Why choose this programme

The University of Surrey has been leading the way in environmental 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 multi-disciplinary 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. 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 part-time. 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, with policy makers, and with international bodies, such as the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the World Wide Fund for Nature, the World Health Organisation and others. 

You’ll be assigned at least two supervisors, who’ll guide you through your PhD. Your supervisors will meet with your regularly and monitor your progress, and they’ll make sure you have the support you need throughout your programme. 

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 the necessary data analysis techniques relevant to solving the problem you will have settled to address.  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. 

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), and by submission and oral examination of a final PhD thesis by independent external and internal examiners. 

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

Postgraduate researchers are a core part of CES, and they have an active role across our intellectual and social activities. For example, you’re encouraged to attend our monthly external seminar series, and you’ll also attend and contribute to our regular internal seminar series. 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. 

Four of our taught masters modules are recognised by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and will qualify you for professional membership of the IEMA at Graduate level). You’ll have the option of taking up this opportunity during your studies as well as complete the Teacher Training for Researchers that is the first step in your possible career as an academic 

Completing your PhD with us also gives you strong support for an application 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

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.

Studentships

Vice Chancellors Studentship Award 2022Full international tuition fees covered Stipend at UKRI rates p.a. (currently at £15,609) A Research Training Support Grant of £3,000 to cover the funded period.Shine Scholars Studentship Award 2021Full UK tuition fee waiver p.a. Stipend at UKRI rates p.a. (currently at £15,609) A Research Training Support Grant of £3,000 to cover the funded period.VIEW ALL STUDENTSHIPSResearch newsResearch impact

Research themes

• Sustainable development policies and practices 
• Energy, water, 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, 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..

Schools and departments

Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES)

Research facilities

As a research student within CES, you’ll have access to newly refurbished office space, personal IT facilities, specialist sustainability software and advanced computer facilities for modelling-based research. STUDENTMercio CerbaroI was drawn to study at Surrey for my PhD because it has the best combination of expertise in satellites and in sustainability.STUDENTTimothy ChukwuMy Surrey experience so far has been fantastic. From the first day I arrived here, the hospitality I received was so splendid that it did not take me long to adapt to my new environment.” 

Support

Academic support Disability and neurodiversity support English language support 

Entry requirements

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

International entry requirements by country

Select your countryAlgeriaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahrainBangladeshBelgiumBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaCanadaChinaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEgyptEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGhanaGreeceHong Kong SARHungaryIndiaIndonesiaInternational students in the United KingdomIranIraqIrelandItalyJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKuwaitLatviaLebanonLithuaniaLuxembourgMalaysiaMaltaMauritiusMoldovaMoroccoNetherlandsNew ZealandNigeriaNorwayOmanOther African countriesOther East Asian countriesOther European countriesOther Middle Eastern countriesOther South American countriesOther South Asian countriesOther South East Asian countriesPakistanPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSri LankaSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTurkeyUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaVietnamZimbabwe 

English language requirements

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

View the other English language qualifications that we 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.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants meeting the expected entry requirements, assessment of application, successful interview and suitable references where required.

Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.Student lifeOur campusAt Surrey we offer the best of both worlds – a friendly campus university, set in beautiful countryside with the convenience and social life of Guildford on your doorstep.

Fees

START DATE: JANUARY 2022

Full-time

UK£4,500

Overseas£22,700

Part-time

UK£2,250

Overseas£11,400

START DATE: APRIL 2022

Full-time

UK£4,500

Overseas£22,700

Part-time

UK£2,250

Overseas£11,400

START DATE: JULY 2022

Full-time

UK£4,500

Overseas£22,700

Part-time

UK£2,250

Overseas£11,400

For fees payable in 2020/21, these will increase by 4 per cent, rounded up to the nearest £100 for subsequent years of study. Any start date other than October 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).

Overseas students applying for 2021 entry should note that annual fees will rise by 4% rounded up to the