PhD Funding Opportunities
NERC-funded PhD research opportunities in Environmental Geography
Following the recent appointment of new staff (Althea Davies, Timothy Stojanovic and Hong Yang) and our strategic investment to further strengthen Environmental Geography at the University of St Andrews, we are delighted to announce an open competition for a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)-funded PhD studentship, available from September/October 2013.
Please Note: The successful applicant will be required to meet the eligibility criteria defined by NERC for postgraduate awards.
How to apply
Initial screening will be based on expressions of interest to be received by 29 March 2013, comprising:
- Letter of Application (max 500 words)
- CV
- A completed University of St Andrews application form for postgraduate (research) study
Shortlisted candidates selected to go forward will be invited for interview at St Andrews on Wednesday 10th April 2013.
Select our Physical Geography page to view the projects that are currently available; please contact the named supervisors for further information prior to making your application.
Thinking of studying for a PhD?
The Department of Geography and Sustainable Development (DGSD) is offering 6 fully and partly funded three year PhD research studentships starting in September 2013. Full funding will cover Home/EU fees and an annual maintenance allowance of £15,000, while part funding will cover a minimum of 50% of these costs. Overseas students are welcome to apply but will be required to find the difference between home and overseas fees from other sources. Studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis, according to the academic record of applicants and the merits of their research proposal. Applicants should have at least a 2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject. A Postgraduate Masters degree is not a requirement, but may be an advantage.
How to apply
Applications for studentships in all areas of research within the interests of staff in geography and sustainable development will be considered. The application process involves two stages:
Stage 1: Expressions of interest – Deadline 18 January 2013
If you are interested in applying for a studentship, you should send a brief description (maximum 1 A4 page) of the topic or area of research you wish to work in. This can be quite general but will help us to identify a potential supervisor. Please also indicate whether you are interested in a fully funded studentship, a partly funded studentship, or both.
All expressions of interest should be sent to the DGSD Postgraduate Secretary, Helen Olaez by 18 January 2013.
Stage 2: Full application – Deadline 26 February 2013
Once you are matched with a potential supervisor, you will then be able to work with him/her to develop a detailed research proposal (3-4 A4 pages). At a minimum, the proposal should cover (1) specification of topic and its importance in relation to current knowledge; (2) information/data sources and methods; (3) reference list.
You will also need to complete a University Application Form for PhD study (select How to apply).
Further information
If you wish to discuss possibilities before registering your interest, you are welcome to contact one (or more) of the following staff members:
- Professor Elspeth Graham - Enquiries for research on population, migration and health
- Dr Donald Houston - Enquiries for research on cities and housing
- Dr Mike Kesby - Enquiries for research on governance and power
- Professor Stewart Fotheringham - Enquiries for research in GIS and geoinformatics
- Professor Colin Hunter - Enquiries for research on sustainable societies and environments
For general enquiries contact Helen Olaez