Postgraduate research
The School of Environment and Development has an enviable reputation within the University for excellence and innovation in its postgraduate research provision. Through our PhD programme, we are creating the next generation of thought-shapers and researchers in the four subject areas of the School.
Our research postgraduates come from all over the globe (54 countries and counting) and benefit from funding from a variety of sources, including School Studentships, Graduate Teaching Fellowships, Commonwealth Scholarships, Chevening Scholarships, ESRC Studentships and Overseas Student Scholarships (among many other sources).
Over the past couple of years almost 100 students have gained a PhD from the School and while the numbers have grown, so has the quality. Completion of PhDs on first submission and within four years is among the highest in the Faculty of Humanities.
Amongst the contributing factors to this success are the support and resources we offer to our students. 
In the past year we have:
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awarded over £350,000 in research scholarships to new research students
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awarded almost £60,000 to help support current students in financing their studies
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awarded almost £35,000 to support current students fund their fieldwork and research away from the University
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introduced a new core Research Methodology course tailored to the School’s needs, for all new students
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provided new computers and workstations to all students who needed them
The School provides excellent supervision to our students and has led the way in providing new and innovative ways to improve the overall student experience. Many of our graduates hold important positions in the worlds of government, academia and the voluntary sector, as well as business.
We are committed to close staff-student interaction, and strongly encourage the sharing of experience between all our students, regardless of their subject interest, and in particular between established and new doctoral students.
Research students at SED benefit from modern facilities, as well as from opportunities for basic and advanced research training.
The following links provide more information on the research specialisms of the four subject areas in the School:
- Postgraduate research in Architecture
- Postgraduate research in Geography
- Postgraduate research at the Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDP
- Postgraduate research in Planning