional standard bench fee will be charged to contribute to research costs.

Projects are usually full-time although part-time study may be possible depending on the project, which should be discussed with supervisor(s) before application. Fees may vary for part time options.

Other Funding Options

You can explore further funding options for your postgraduate studies in this guide from the Bristol Doctoral College:

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/about/research-programmes/funding-and-scholarships/

Opportunity Bristol provides financial support to UK students from Black backgrounds to undertake a research-related master's degree. 

Further details are on the the Opportunity Bristol information page.