Physical Geography

Entry requirements

MPhil: Applicants for MPhil must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in geography or a related field (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

PhD: Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in geography or a related field, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

Months of entry

January, April, July, October

Course content

You will undertake an individual physical geography research project over two years (MPhil) or three years (PhD), supported by our widely respected academic staff:

• Predicting and mitigating water pollution risk from wildfire ash – Professor Stefan Doerr is a leading authority on wildfire impact.
• Predicting ice rifts - Professor Adrian Luckman received international press coverage for his research on the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica and his predictions of its calving.
• Professor Siwan Davies’ work focuses on establishing why climate has changed dramatically and abruptly in the past 100,000 years. Siwan recently made a television documentary on the effects of present climate change in Uganda, Costa Rica and California.
• Professor Tavi Murray, the first woman to be awarded the Polar Medal by HM queen for outstanding service to polar research.
• Professor Peter North who received global media coverage for his work with NASA on the Amazon and Climate Change.

Our current research groups include:

• Environmental Dynamics
• Glaciology
• Global Environmental Modelling and Earth Observation
• Migration, Boundaries and Identity
• Social Theory and Urban Space

In the latest Research Assessment Exercise, 95% of Geography research at Swansea was judged to be of international quality, and 60% was regarded as world-leading or internationally excellent.

We are ranked:

• Top 100 in the World - Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking Subject Rankings 2024)
• 90% of our research outputs have been recognised as world leading and internationally excellent - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
• 100% of the environment was rated as world leading and internationally excellent - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
• Top 201-250 in the World (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026)

Fees and funding

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out more about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page: www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships