Human Geography and Environmental Sciences PhD Level: Postgraduate research Subject: Geography Year of entry: 2026 Study options Part-time PhD | 6 years | Start date: multiple dates Full-time PhD | 3 years | Start date: multiple dates Key facts School School of GeoSciences College College of Science and Engineering PhD by Distance Not available School location Multiple campuses Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme The PhD programme in Human Geography and Environmental Sciences draws on the expertise of the Research Institute of Geography and the Lived Environment (RIGLE) at the University of Edinburgh.Research Institute of Geography and the Lived EnvironmentDuring your programme, you will conduct original research leading to the submission and examination of your thesis. You will be assigned a supervisor and an adviser and may have additional co-supervisors. You will participate in interdisciplinary training and workshops and have the opportunity to develop your skills in public communication, project management, and teaching. Upcoming changes in study durationWe are currently reviewing the duration of our PhD programmes, with the possibility of extending them from three to four years starting September 2026. This review reflects our commitment to providing high-quality education that meets evolving student needs. Any changes will be communicated to applicants by email in advance. Please contact the School of GeoSciences Postgraduate Research Office if you have any questions or concerns. Applying How to apply Please see our step-by-step guide to applying for a research degree in the School of GeoSciences. Applications that do not follow application guidelines will be placed on hold and eventually rejected as incomplete.Application process Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:How to apply When to apply We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will need to complete immigration processes in order to be able to study with us, then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide supporting information and documents, such as the following:a CVa research proposalname of supervisor (if known)copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksevidence you meet the English language requirements (where applicable)certified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must submit two references with your application. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -PhD Geography (6 years)PhD Geography (3 years) Funding, fees and costs Funding Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Featured fundingSchool of Geosciences postgraduate research funding opportunities Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Part-time PhD Geography (6 years) tuition fees Full-time PhD Geography (3 years) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Costs Additional programme costs This programme has a minimum additional cost of £1,000 per year (for full-time students).This is to support your research, by covering costs that are directly related to your project.Examples of such costs include:fieldworkconference attendancepurchase of small items of equipmentbookssubscriptionsFurther research costs may be required, depending on your project requirements. Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a related subject. We may also consider your application if you have other qualifications or experience; please contact us to check before you apply. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details Research profile This programme draws on the expertise of the Research Institute of Geography and the Lived Environment (RIGLE) at the University of Edinburgh, a vibrant intellectual home for more than 100 researchers working across the physical sciences, social sciences and humanities.Research areasWe work with a broad range of geographic themes and approaches and have particular research strengths in:critical and qualitative human geographyquantitative and statistical geography and geographic information systems (GIS)geohumanities and environmental humanitiescultural, development, environmental and urban studiesWe study:critical and popular geopoliticsthe cultural politics of ‘race’, gender and sexualityenergy futures and extractivismfood security and sovereigntyhealth inequalitieshazards and disastershuman-animal relationshipsmedia and mobilitiespolitical activism and protestsustainable development and environmental resource managementurban change and gentrificationCollaborationWe work closely with communities and groups outside the academy in Scotland, Europe and beyond.We exchange knowledge regularly through the four research groups that sit within the Institute:Health, Population and PlaceHistorical and Cultural GeographyHuman GeographyEnvironment and SocietyWe hold regular seminars and events, reading groups, writing retreats, and collaborative research programmes. We also work closely with colleagues in other schools in the University.Decolonising initiativesOur PhD feeds into the coordinated efforts throughout the University to ensure that our faculty and students reflect the talent and brilliance of all communities, and benefit from the presence, approaches and methodologies of racially and ethnically diverse thinkers.We receive funding from all the UK Research Councils, including the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council), ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) and NERC (Natural Environment Research Council), as well as from a number of other funders. Support As a postgraduate research student at Edinburgh, you have access to an exceptionally wide range of training courses offered by the many interdisciplinary researchers across the School of GeoSciences, and more broadly across the University.You will receive guidance both from your supervisory team and the postgraduate research office on appropriate training specific to your research needs and requirements. Additionally, an academic adviser, separate from your direct supervisory team, is always available to help support you and track your progress and welfare throughout your research degree.Professional development opportunitiesMultiple professional development opportunities are available to you throughout your studies to develop your transferable skills, including:communicating ideas to the public, such as the 3-Minute Thesis competition, and the annual Postgraduate Research Conferenceproject managementteaching on the School’s undergraduate programmes in Earth Sciences, Ecological and Environmental Sciences, and GeographyTraining offered by the Institute for Academic Development (IAD) Careers Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Life at Edinburgh Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Postgraduate Research OfficeSchool of GeoSciencesInstitute of GeographyCentral CampusEdinburghEH8 9XP pgrsupport.geos@ed.ac.uk Phone:+44 (0)131 650 5854
