Environmental Planning: Fully funded PhD Studentship in the ESRC Welsh Graduate School of Socia[...]

Swansea University; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK research university is offering a PhD position in environmental science focusing on sustainable management of relationships within natural and human systems. The candidate will engage in interdisciplinary training, collaborate with various organizations, and contribute to environmental research. Candidates with honours degrees or equivalent qualifications are encouraged to apply. The studentship includes tuition fees and a living stipend of £20,780.

Benefits

Tuition fees covered

Tax-free living stipend

Research Training Support Grant

Qualifications

• Must have qualifications equivalent to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level.
• Open to students with non-traditional academic backgrounds.
• Research experience in environmental science is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Examine spatial dimensions for sustainable management of natural and human systems.
• Engage in interdisciplinary doctoral studies focusing on environmental challenges.
• Collaborate with public and private sector organizations in research projects.

Skills

GIS and spatial data analysis

Advanced quantitative research

Environmental research methodologies

Education

Honours degree or master's from a UK academic research organization

Job description

Organisation/Company Swansea University Department Central Research Field Environmental science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 11 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Environmental planningexamines the spatial dimensions and decision-making processes for the sustainable management of the relationships within and between natural and human systems. This interdisciplinary PhD training pathway bridges social and natural environmental sciences. It focusses on key environmental challenges, and their manifestation in Wales, the UK and globally, reflecting current policy challenges for Welsh and UK governments in the environmental sector. Major concerns include but are not limited to: impacts and management of climate change; local and regional environmental quality; conservation management; and post-Brexit environmental legislation.

The Department of Geography at Swansea is a vibrant and dynamic place for interdisciplinary doctoral studies. Our academics have a long history of successfully training PhD students for careers in the public, private, and third sectors, as well as in academia. Our staff have a wide range of expertise central to this pathway including quantifying and mitigating climate change, landscape carbon dynamics, flood management, pollution, environmental hazard management, wildfire mitigation, environmental archaeology, GIS and remote sensing applications, and cultural, urban, political, and economic geography. We are working in close collaboration with public and private sector organisations (e.g. DEFRA, Forest Research, Natural Resources Wales, MetOffice, UK National Parks, Fire and Rescue Services, Home Office, UK water companies and the Health Sector).

As part of the WGSSS, the Environmental Planning pathway is founded on longstanding institutional links between Swansea University’s Department of Geography, Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning, Aberystwyth University’s Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Bangor University and the Countryside and Community Research Institute at the University of Gloucestershire. The departments collaborate extensively in PhD supervision, externally-funded research projects and postgraduate training.

Training is provided through a coordinated programme of standalone and residential modules in quantitative and qualitative social science methods, and science communication and a cohort-building postgraduate conference with participation from across the pathway. Options for specialist training include GIS and spatial data analysis, advanced quantitative research in SPSS, transport modelling, calculating environmental footprints, living lab methodologies, conservation research, randomized response techniques, cost-benefit analysis, spatial economic modelling, and satellite and drone remote sensing.

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters from a UK academic research organisation. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [e-mail] with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £20,780 for 2025/26) and includes a Research Training Support Grant.

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters from a UK academic research organisation. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [e-mail] with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.

Please see our website for more information.