Environment and Sustainability PhD

Key information

Full-time - 4 years

Start dates:
July 2024
October 2024
January 2025
April 2025

Part-time - 8 years

Start dates:
July 2024
October 2024
January 2025
April 2025

Why choose this programme

The University of Surrey has been leading the way in environment and sustainability research for more than 25 years. From investigating people’s attitudes to the environment to exploring the opportunities for solar power mini-grids in sub-Saharan Africa, our researchers are taking innovative approaches for a more prosperous, equitable, safe and secure future.

Established in 1992, the Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES) has gained an outstanding international reputation for multidisciplinary research and teaching in all aspects of sustainability. Some examples of our major contributions include:

  • Life cycle assessment and environmental impact analysis
  • Industrial ecology and the circular economy
  • Techno-economic analysis
  • The water, energy and food nexus
  • Bioenergy and biorefineries
  • Low carbon transitions
  • Lifestyles and behaviours
  • Prosperity without growth
  • Environmental and energy policy.

We champion two of the University’s main research themes, sustainability and urban living, and we are also home to the prestigious Economic and Social Research Council-funded Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), led by Professor Tim Jackson. We collaborate with staff across the University on a huge range of sustainability-related projects, giving you an excellent opportunity to learn from and contribute to this vital area of human development.

Postgraduate Research at Surrey

Frequently asked questions about doing a PhD

What you will study

It normally takes three or four years of full-time study to complete our PhD programme, or about twice as long for part-time study. By the end of your programme, you’ll be an independent researcher with expert knowledge on the technical, economic, social and policy aspects of environment and sustainability.

You’ll have the opportunity to work across the full breadth and depth of theoretical and applied approaches to sustainability. Many of our postgraduate researchers are working on projects with local and multi-national businesses, policymakers, and international bodies, such as the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Health Organization.

You’ll be assigned at least two supervisors, who will guide you through your PhD. In addition, you’ll attend a small number of mandatory training courses to ensure you have exposure to the rich diversity of research and data gathering methodologies, and to understand how to apply data analysis techniques. As part of this, you’ll also co-design an individual researcher development programme with your supervisor. This will include several relevant masters-level taught modules in CES or other departments (covering both research skills and subject-based material), as well as training in research budgeting, seminar and conference presentation skills, and research publishing. You’ll also take a number of voluntary training and transferable skills courses provided by the University’s Doctoral College.

A lot of your research will be done on campus and it might also involve fieldwork, including on-site interviews and surveys, and working with external organisations both in the UK and abroad. If your project involves experimentation or sample processing/analysis, you’ll be able to do this work in laboratories at collaborating departments or schools at the University, with external collaborators (such as external research organisations or companies) or through fieldwork in the UK or abroad.

You’ll be encouraged to attend regular seminars where internal and external speakers talk about their research activities, and monthly seminars and Journal Club activities which are led and managed by doctoral students. You’ll also become a member of our Postgraduate Forum, which meets regularly with the Centre Director and the Postgraduate Director to discuss supplementary training, support and the Centre’s social activities.

You’ll also have the opportunity to complete four specified taught modules from one of our CES masters programmes to qualify for the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) professional membership at graduate level. You’ll have the option of taking up this opportunity during your studies as well as the option to complete the Teacher Training for Researchers, which is the first step in your possible career as an academic.

Completing your PhD with us also gives you a strong foundation to apply for the managerial IEMA membership level and to become a Chartered Environmentalist. Depending on the focus of your research, your PhD might be strong evidence for chartered status with other professional bodies, such as those in engineering.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by formal progress reports at six-monthly intervals, a confirmation report and a viva examination after around 12 months (times are extended for part-time students).

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

Research support

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.

Research themes

  • Sustainable development policies and practices
  • Energy, water and food nexus
  • Behaviour change
  • Waste systems
  • Environmental-energy-economic system analysis
  • Sustainable transportation
  • Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage
  • Built environment
  • Social research on sustainability
  • Smart local energy systems
  • Lifestyles and resource consumption
  • Low-carbon energy technologies
  • Resource consumption and land use
  • Sustainable systems: design and modelling
  • Life cycle assessment (LCA), including social LCA and life cycle costing
  • Carbon and water footprinting
  • Vertical farming
  • Low-carbon energy supply
  • Organised crime and sustainability
  • Energy demand and efficiency
  • Policy and strategy: for governments and businesses
  • International development and sustainability.

Our academic staff

See a full list of all our academic staff within the Centre for Environment and Sustainability.

Research facilities

As a research student within CES, you’ll have access to a newly refurbished office space, personal IT facilities, specialist sustainability software and advanced computer facilities for modelling-based research.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a first or upper second-class (2:1) UK degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent overseas qualification), or a lower-second (2:2) UK degree plus a good UK masters degree - distinction normally required (or equivalent overseas qualification).

International entry requirements by country

English language requirements

IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept. 

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Application requirements

Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our application guidance.

After registration

Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants:

  • Meeting the expected entry requirements
  • Being shortlisted through the application screening process
  • Completing a successful interview
  • Providing suitable references.

Fees

Start date: July 2024

Full-time

UK
£4,712
Overseas
£24,100

Part-time

UK
£2,356
Overseas
£12,100

Start date: October 2024

Full-time

UK
To be confirmed
Overseas
£26,200

Part-time

UK
To be confirmed
Overseas
£13,100

Start date: January 2025

Part-time

UK
To be confirmed
Overseas
£13,100

Full-time

UK
To be confirmed
Overseas
£26,200

Start date: April 2025

Full-time

UK
To be confirmed
Overseas
£26,200

Part-time

UK
To be confirmed
Overseas
£13,100
  • Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
  • Any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).

View the list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

Funding

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Apply online

If you are applying for a studentship to work on a particular project, please provide details of the project instead of a research proposal.

Read our application guidance for further information on applying.

Code of practice for research degrees

Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.

Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF).

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

  • First when we make an offer.
  • Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

Disclaimer

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer.

Course location and contact details

Campus location

Stag Hill

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

University of Surrey Admissions

Contact Admissions Team

Address

University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH