Environmental Research

Entry requirements

2.1 Honours degree or equivalent.

Required documentation

Applicants should submit:

• Transcripts/degree certificate

• Two references

• A one-page research proposal

• CV

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) is home to state-of-the-art analytical technology, used to address major issues in environmental, earth and life sciences. Our students are trained to become experts in analytical science, and benefit from access to the wide range of equipment and technical expertise.

We comprise approximately 40 academic staff, research assistants, fellows and post-graduate research students that contribute to RCUK, EU and industrially funded research projects. We host several national Facilities for NERC.

We have strong links to science research at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and host many visiting international researchers.

Research groups

Research at SUERC is organised around three main themes:

• Isotope Geosciences

• Isotope Biochemistry

• Radiometrics, Environmental Chemistry and Radiocarbon

Illustrative research topics

• Quaternary geochronology (14C, cosmogenic isotopes, OSL, 210Pb)

• High precision geohronology & thermochronology of deep time (Rb/Sr, Ar/Ar, (U-Th)/He)

• Tracing and timing climate and environmental change

• Environmental C cycling (14C, stable isotopes)

• Fluids in Earth’s crust (14C, stable and noble gas isotopes)

• Food authentification (luminescence, stable isotopes)

• Stable isotope biochemistry

• Tracing man-made and natural radionuclides in the environment

• Natural analogue studies of nuclear waste stores

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no sub-test under 6.0.
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540

• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355

• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350

• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.