School of Earth and Environment

Sustainability Research (SRI) PhD Projects

Projects with Guaranteed Funding

    White Rose Doctoral Training Centre (WR DTC)

    The application deadline for these WR DTCs is 3 February 2012. It is expected that interviews will be held on Tuesday 21 February 2012.

    A WR DTC was approved by ESRC in January 2011. This successful collaboration between the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, and York now has 20 ESRC clusters of accredited pathways. 48 studentships per annum have been allocated to the WR DTC for 5 years commencing October 2011. As part of this arrangement, the School of Earth and Environment has been awarded 2 Quota Studentships for 2012/13, under the training pathway 'Environment and Sustainability'. A subject specific pathway can be defined as a broad training a student will receive during the course of their PhD study, including the programme of core training that will equip them to conduct the research element of their PhD and prepare them for their future career.

    The award can be as a 1+3 which consists of an integrated one-year research-training Masters with a 3-year PhD research programme of study (for part-time students, this equates to a 2-year part-time integrated research-training Masters with a 5-year part-time PhD); or, as a +3 which is a 3-year PhD research programme (5 years part-time) for those applicants who have already completed an ESRC-recognized Masters Degree or appropriate research training.

    • Applicants should apply for a study place for PhD (Research Degree Application - see 'How to apply' in the right-hand menu) for the +3 studentship to commence 1 October 2012; or, a Masters study place for the 1+3 (http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/admissions-and-study/masters-degrees/) to commence September 2012 AND a Research Degree Application to commence 1 October 2013.
    • Applicants should complete the ESRC WR DTC Studentship Application Form and return to the School by the deadline of 3 February 2012.
    • The School will run a selection process to determine the best qualified applicant and up to two clearly ranked reserves. The School's nominations deadline is 2 March 2012.
    • The final outcome/approval of the studentships will be notified to the School by 15 March 2012.

    Projects for which you will need to develop your own research proposal and secure your own sponsorship

    Research degree students are integral to the activities and success of this rapidly expanding centre of excellence which currently has a dedicated team of over 30 interdisciplinary researchers working on the different dimensions of sustainability. The Institute’s research pages offer a full overview of the specialist areas and the staff working within the current research themes (please see below).

    The minimum entry requirement is an Upper Second Class British Bachelor degree (or equivalent), however, many of our students enter doctoral study with a Masters degree which has often provided some research training. You should prepare a research proposal before contacting staff.

    If you have your own funding or sponsorship and a specific research proposal, staff would be pleased to give consideration to your proposal and your admission to the School pending receipt of a formal application and supporting documentation.

    The School offers a comprehensive training package to students registered on its doctoral progamme through a combination of courses and workshops and participation in seminars and conferences both within and across the Faculties.

    Business and organisations for sustainable societies

    Economics and policy for sustainability

    Environmental change and sustainable development

    Social and political dimensions of sustainability