PhD/MPhil Environmental Biology / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

Degree awarded
Doctor of Philosophy; Master of Philosophy
Duration
PhD 3-4 Years Full-Time; MPhil 1 Year Full-Time
Entry requirements

The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master鈥檚 degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent).

Other combinations of qualifications and research or work experience may also be considered. Please contact the admissions team to check.

Full entry requirements

How to apply

In your application you鈥檒l need to include:

  • The name of this programme
  • Your title (i.e. the advertised project name or proposed project name) or area of research
  • Your proposed name
  • If you already have funding or you wish to be considered for any of the
  • A supporting statement (see 'Advice to Applicants' for what to include)
  • Details of your previous university level study
  • Names and contact details of your two referees.

Before applying we recommend that you read the 'Advice to Applicants' section.

Sustainable Development Goals

Find out how this programme aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including learning which relates to:

  • Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
  • Goal 13: Climate action
  • Goal 14: Life below water
  • Goal 15: Life on land

Programme options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
PhD Y Y N N
MPhil Y Y N N

Attend an open day

Programme description

Research in the covers ; earth and planetary science, environment and society, and life on earth.

Environmental biology research seeks to understand how biological systems, comprising plants, animals and microorganisms, evolve, function and interact. We wish to understand how organisms respond and adapt to environmental changes that may be the result of natural perturbations or increasingly due to anthropogenic impacts that result in local stresses but also in global climate change.

Our research operates at the widest possible range of scales from the level of the genome through to ecosystems and the global environment, and using a wide range of computational, laboratory and field-based techniques from biomolecular approaches to population biology.

Research areas include conservation biology, biodiversity, animal behaviour, ecosystem interactions, evolutionary mechanisms, anthropogenic impacts to the environment, water pollution and bioremediation, ecotoxicology, palaeobiology, population genetics, plant and soil ecology, food security and sustainable agriculture.

Visit our to browse our range of currently available projects.

Open days

Visit our to find out about upcoming open days and webinars.

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • PhD (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): Band A - TBC; Band B - 拢7,400; Band C - 拢10,500; Band D - 拢15,200; Band E - 拢25,700
    International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A - 拢29,400; Band B - 拢31,500; Band C - 拢37,300; Band D - 拢45,200; Band E - 拢59,900
  • PhD (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): Band A 拢TBC; Band B 拢7,400; Band C 拢10,500; Band D 拢15,200; Band E 拢25,700
    International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A 拢29,400; Band B 拢31,500; Band C 拢37,300; Band D 拢45,200; Band E 拢59,900

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The programme fee will vary depending on the cost of running the project. Fees quoted are fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for鈥疕ome students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please .

Always contact the Admissions team if you are unsure which fees apply to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of at university, faculty and department level to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.

To be considered for many of our scholarships, you鈥檒l need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor. Therefore, we鈥檇 highly recommend you discuss potential sources of funding with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and make sure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more information about our scholarships, visit our to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At 糖心Vlog官方, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.

Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.

To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our programmes address.

  • Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

    Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

  • Goal 13: Climate action

    Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

  • Goal 14: Life below water

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

  • Goal 15: Life on land

    Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Contact details

Department
Contact name
Postgraduate Research Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 529 3049
Email
Website
School/Faculty

Our internationally-renowned expertise across the School of Natural Sciences informs research led teaching with strong collaboration across disciplines, unlocking new and exciting fields and translating science into reality.聽 Our multidisciplinary learning and research activities advance the boundaries of science for the wider benefit of society, inspiring students to promote positive change through educating future leaders in the true fundamentals of science. .

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

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