Closing date: 11 December 2025
Key Information
Open to: UK and international applicants
The funding providers: ESRC WGSSS 50%; Swansea University 50%
The subject area: ESRC WGSSS Studentship Environmental Planning Pathway
The Project start date: 1st October 2026 (enrolment open from mid-September). **(Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)
This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants should consider approaching a potential supervisor before submitting their application to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Swansea University webpages. Short descriptions of each accredited pathway are available on the ESRC WGSSS website. The Swansea-based representative for the pathway, Dr Cai Ladd, c.j.t.ladd@swansea.ac.uk, might be able to help you
Pathway Lead: Dr Christopher Muellerleile
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Environmental Planning
Project Description:
Environmental planning examines the spatial dimensions and decision-making processes for the sustainable management of the relationships within and between natural and human systems. This interdisciplinary PhD training pathway bridges social and natural environmental sciences. It focusses on key environmental challenges, and their manifestation in Wales, the UK and globally, reflecting current policy challenges for Welsh and UK governments in the environmental sector. Major concerns include but are not limited to: impacts and management of climate change; local and regional environmental quality; conservation management; and post-Brexit environmental legislation.
The Department of Geography at Swansea is a vibrant and dynamic place for interdisciplinary doctoral studies. Our academics have a long history of successfully training PhD students for careers in the public, private, and third sectors, as well as in academia. Our staff have a wide range of expertise central to this pathway including quantifying and mitigating climate change, landscape carbon dynamics, flood management, pollution, environmental hazard management, wildfire mitigation, environmental archaeology, GIS and remote sensing applications, and cultural, urban, political, and economic geography. We are working in close collaboration with public and private sector organisations (e.g. DEFRA, Forest Research, Natural Resources Wales, MetOffice, UK National Parks, Fire and Rescue Services, Home Office, UK water companies and the Health Sector).
As part of the WGSSS, the Environmental Planning pathway is founded on longstanding institutional links between Swansea University’s Department of Geography, Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning, Aberystwyth University’s Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Bangor University and the Countryside and Community Research Institute at the University of Gloucestershire. The departments collaborate extensively in PhD supervision, externally-funded research projects and postgraduate training.
Training is provided through a coordinated programme of standalone and residential modules in quantitative and qualitative social science methods, and science communication and a cohort-building postgraduate conference with participation from across the pathway. Options for specialist training include GIS and spatial data analysis, advanced quantitative research in SPSS, transport modelling, calculating environmental footprints, living lab methodologies, conservation research, randomized response techniques, cost-benefit analysis, spatial economic modelling, and satellite and drone remote sensing.
Eligibility
To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters from a UK academic research organisation. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.
English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. For further information, please see the English Language Requirements – Swansea University.
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.
WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.
Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.
Funding
The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £20,780 for 2025/26) and includes a Research Training Support Grant.
If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the entire application form.
In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.
1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS890
2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)
- In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:
• the RS Code, RS890 and
• the scholarship title.
- Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank
- Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank
- In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes
- Then upload a copy of your completed WGSSS Studentship Application
3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:
- Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).
- Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.
- Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.
One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.
NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD – to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.
Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.
As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):
• WGSSS Studentship Application Form 2026
• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• Two academic or professional references on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission
Assessment:
Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions
Duration of study:
The duration of study varies from 3.5 to 4.5 years full time (or part time equivalent).
Research in practice placement:
All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.
** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.
