MSc Environment (by research)
Explore your own environmental research project, supported by leading academics.
| Length | Start dates (semester dates) | |
|---|---|---|
| MSc by research |
1 year full-time |
January |
Gain experience of independent research to solve current environmental challenges, guided by an expert in the field.
Your research
You’ll choose from a range of current research projects aligned with the department’s core themes, such as climate change, biodiversity, sustainability, or pollution. By contributing to one of these projects, you’ll gain valuable experience in designing and conducting research, while developing key skills in critical thinking, analysis, and communication. Guided by expert academics, you’ll work in advanced facilities and benefit from a wide network of partners across academia, government, industry, and the nonprofit sector.
Whether full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months, you’ll be part of a vibrant and supportive research community, ready to take the next step in your career in research, policy, consultancy, or beyond. While the main focus of your MSc by Research will be your project, you will access training through a Masters-level module in research skills and attend university training courses.
You will also become a member of at least one of our five challenge area research groups and join other academic and social events alongside our PhD students and staff. We will provide you with a research training and support grant of £1000 to support your project. You will also have access to a desk and a PC in one of the department’s postgraduate offices for the duration of your programme.
Assessment
You will write up the results of your research project in a thesis of up to 40,000 words which will be examined by at least two examiners. In some cases an oral examination may be requested, but this is at the discretion of the examiners.
Although there are no formal taught modules for an MSc by research, as a research student, you'll be required to complete our researcher graduate training programme.
Choosing a project
We are looking for research students to work on the following projects. To find out more about the projects, please contact the relevant staff member associated with the project.
If you have a research idea you'd like to pursue, please contact us to explore developing this idea.
- Exploring public and/or stakeholder acceptability of agrivoltaic energy systems to reduce contestation with solar developments in rural spaces - Karen Parkhill
- Holocene climate and cultural history on the south-west peninsula of England - Katherine Selby
- Locating refugia on the Great Barrier Reef to ensure future survival (more info) - Jon Hill
- Functional ecology of mosses, lichens, and liverworts from temperate rainforest to alpine summits - Rob Mills
- Using saltmarsh foraminifera to identify when “modern” rates of sea-level rise emerged around the UK - Ed Garrett
- Understanding the biological, chemical and physical controls on earthworm distributions in soil - Mark Hodson
- Discourses of Delay: Mapping Opposition and Obstruction to Climate Action in Civic, Financial, and Political Spheres - Truzaar Dordi
- 'Black gold': an assay of mangrove sediments in the Maldives - Rob Marchant
- Scorched Memories: Exploring Recollections and Narratives of Heatwaves in Britain - Felicia Liu, Oliver Andrews and Chris Lyon
- Driving social, economic and environmental sustainability in top flight football: How do we maximise the sustainability proposition of the Premier League and Women's Super League? - Jason Snape
- Using Models to Understand Open Ocean Deoxygenation: Quo Vadis? - Oliver Andrews (with Jamie Wilson, University of Liverpool)
- Developing and evaluating the impact of the new Climate Meal Challenge game in changing citizens perceptions of changing food choices - Sarah Bridle
- The Economics of Net-Negative Emissions: Examining the macroeconomic implications of achieving a net-negative carbon future in the UK - Marco Sakai
- Understanding emissions from building materials in new build houses under different ventilation conditions: a measurement and modelling study - Nic Carslaw and Dave Shaw
- Assessment of charcoal stability in soil under various environmental conditions. Through chemical analysis and kinetic modelling we will compare "natural" and "artificial" char to understand their stability in soil environment - Darpan Das and Mark Hodson
- The health and wellbeing benefits of encounters with wildlife in green and blue spaces - Piran White
- Soil for Net Zero: using biology to remove the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) from the atmosphere - Ben Keane
- Using GPS Tracking to Understand Habitat Use in Wintering Waders - Kathryn Arnold (with Natural England)
- Exploring the role of ice marginal lakes on ice velocity and ice thickness changes in Arctic glaciers, using a remote sensing approach - David Rippin
Training and support
When you start your postgraduate journey with us, you'll receive a warm welcome, a desk space, and a supervisor to guide your research. You'll have the option to attend non-examined modules, known as auditing. This offers valuable insights and knowledge to support your research. These sessions can enhance your work and deepen your understanding in relevant areas.
Progress is monitored through regular meetings with a Thesis Advisory Panel. This will be every six months for full-time students and annually for part-timers. The panel offers feedback and guidance. You'll also attend an annual two-day departmental conference with opportunities to contribute at each stage of your studies.
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Course location
This course is run by the Department of Environment and Geography.
You will be based on Campus West where all of our facilities are housed.
Careers and skills
There are opportunities to gain experience of demonstrating to undergraduate and taught Masters students, and receive practical advice on career planning. We hold a series of research seminars across all disciplines which are open to all researchers. There are also opportunities to present your own work through posters and talks.
A research degree is essential if you plan a career as an independent researcher with responsibility for your own research programme, whether in academia, research institutes or industry.
Our dedicated careers team offer specific support including a programme of professional researcher development and careers workshops and 1:1 career support sessions. They will help you to build up your employability portfolio and to engage in activities that will build up your skills and experience within and outside of your research work.
Career opportunities
- Government environmental consultancy positions
- Careers in environmental services
- Scientific research
- Postdoctoral positions
- Teaching and lecturing
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Entry requirements
Applicants should have, or be expecting to achieve, a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant, related discipline. International equivalent qualifications are accepted. We have research students from a range of backgrounds on a variety of projects. A 2:1 is the minimum requirement to be considered for a Masters by research, funded studentships are very competitive and it is likely that you would need to be predicted a high 2:1 / First-class degree.
If you are an international applicant, please check the entry requirements for your country.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.
Check your English language requirements
Applying
Apply for the MSc in Environment (by research)
Take a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.
How to apply
- Take a look at the research interests of our staff and our list of PhD projects to identify some specific members of staff with whom you would like to work. Please feel free to contact potential supervisors directly. You may wish to discuss your plans before starting your application.
- Complete the online application for your chosen research degree by selecting the appropriate link above. You can apply for more than one project on the same application by listing the projects in the Research Proposal section.
- Include the name(s) of the supervisor(s) whose research groups you are interested in joining, and the project title if you are applying for a specific project. You can list more than one.
- There is no need to provide a full research proposal, although applicants not applying for advertised projects should give an indication of areas in which they would be interested in working.
Find out more about how to apply.
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