Program Overview
Geography
PhD
Key Information
- Duration: 4 years full time
- Institution code: R72
- Campus: Egham
- UK fees: £5,006
- International/EU fees: £25,500
About Us
The Department of Geography is in the top tier of UK departments and has consistently been identified as one of the highest performing in successive research assessments (most recently, ranked 5th in REF2021). We have over 30 members of academic staff and notable research concentrations in Quaternary science, social, cultural, and historical geography, the GeoHumanities, geopolitics and security, development studies and sustainability. Ours is a vibrant postgraduate community of over 120 students, including some 80 PhD candidates, drawn from across the world. Subject to eligibility criteria, students can access funding from AHRC, ESRC, NERC, and EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships and Centres.
PhD students sit at the heart of our research culture and are supported in their work by world-leading academics and a dedicated team of technical staff. The Department of Geography is proud that Professor Felix Driver has recently been awarded Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards.
PhD students enjoy access to well-equipped laboratory and computing facilities and benefit from the exceptional range of partnerships the department has developed with charities, NGOs, industry, government departments, museums, and the creative sector.
The department’s research environment is driven by a number of well-established research centres and groups:
- the Centre for the GeoHumanities
- the Centre for Quaternary Research
- the Geopolitics, Development, Security and Justice research group
- the Social, Cultural and Historical Geography research group.
Research Facilities and Environment
The Department of Geography is well provisioned with computing and laboratory facilities to support its PhD researchers.
The department has a number of scientific laboratories supporting cutting-edge research in physical geography and Quaternary science, including geochemistry, geochronology (including luminescence dating, varve analysis, and tephrochronology), paleoecology, micromorphology, and sedimentology.
The department’s Geospatial and Visual Methods Laboratory is a dedicated postgraduate computing facility consisting of high-spec Macs and PCs with Geographical Information Systems software, advanced cartographic and image handling packages, and audio-visual editing software for the analysis of qualitative data.
The Humphries Graphics Suite houses specialist large-format printing and encapsulating services.
The facility is managed by the department’s Graphics Technician who can advise on the use of graphics software for producing diagrams, data displays, and artwork for publication.
PhD researchers also benefit from Royal Holloway’s postgraduate-focused facilities in the Bloomsbury area of central London, world-class research and library facilities in London more generally, and vibrant programmes of workshops and events organised by the department’s research groups.
Assessment
PhD researchers are ordinarily assessed on the basis of a written thesis of monograph form and of not more than 100,000 words in length. Alternatively, for students engaged in practice-based research, Royal Holloway is one of the few geography departments internationally to offer assessment on the basis of a substantial body of performance or creative work, together with an accompanying written submission of 30,000–60,000 words. This mode of assessment may be particularly appropriate for candidates within the field of GeoHumanities. It is also possible, with permission, to submit a thesis that comprises a collection of papers, brought together via an introduction, methodology, critical evaluation and conclusion.
Entry Requirements
The Department would ordinarily expect applicants to hold a UK 1st- or upper 2nd-class undergraduate degree (or a recognised international equivalent) together with a relevant Master’s degree (at Pass level or higher). Professional experience, particularly in the case of applicants wishing to pursue a practice-based PhD, will be considered in the absence of a Masters degree.
Before applying we recommend securing a supervisor in order to apply for your research project.
We advise getting in touch with the Director of Postgraduate Education making an informal enquiry for your chosen research degree to inquire whether there is any other additional material they require you to submit in your application.
English Language Requirements
All teaching at Royal Holloway is in English. You will therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start.
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26.
Country-Specific Requirements
For more information about country-specific entry requirements for your country please see here.
Your Future Career
Our graduates have entered into a wide range of careers, within academia and beyond, including positions at the British Library, the Department for International Development, commercial consultancy, NGOs, think-tanks, major cultural institutions and museums, and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).
A significant number of our graduates have remained in academia, going on to secure postdoctoral research positions and lectureships in a wide variety of disciplines. Supervisors work closely with PhD researchers to explore and support their career ambitions. PhD researchers have full access to the College’s Careers and Employability Service and many choose to take up the opportunity of research-related placements in relevant organisations during the course of their studies.
Fees & Funding
- Home (UK) students tuition fee per year: £5,006
- EU and International students tuition fee per year: £25,500
- Other essential costs: There are no additional costs greater than £50 per item.
…How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.
- and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2025/26.
- Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry. For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the UKRI website.
** This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase fees for all students annually. Be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration), and that this also means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. For further information see fees and funding and the terms and conditions.
** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
- The Geography PhD program at Royal Holloway University of London is a highly established and prestigious program, ranked among the top in the UK by the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).
- The program's focus is on interdisciplinary research, encompassing areas like physical geography, Quaternary science, social, cultural, and historical geography, geopolitics and security, development studies, and sustainability.
- The department welcomes a diverse cohort of postgraduate researchers, including around 80 PhD candidates, and promotes an active and collaborative research environment.
- Applicants may be eligible for funding from various sources like AHRC, ESRC, NERC, and EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships and Centres based on their eligibility.
Outline:
- The program typically takes four years to complete full-time.
- The program structure involves a combination of independent research under the guidance of expert supervisors, participation in research seminars and workshops, and potentially coursework depending on the research area.
- The program offers a variety of dedicated research facilities, including scientific laboratories for physical geography and Quaternary research, a GeoSpatial and Visual Methods Laboratory for postgraduate computing and data analysis, and a graphics suite for print and visual media production.
- Additionally, PhD researchers benefit from resources and programs offered by the department's research centres and groups, such as the Centre for the GeoHumanities, the Centre for Quaternary Research, the Geopolitics, Development, Security and Justice research group, and the Social, Cultural and Historical Geography research group.
Assessment:
- PhD researchers are assessed based on a written thesis of no more than 100,000 words.
- Alternatively, for practice-based research, assessment can be based on a substantial body of performance or creative work with a written component between 30,000 and 60,000 words.
- The department also allows for thesis submission comprising a collection of papers with an introduction, methodology, critical evaluation, and conclusion.
Teaching:
- The program emphasizes close supervision by world-leading academics and dedicated technical staff.
- PhD researchers have access to well-equipped laboratories and computing facilities, ensuring a supportive and stimulating research environment.
- The department prioritizes the development of research skills and provides a range of training opportunities and resources.
- PhD researchers are also encouraged to participate in conferences, workshops, and networking events to present their work and connect with the broader academic community.
Careers:
- Graduates of the program pursue diverse careers, including positions in academia, research institutions, government agencies, NGOs, museums, and the private sector.
- The department offers career support through the College’s Careers and Employability Service and encourages research placements during the program to enhance employability.
- A significant number of graduates remain in academia, pursuing postdoctoral research positions and lectureships in various geography-related disciplines.
Other:
- The Department offers a dedicated postgraduate student support system with a designated postgraduate research student lead.
- Regular program reviews ensure its adaptation to the evolving needs of the research field and student experience.
- The program emphasizes a strong research culture and values academic excellence, interdisciplinarity, and innovation. The program's combination of rigorous academics, supportive research environment, diverse research opportunities, and career support makes it a highly desirable choice for those seeking to excel in the field.
- Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £4,786
- EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £23,400
- Other essential costs***: There are no additional costs greater than £50 per item.
