PhD Studentship in the Environmental Planning Pathway

Geography / Environmental Planning: Fully Funded ESRC Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) PhD Studentship in the Environmental Planning pathway 

Environmental planning examines the spatial dimensions and decision-making processes for the sustainable management of the relationships within and between natural and human systems. This interdisciplinary PhD training pathway bridges social and natural environmental sciences. It focusses on key environmental challenges, and their manifestation in Wales, the UK and globally, reflecting current policy challenges for Welsh and UK governments in the environmental sector. Major concerns include but are not limited to: impacts and management of climate change; local and regional environmental quality; conservation management; and post-Brexit environmental legislation.  

The Department of Geography at Swansea is a vibrant and dynamic place for interdisciplinary doctoral studies. Our academics have a long history of successfully training PhD students for careers in the public, private, and third sectors, as well as in academia. Our staff have a wide range of expertise central to this pathway including quantifying and mitigating climate change, landscape carbon dynamics, flood management, pollution, environmental hazard management, wildfire mitigation, environmental archaeology, GIS and remote sensing applications, and cultural, urban, political, and economic geography. We are working in close collaboration with public and private sector organisations (e.g. DEFRA, Forest Research, Natural Resources Wales, MetOffice, UK National Parks, Fire and Rescue Services, Home Office, UK water companies and the Health Sector). Our academics are actively recruiting PhD students and we encourage you to explore our staff webpages and get in touch with potential PhD supervisors who may align with your interests: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/science-and-engineering/school-of-biosciences-geography-and-physics-staff/geography/ 

As part of the ESRC supported Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences, the Environmental Planning pathway is founded on longstanding institutional links between Swansea University’s Department of Geography, Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning, Aberystwyth University’s Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Bangor University and the Countryside and Community Research Institute at the University of Gloucestershire. The departments collaborate extensively in PhD supervision, externally-funded research projects and postgraduate training. 

Training is provided through a coordinated programme of standalone and residential modules in quantitative and qualitative social science methods, and science communication and a cohort-building postgraduate conference with participation from across the pathway. Options for specialist training include GIS and spatial data analysis, advanced quantitative research in SPSS, transport modelling, calculating environmental footprints, living lab methodologies, conservation research, randomised response techniques, cost-benefit analysis, spatial economic modelling, and satellite and drone remote sensing.  

Duration of study: The duration of study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs which will be assessed by completing an Initial Development Needs Analysis (Initial DNA) at the application stage and a Full DNA prior to award if successful. Please see the link to the Swansea University website for more information.

Research in practice placement:  All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent) in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.  

Funding Details

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £19,237 for 2024/25).

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.  

Students also have access to a Research Training Support Grant, worth up to £940 per year.

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