Human Geography
- PhD
- MSc by research
Overview
We have a large and vibrant postgraduate community, currently with over 100 postgraduate research students. Our postgraduate community is diverse, and over half of our postgraduate research students are international. Bristol Geography offers an exceptional academic environment for postgraduate research.
The excellence of Bristol's social science research was confirmed by the last 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.
PhD 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 ranges from 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 programme 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 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.
Applicants must meet the programme language requirements.
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.
This admission statement is for 2026 entry. The 2027 entry admission statement will be available in the Autumn.
Go to admissions statementIf 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
- £5,343 per year
- Home: part-time
- £2,672 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £28,300 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
Human Geographers are eligible to apply for ESRC scholarships through the SWDTP. Applicants may also be interested in applying for a University of Bristol Scholarship. There are additional awards from the China Scholarships Councils, a University of Bristol/University of Cape Town Scholarship, and the School alumni PhD scholarship fund, and the School's Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA) award.
The School of Geographical Sciences also has PhD funding available for Black British applicants via the Liv Sidse Jansen Memorial Fund.
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
- Postgraduate Research Admissions Team
- uob-pgradmissions@bristol.ac.uk