Physical Geography

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 60% or above, a minimum mark of 60% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)

Months of entry

September

Course content

PhD Physical Geography will allow you to benefit from the supervision of world-leading academics that have very strong reputations for research quality.

The University of Manchester is one of the best places in the world to study physical geography, and our department has a global reputation for its research and teaching.

Our physical geography staff members hold editorial positions with leading research publications, including major journals such as Journal of the Geological Society, Geoarchaeology, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, and Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.

They also routinely serve on various review panels of the UK Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC). There are two research groups specialising in physical geography:

Environmental Processes;

Quaternary Environments and Geoarchaeology

The work of the Environmental Processes research group includes the analysis of environmental processes at a range of spatial scales and geographical locations, but particularly in upland and urban environments.

Fundamental and applied research is supported by the UK Research Councils and EU H2020, as well as a range of government and non-government agencies, including Defra, UKCIP, Environment Agency, Natural England and Moors for the Future.

The Quaternary Environments and Geoarchaeology research group is particularly interested in the analysis of the response of geomorphological systems and ecosystems to global climate change.

This includes the study of glaciers, rivers, lakes, deserts and high mountain terrains, as well as paleoecology, geochemistry and a range of geochronological applications.

This research involves work throughout the world, including the Arctic, British Isles, Mediterranean, Himalayas, North America, and Africa.

Research is funded by various bodies, including the Leverhulme Trust, NERC, the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society.

Explore our research groups to find out more about the specialisms available at Manchester, and the academics who are keen to supervise in each area.

In addition, some of our physical geographers with interests in GIS and mapping are also part of the Mapping: Culture and Geographical Information Science research group, which spans geographical sub-disciplines.