PhD, MSc by research

Program Overview

Earth Sciences

Overview

The School of Earth Sciences has strong international links, and the presence of researchers from all over the world creates an exciting and stimulating environment. Research involves the full breadth of the earth sciences and has benefited from major investment in new laboratories and equipment in the past few years. Important initiatives include experimental and theoretical studies of the physical, chemical and biological processes of Earth and planets.

Key Information

• Programme Duration: MScR: up to two years full-time; up to four years part-time. PhD: up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time.
• Start Date: Not fixed
• Application Deadline: UKRI funded projects are typically advertised from autumn onwards. Other funded projects are advertised throughout the year. Deadlines depend on the funding source. Applications from scholarship and self-funded students are welcomed and have no fixed deadline.
• Delivery Method: On-Campus
• Location: Clifton
• Awards Available: PhD, MSc by research

World-Leading Research

• Ranking: 5th in the UK for research (Times Higher Education)
• Research Quality: 94% of research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

• Academic Background: An upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related to the MScR or PhD project for which you are applying, such as geology, biological sciences, environmental sciences, physics, chemistry or mathematics.
• Language Requirements: If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level E.

Fees and Funding

• Home (Full-time): £4,850 per year
• Home (Part-time): £2,425 per year
• Overseas (Full-time): £26,700 per year
• Alumni Discount: University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.
• Funding and Scholarships: Typically, around 20 new PhD and MScR students start their studies in the school each year. Sources of funding are varied and include UKRI funding councils (NERC, BBSRC, EPSRC, STFC), industry, China Scholarship Council studentships, and other country-specific schemes.

Career Prospects

• Post-Doctoral Research: A large proportion of our graduating PhD students continue to post-doctoral research and an academic career.
• Industrial Careers: Some of our students embark on industrial careers in an area that relates to their PhD or MScR studies. Example careers include teaching, publishing, and consultancy.

Meet Our Supervisors

• List of Supervisors: A list of potential supervisors for this programme, including their research interests and expertise.

Research Groups

• Geochemistry: The Geochemistry group uses fundamental chemical techniques to understand natural processes on a range of temporal and spatial scales.
• Geophysics: Geophysics uses physical properties of the solid Earth to measure structure and processes on scales from the single crystal to the entire planet.
• Environments: The MATES (Marine and Terrestrial Environments) research group uses a wide range of techniques and facilities across the school to understand processes of relevance to any and all environments.
• Palaeobiology: The Palaeobiology group uses the fossil record to study the history of life.
• Petrology: The Petrology group uses a combination of high-pressure and high-temperature experiments, petrology, geochemistry and mineral physics to attack a wide range of problems in the solid Earth.
• Volcanology: The Volcanology group at Bristol aims to understand the physical processes underlying volcanic phenomena and develop methods of hazard and risk assessment that can be applied to volcanoes worldwide.

Research Centres

• Biogeochemistry Research Centre: The Biogeochemistry Research Centre involves staff from the Schools of Earth Sciences, Geographical Sciences and Chemistry.
• Bristol Isotope Group: The Bristol Isotope Group is a world-class research facility for isotope measurements directed at understanding natural processes.
• Interface Analysis Centre: The Interface Analysis Centre specialises in the application of a wide range of analytical techniques and is used by the Schools of Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Physics.
• The Cabot Institute: The Cabot Institute carries out fundamental and responsive research on risks and uncertainty in a changing environment.
• Bristol Oceans Past and Present (BOPP): BOPP's main focus is to further understand the chemical and physical conditions of the oceans, both past and present.
• Organic Geochemistry Unit: The Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU) is an international research group that uses high-end analytical techniques to investigate Earth systems at the molecular level.

How to Apply

• Application Process: In the first instance, applicants should look for current opportunities on the school website or contact potential supervisors to discuss projects and funding.
• Award Type: Geology (Macquarie) (PhD), Geology (MSc by Research), Geology (PhD)
• Start Date: Select your start date to begin your application.

Program Outline

Previous students have taken up post-doctoral positions in national and international laboratories, for example in New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, the US and China. A number of recent alumni now have permanent lectureship positions in institutions including the University of St Andrews, University of Liverpool and Harvard University. Other careers include teaching, publishing and management consultancy. Research involves the full breadth of the earth sciences and has benefited from major investment in new laboratories and equipment in the past few years. Important initiatives include experimental and theoretical studies of the physical, chemical and biological processes of the Earth.

• UK: full-time £4,758 per year
• UK: part-time £2,379 per year
• Overseas: full-time £26,000 per year
For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
• For postgraduate research students who are not funded by UK Research Councils or (specific) UK charities, it is usual to charge a bench fee.
A bench fee covers the costs of laboratory consumables, specialist equipment and other relevant costs (such as training) for the duration of the programme. The bench fee charged can vary considerably depending on the nature of the programme being undertaken. Details of specific bench fee charges can be provided on request and will be made clear in the offer letter sent to applicants.