Geographical Sciences (Human Geography)
- PhD
Overview
The excellence of Bristol's social science research was confirmed by the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Bristol's School of Geographical Sciences ranked first for Geography in the UK Research Excellence Framework for the fifth REF cycle in a row.
We have a large and vibrant postgraduate community, focusing both on PhDs by research and on taught programmes. Our postgraduate community is international and interdisciplinary and offers an exceptional academic environment for postgraduate research.
Research opportunities span a variety of subjects at the leading edge of geographical research. Our research groups span a range of human geographical research: Historical and Cultural Geography; States, Economies and Societies; Quantitative Spatial Science; Political Ecologies. Within these four groups, postgraduate research includes health and housing inequalities to embodied posthuman geographies, to urban sustainability futures, to the environmental humanities, to improving techniques of quantitative modelling and machine learning, to geopolitics, decolonial geographies, and political ecology.
There is also a range of exciting possibilities for interdisciplinary research that cross and connect research groups and departments. Candidates typically have two supervisors based in the school, but supervision is possible across schools and faculties.
There is an active postgraduate research community whose representatives not only meet formally with staff representatives on issues of mutual interest, but who arrange social and other support for the PGR cohort.
There is dedicated PGR space in the Fry Building, next to Geographical Sciences.
Alternatively, you may be interested in our PhD in Geographical Sciences (Physical Geography).
Programme structure
Details of the PGR program structure derive from the wider Faculty and University regulations and are subject to specifications aligned with your research group. There are no taught elements to the programme unless explicitly specified within your funding body's terms and conditions. Each student will complete an annual progress review.
Entry requirements
An upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject or an equivalent qualification and a master's qualification from a UK university (or equivalent).
The school welcomes applicants with an interest in utilising ESRC and UKRI secondary datasets in their research projects.
The School of Geographical Sciences, like many other schools and departments across the University, is committed to efforts to decolonise our curricula and transform our research and teaching as part of these efforts. We especially welcome applicants interested in supporting this work, and we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and geographies to apply.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level D.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £5,106 per year
- Home: part-time
- £2,553 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £21,900 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
The Faculty of Social Sciences and Law has an allocation of 1+3 and +3 ESRC scholarships and although Geography is based in the Science and Engineering Faculty, Human Geographers are eligible to apply for ESRC scholarships. Applicants may also be interested in applying for funding from the University of Bristol scholarship. There are additional awards from the China Scholarships Councils, a dedicated University of Bristol/University of Cape Town Scholarship, and the School alumni PhD scholarship fund.
The School of Geographical Sciences also has very limited PhD funding available for applicants via the Liv Sidse Jansen Memorial Fund (for BME applicants only) and the PGTA Scholarship program.
Please see the School's Postgraduate Scholarship page for details.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
Academic research and teaching, NGO research, education, civil service research and administration, policy analysis and development, industry, market research, consultancy, journalism, writing and communications, advocacy and activism, community development, and project management.
Meet our supervisors
The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
Research groups
There are four main Human Geography research groups:
- States, Economies & Societies
- Historical & Cultural Geography
- Quantitative Spatial Science
- Political Ecologies
Contact us
- Contact
Izzy Montgomery, Postgraduate Student Administrator
- Phone
- +44 (0)
0117 928 7872
geog-pgadmin@bristol.ac.uk
- Contact
Associate Professor Franklin Ginn, Programme Director
franklin.ginn@bristol.ac.uk