Geography and the Environment

DPhil in Geography and the Environment

Course Code | 001510 

The school is organised around five research themes and clusters bringing together the School of Geography with the Environmental Change Institute and the Transport Studies Unit and has research students working on diverse themes including:

• Earth systems science
• Biodiversity, ecosystems and conservation
• Quaternary studies
• Climate change
• Environmental technologies and governance
• Urban sustainability
• Economic development and global financial integration
• Transnational migration and social differentiation

MPhil in Geography and the Environment

Course Code | 003830 

In the first year, candidates take coursework associated with one of the four MSc courses offered by the department. The second year is devoted to researching and writing a thesis of 30,000 words, devised in the first year.

The MPhil will appeal to high-flying Master’s candidates who wish to have a substantial research component to their studies. The thesis accounts for half the marks for the degree.

• Length of programme: Twenty-one months
  
• Core and optional courses
• Programme specification

MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management

Course Code | 001410 

This course develops knowledge and critical understanding of biodiversity conservation and the socio-economic, political, cultural and institutional environments within which conservation policy and management decisions are made.

Students are given an opportunity to gain advanced knowledge of biodiversity conservation and management in the context of environmental, economic and social development in a globalised world.

Students gain invaluable experience of contemporary conservation practice on field trips and through engaging with stakeholders who are directly involved with conservation dilemmas.

The dissertation gives an opportunity to work in some of the most celebrated, diverse and controversial locations around the world.

• Length of programme: Twelve months
• Core and optional courses
• Programme specification

MSc in Environmental Change and Management

Course Code | 001470 

The MSc is mainly taught by staff associated with the Environmental Change Institute. The course aims to produce students with a broad appreciation of all aspects of the management of people and institutions in relation to environmental change, who are analytical in their approach, and are competent and aware decision makers.

Successful applicants develop an in-depth understanding of not only the causes and consequences of environmental change, but also an awareness of the legal, economic and ethical underpinnings of remedial action or management.

The central theme of this course is the development of a truly inter-disciplinary approach to the management of the environment.

• Length of programme: Twelve months
• Core and optional courses
• Programme specification

MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy

Course Code | 001610 

This course aims to provide students with a broad perspective on society and the environment in the context of current debates on policy and regulation, science and social change, globalisation and environmental sustainability. It is taught by leading academics in human geography, political ecology, poststructuralist theory and transdisciplinarity.

Students are introduced to advanced research methods and practices and a range of theoretical perspectives and tools and are encouraged to put these into practice in their dissertation projects.

• Length of programme: Twelve months
• Core and optional courses
• Programme specification

MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management

Course Code | 001700 

This course aims to provide a critical understanding of natural water science and socio-economic, political, cultural and institutional environments within which water management decisions are made.

Teaching staff are drawn from core faculty, industry, government and NGO communities to provide an interdisciplinary perspective based on theory and practice from around the world.

Students are introduced to a range of research methods and applied tools, and are encouraged to apply them in their dissertation research.

• Length of programme: 12 months
• Core and optional courses
• Programme specification

The Radcliffe Science Library houses the geography and environmental science collections.

In addition to a variety of major research projects and networks, such as the Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests (OCTF) and the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), the School of Geography and the Environment houses two internationally recognised research centres: 

• The Environmental Change Institute, the University's interdisciplinary institute for research on the complex processes of global environmental change, the exploration of sustainable solutions and the promotion of change for the better through partnership and education
• The Transport Studies Unit, which seeks to advance innovative approaches to the study of 'transport futures' over time and space, drawing on relevant, state-of-the art developments in geography, environmental and transport studies, economics, sociology, psychology and the engineering sciences

The department has a wide range of computing facilities available to students along with four well-equipped laboratories.

Our graduates are commanding influential positions in multinational corporations, in national, state and international government; in non-governmental organisations, and by continuing with further study and research.

In addition to academic posts, some examples of career destinations include:

• UK Government departments, such as DEFRA
• global conservation and international NGO’s such as Conservation International and WWF
• environmental and conservation consultancies and international bodies such as IUCN, European Commission and the World Bank
• UK and international water, gas and electricity companies
• UK and international transport companies
• news agencies, i.e. Reuters
• insurance, i.e. Lloyds of London