Environment and Politics

Entry requirements

Admission to the PhD programme is normally based on a good performance at undergraduate level (usually a 2:1 or a First) and a Masters degree with a minimum 60% award mark; at least one of these will be in a social science-related subject. In exceptional cases, the Department may consider students from non-social science backgrounds, where the student can clearly demonstrate equivalent experience and knowledge and this is supported by academic references.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This interdisciplinary PhD enables you to study and research across both the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Department of Environment and Geography. Both departments have strong research cultures and are highly ranked for the quality of their research. Previous students have worked on a wide range of topics including:

• Discursive democracy and the use of fire in forestry management in Queensland
• The effectiveness of international environmental regimes: the Mediterranean Action Plan
• Power and common property resources in community forestry in Mexico
• Institutions in natural resource management: Ecological and Socio-economic Implications for the Management of Valuable Tree Species in Agroforestry Parklands

You'll be jointly supervised by a member of staff from each department. You'll receive one-to-one academic advice, mentoring and guidance. You'll also benefit from the advice and support of other academic staff in both departments who will be involved in your Thesis Advisory Panel and in overseeing your progression through the PhD. Each have their own research interests and specialisms, with political research clusters and environmental challenge areas.

They'll support your integration into both departments and help you build your research presence. They'll also ensure you benefit from the intellectual debates, skills training and social events offered in both departments. You should identify a supervisor from both departments before applying.

The focus of your work will be an independent, original research project. You'll work towards a monograph-style thesis or a thesis-by-papers. You'll also complete an oral viva examination after submitting your thesis.

Information for international students

Applicants whose first language is not English may need to satisfy language requirements.

The Department of Politics and International Relations has a higher minimum level than the University more generally, because of the more difficult nature of the literature that Politics students must engage with. The University accepts other evidence of English language attainment. Please see the Postgraduate Admissions web pages.

Fees and funding