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)'.
NERC GW4+ DLTP
This is an exciting opportunity to apply for a project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). We are now accepting applications for the PhD projects commencing Autumn 2026 in the Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences.
The application deadline is Thursday 8 January 2026 at 2359 GMT.
It is important that you follow the detailed instructions provided when applying for the DLTP: How to Apply NERC GW4+ DLTP 2026 Entry (Office document, 57kB)
Be sure to read the prospectus carefully. The prospectus also shows other Bristol Schools offering projects under this DLTP. We advise you review the 'Postgraduate Admissions Statement' for Bristol.
Before submitting your application to a project, you must have completed the 'GW4+ DLTP Survey Applicants for PhDs 2026'.
Your application must use the GW4+ DLTP Personal Statement 2026 (PDF, 329kB)
Follow the application process: How to apply. Please choose 'Geology (PhD)' in the 'Find a programme' box. You should refer to the project title and supervisor in your application.
PROJECTS:
ALCOTT Using Machine Learning to Predict Environmental and Biosphere Change (PDF, 274kB)
BIGGS Faulting in Volcanic Systems (PDF, 306kB)
BYRNE Biomagnetism and Biogeochemical Batteries for Improving Water Quality (PDF, 283kB)
DONOGHUE Genome Duplication, Extinction and Diversification in Flowering Plants (PDF, 284kB)
IRVING Seismic Investigation of the South Pacific's Mantle Structure (PDF, 278kB)
PANCOST The Vulnerability of Diverse Peatland Organic Carbon Stocks (PDF, 282kB)
SCHMIDT Vulnerability to Past and Future Climate Change - land or sea refugia (PDF, 287kB)
WATSON Remote Autonomous Monitoring of Hydrothermal Systems & Volcanic Terrains (PDF, 289kB)
WHITTLE SCHMIDT The Effects of Climate Cooling on Seafloor Ecosystems (PDF, 300kB)
WIMPENNY Hidden Tectonics and Seismic Hazard in Subduction Zone Forearcs (PDF, 291kB)
WITKOWSKI Carbon Cycling Mechanisms in Early Algae (PDF, 296kB)
NTR NETWORK
VERDON Artificial intelligence-based methods to characterise explosions (PDF, 282kB)
Deadline to apply: 30th January 2026, 23.59 GMT
Please select PhD in Geology as the programme in the online application system.
MSc by Research: Projects in Volcanology
Projects with a 2026 start will be advertised soon.
Students undertaking these projects will be part of a cohort of MScR volcanologists involved in Volcanology research group activities and meetings (more details below). Students should discuss projects of interest with the main supervisor when preparing their application. We also welcome co-development of projects with prospective students, with their own ideas. Projects may be available as full-time or part-time MScR; fees vary for those options.
More details about the Bristol Volcanology Group can be found here.
Fees for academic year 2025-26:
UK: full-time £4,850 (per year)
UK: part-time £2,425 (per year)
Overseas: full-time £26,700 (per year)
Bench fees: £1000 (per student) – standard bench fees will be charged to contribute to research costs
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.