Program Overview

Geography and Environment

Introduction

The Department of Geography and Environment's interdisciplinary research addresses societal challenges, earth surface and near-subsurface processes, and environmental change.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Degree Qualification: MSc or PhD

Research Area Navigation

Overview

• Our Research
• Entry Requirements
• Fees
• Careers
• Contact Us

Research Interests

Smart Sustainable Futures

• Focuses on the challenges of local and global transitions to low-carbon and sustainable societies.
• Research explores the spatial and temporal variation in these transitions and the role of governance, place, and people, and considers questions of environmental and social justice.
• This theme encompasses research on rural and community sustainability including demographic change, rural resilience, agricultural policy, environmental management, housing, and urban sustainability.
• Potential supervisors: Dr Paula Duffy, Dr Piotr Niewiadomski, Dr Joseph Pierce, Professor Lorna Philip, Dr Katrin Prager, Professor Tavis Potts and Dr Flurina Wartmann

Earth Surface Processes

• Cryosphere and Climate Change research spans a range of spatial and temporal scales focusing on past, present and future ice-climate interactions; ice sheet dynamics; glacial landform genesis; palaeoglaciology; and glacigenic reservoirs.
• Research applications of GIS, remote sensing, digital image processing and UAV data capture are applied to the coastal zone, viticulture, landscape and biodiversity.
• Hydrological research (organised through the Northern Rivers Institute) focuses on the application of tracing and tracer-aided modelling in the characterisation of hydrological systems; the ecohydrology of headwater catchments; hydrogeology and hydrogeophysics; water risk analysis; and sustainable water resource management.
• Potential Supervisors: Dr Anshuman Bhardwaj, Dr Jean-Christophe Comte, Dr Josie Geris, Dr David Green, Dr William Harcourt, Dr David Haro Monteagudo, Dr Bartosz Kurjanski, Prof Brice Rea, Dr Lydia Sam, Dr Shaktiman Singh, Prof Matteo Spagnolo, Prof Chris Soulsby

Palaeoecology

• Focuses on the reconstruction of long-term changes to the environment, landscape, vegetation and climate, with links to human activity during prehistory and early history.
• This is achieved through the application of multiple techniques using dedicated labs, and typically includes the analysis of pollen, plant macrofossils, non-pollen palynomorphs, charcoal, peat geochemistry and stable isotopes.
• The research is interdisciplinary and often involves collaboration with archaeologists, biologists, chemists, historians, and climate modellers.
• Potential Supervisors: Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Professor Tim Mighall, Dr Ed Schofield

Entry Requirements

• To apply for this programme you must have at least a good Honours degree in a related subject or discipline.
• If English is not your first language you must also show evidence of attaining standards in English.

Fees and Funding

• View the tuition fee rates
• Eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Research Masters' students starting in September 2025 will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship.

Careers

• Our postgraduate research programmes equip students to address some of the most pressing local, regional and global challenges in Earth, Environmental and Social sciences, whether in industry, consulting, or academia.
• Many graduates pursue careers in a variety of fields, for example, in climate change, renewable energy, water resources management, natural hazards, environmental impact assessment and conservation, transport planning, humanitarian action, as part of government agencies, environmental consultancy, business and commerce, NGOs, and some go on to undertake specialized consultancy or research involving technical skills such as GIS, remote sensing and near-surface geophysics.
• Career Opportunities:
  • Climate Change Coordinator
  • Environmental Consultant
  • GIS Consultant
  • Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Analyst
  • Geophysicist
  • PhD Researcher
  • Policy Advisor
  • Renewables Advice Officer

World Class Facilities

• International community
• Sir Duncan Rice Library

Related Postgraduate Taught Degrees

• Geographical Information Systems
• Geographical Information Systems (online)
• Geophysics (with Pathways)
• Restorative Land Management and Rural Surveying
• Sustainability Transitions
• Sustainable Water Management