Program Overview

Earth and Environmental Sciences Postgraduate Research Degrees

Overview

The University of Portsmouth offers postgraduate research degrees in Earth and Environmental Sciences, ranked 4th of all post-1992 universities for research quality. Our research focuses on understanding the Earth's systems and environmental sciences, with a strong emphasis on predicting how the Earth may change in the future and researching ways to safeguard it.

Research Areas

Our research areas include:

• Crustal evolution
• Environmental modelling and monitoring
• Marine biogeochemistry and ecosystems
• Palaeontology
• Applied geoscience
• Applied physics

Research Degrees

We offer the following research degrees:

• PhD
• MPhil
• PhD by Publication

PhD and MPhil Projects

We have a range of pre-approved funded and self-funded PhD projects available, including:

• Funded projects:
  • MRes on Microplastics Generated in Construction (funded project open to Home students only)
• Self-funded projects:
  • Development and Growth of a Neoproterozoic Active Plate Margin
  • Granites from the Mantle – the xenolith perspective
  • New Accessory Mineral Records of Early Lunar Evolution
  • Bone-metal (brittle-elastic) bond durability and fatigue derived from coupled Acoustic Emission and X-ray computed tomography
• Submit your own idea: If you already have a research idea, find a supervisor whose research interests match yours by searching our Find a PhD Supervisor page.

PhD by Publication

A PhD by publication is a postgraduate research degree based on research you've already undertaken and had published (excluding self-publishing) before registering with us. Eligible research outputs include peer-reviewed academic papers, complete books or chapters in anthologies, and other materials accepted for publication, exhibited or performed.

Duration, Fees, and Funding

• Duration:
  • MPhil: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time
  • PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
  • PhD by Publication: 1 year part-time
• Fees:
  • PhD and MPhil:
    • UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £4,786 per year (full-time), £2,393 per year (part-time)
    • EU students: £4,786 per year (full-time), £2,393 per year (part-time)
    • International students: £19,200 per year (full-time), £9,600 per year (part-time)
  • PhD by Publication:
    • External candidates: £4,786
    • Members of staff: £1,950
• Funding support: MPhil full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Postgraduate Loan (UK/EU students only). PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Doctoral Loan (UK/EU students only).

Entry Requirements

• Upper second class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, or a master’s degree in an appropriate subject
• Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications may be considered
• All applicants are subject to interview
• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0

Support and Facilities

• Doctoral College support
• Assigned supervisory team
• Fully-equipped physical geography, GIS and photogrammetry labs
• Geochemical facilities
• Imaging facilities
• Rock and soil mechanics
• Hyperspectral Laboratory

Career Opportunities

A postgraduate research degree demonstrates to potential employers that you're an intelligent, capable and motivated person, with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership and creativity.

Research Groups

• Palaeontology and Environmental Change Research Group
• Environmental Processes and Impacts Research Group

Current Research

Explore the work we're doing across our 4 areas of research expertise in Earth and Environmental Sciences.