Course summary
The excellence of Bristol's social science research was confirmed by the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Bristol's School of Geographical Sciences ranked first for Geography in the UK Research Excellence Framework for the fifth REF cycle in a row. We have a large and vibrant postgraduate community, focusing both on PhDs by research and on taught programmes. Our postgraduate community is international and interdisciplinary and offers an exceptional academic environment for postgraduate research. Research opportunities span a variety of subjects at the leading edge of geographical research. Our research groups span a range of human geographical research: Historical and Cultural Geography; States, Economies and Societies; Quantitative Spatial Science; Political Ecologies. Within these four groups, postgraduate research includes health and housing inequalities to embodied posthuman geographies, to urban sustainability futures, to the environmental humanities, to improving techniques of quantitative modelling and machine learning, to geopolitics, decolonial geographies, and political ecology. There is also a range of exciting possibilities for interdisciplinary research that cross and connect research groups and departments. Candidates typically have two supervisors based in the school, but supervision is possible across schools and faculties. There is an active postgraduate research community whose representatives not only meet formally with staff representatives on issues of mutual interest, but who arrange social and other support for the PGR cohort. There is dedicated PGR space in the Fry Building, next to Geographical Sciences. Alternatively, you may be interested in our PhD in Geographical Sciences (Physical Geography).
Assessment method
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/postgraduate/admissions-statements/2026/phd-geographical-sciences-human-geography.pdf
How to apply
International applicants
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for postgraduate study. If you study or have studied at a university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualifications, scholarships and education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries.
Entry requirements
An upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject or an equivalent qualification and a master's qualification from a UK university (or equivalent). The school welcomes applicants with an interest in utilising ESRC and UKRI secondary datasets in their research projects. The School of Geographical Sciences, like many other schools and departments across the University, is committed to efforts to decolonise our curricula and transform our research and teaching as part of these efforts. We especially welcome applicants interested in supporting this work, and we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and geographies to apply. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £2553 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
For more information, please view the programme page on our website.
Sponsorship information
The Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences has an allocation of 1+3 and +3 ESRC scholarships and although Geography is based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Human Geographers are eligible to apply for ESRC scholarships. Applicants may also be interested in applying for funding from the University of Bristol scholarship. There are additional awards from the China Scholarships Councils, a dedicated University of Bristol/University of Cape Town Scholarship, and the School alumni PhD scholarship fund. The School of Geographical Sciences also has very limited PhD funding available for applicants via the Liv Sidse Jansen Memorial Fund (for BME applicants only) and the PGTA Scholarship program. Please see the School's Postgraduate Scholarship page for details: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/geography/courses/postgraduate/scholarships/ Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/
Provider information
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queen’s Road
Bristol
BS8 1QU