Postgraduate Studies

In addition to our highly successful undergraduate level courses, the Geography Department has a strong postgraduate programme. We supervise MPhil and PhD students in the same way as other universities — on a face to face basis. We strongly encourage full-time registration for these degrees, although part-time registration is also available.

Our postgraduate student research is as varied as our faculty. From a travelling circus in the United States to landfills in Buenos Aires, archives in Delhi, dancehalls in Cuba, fisheries in the North Sea, cycle lanes in London, community centers in Milton Keynes and everywhere in-between, our postgraduate students engage in innovative methods to produce empirically-rich and theory driven research.

To learn more about Doctoral study with the OU, visit the following links to find out further information: 

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Graduate School Network
• Doctoral Training Partnership programme

Each year the University, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Geography may offer a number of fully-funded studentships (fees, maintenance grant and some research expenses). These are awarded on a competitive basis. The funding available will vary depending upon what topics you plan to research for your PhD.

The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership offers studentships in Geography.  

For topics related to heritage and culture Geography students can also apply to the Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership.

From time to time there are topic-specific PhD studentships advertised on the OU’s Employment Vacancies page, under Studentships.

The Geography pathway of the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership offers funding to study a Masters at the University of Oxford, before returning to the OU for full time or part time study for a Doctorate. Depending on the candidate’s interests, this pathway could be suitable for graduates from any of the OU’s Undergraduate Environment Qualifications.