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The Department of Geography provides a range of opportunities for PhD research. We have over 100 doctoral students drawn from across the world, many of whom are funded by national research councils and international organisations. With 50 full-time academic staff, we provide specialist supervision on topics that range from climate change and hazards mapping to risk analysis, geocomputation and urban futures.
We have a vibrant seminar series that brings in guest speakers from universities across the world and run workshops to showcase doctoral research projects. We also provide a full range of training and support for our PhD students, including opportunities to present your research at national and international conferences.
Joint PhDs available: exciting opportunities to gain a joint PhD with the National University of Singapore, Hong Kong University or Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany).
The Department of Geography has a vibrant community of scholars – most are members of one of six research groups: Contested Development, Earth Observation & Wildfire, Physical & Environmental Geography, Political Ecology, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services, Risk, Hazard & Society and Urban Futures. Staff research also ranges well beyond those groups and involves both individual scholarship and colleagues in other institutions, as well as the department. These groups operate through staff-funded research and PhD student collaboration on research projects. The research themes provide the central focus of our international reputation centre on: cultural, political and social change in cities; urban governance and public policy in cities; urban sustainability; environment and development in low-income locations; monitoring and modelling of terrestrial environmental processes and investigations of the politics of environmental policy. In addition, we have thematic research specialisms in historical geography, geographies of disability, architecture and the built environment, rural development, and remote sensing of the environment.
Joint PhD programme
Exciting opportunities are now available to undertake a joint PhD programme with Hong Kong University or, for topics specifically relating to comparative urbanism, Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany) or the National University of Singapore, bringing together expertise in urban (social and/or economic) geography, physical geography, political geography, political ecology, risks and hazards.
Information is current, but staff members can change.
Head of group/division
UK Tuition Fees 2023/24
Full-time tuition fees:
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
Part-time tuition fees:
£3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
International Tuition Fees 2023/24
Geography (Arts) Research
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £12,180 per year
Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Geography (Science)
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £12,180 per year
Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £12,180 per year
UK Tuition Fees 2024/25
Full-time tuition fees:
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
Part-time tuition fees:
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
International Tuition Fees 2024/25
Geography (Arts) Research
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £13,035 per year
Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Geography (Science)
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £13,035 per year
Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £13,035 per year
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Strand Campus; some projects may take place on non-campus locations.
We believe that individualised tuition from a committee of supervisors who are themselves experts in your chosen research area is the foundation for PhD programme of study.
Accordingly you will meet regularly with a primary and secondary supervisor. In the first year you will have at least three formal meetings and a minimum of two each year thereafter to discuss the biannual student training and research progress reports. In addition you will usually have more informal meetings with your primary supervisor, fortnightly in the first year, and as often as necessary thereafter to discuss work.
Contact with part-time students is generally less frequent, depending on individual circumstances, although regular progress meetings are required.
To ensure that you develop the skills necessary to complete your research programme and fulfil your career goals, the Department will provide you with research training in accordance with the specific guidelines set out by ESRC for human geography and NERC for physical geography.
During induction you will meet with your primary supervisor to assess your skills and training needs and design an individualised training programme for you, which is set out in a research plan that must be approved by the Departmental Postgraduate and Research Committee (PaRC). Although the specific training programmes provided for physical geography and human geography students differ somewhat, both use a variety of means, including lectures and practical classes, individual reading and study, and informally through discussion with other graduates.
Students go on to become lecturers and research assistants, directors and senior managers of international consultancies, lawyers, consultants for environmental agencies, governments, charities and research organisations.
Hear from 2017 graduate, Tianran Zhang (Remote Sensing Processing Engineer at Constellr)
What my career is like: I have been actively engaged in scientific research, development and implementation of a Land Surface Temperature (LST) product. This product is expected to play a crucial role in supporting farmers' decisions related to cultivation and water resource management.
How King's helped me: No doubt the study at King's has built a solid foundation in satellite remote sensing knowledge for me. During my time at King's, I am grateful to the Geography department and my supervisor, Professor Martin Wooster, for providing me with numerous opportunities to engage directly with other researchers and stakeholders in the field. This experience allowed me to develop a more constructive understanding of the field, identifying gaps and exploring ways to enhance the user experience.
My top career tip: If you are interested in any new tech or tool, you can use your nights and weekends to try them out. You can combine the knowledge you gain from your studies to build something cool.
UK Tuition Fees 2023/24
Full-time tuition fees:
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
Part-time tuition fees:
£3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
International Tuition Fees 2023/24
Geography (Arts) Research
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £12,180 per year
Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Geography (Science)
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £12,180 per year
Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin
Full-time tuition fees: £24,360 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £12,180 per year
UK Tuition Fees 2024/25
Full-time tuition fees:
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
Part-time tuition fees:
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Arts) Research)
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography (Science) Research)
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin)
International Tuition Fees 2024/25
Geography (Arts) Research
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £13,035 per year
Geography (Arts) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Geography (Science)
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £13,035 per year
Geography (Science) Research with National University of Singapore or University of Hong Kong
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Geography Research with Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin
Full-time tuition fees: £26,070 per year
Part-time tuition fees: £13,035 per year
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Strand Campus; some projects may take place on non-campus locations.
We believe that individualised tuition from a committee of supervisors who are themselves experts in your chosen research area is the foundation for PhD programme of study.
Accordingly you will meet regularly with a primary and secondary supervisor. In the first year you will have at least three formal meetings and a minimum of two each year thereafter to discuss the biannual student training and research progress reports. In addition you will usually have more informal meetings with your primary supervisor, fortnightly in the first year, and as often as necessary thereafter to discuss work.
Contact with part-time students is generally less frequent, depending on individual circumstances, although regular progress meetings are required.
To ensure that you develop the skills necessary to complete your research programme and fulfil your career goals, the Department will provide you with research training in accordance with the specific guidelines set out by ESRC for human geography and NERC for physical geography.
During induction you will meet with your primary supervisor to assess your skills and training needs and design an individualised training programme for you, which is set out in a research plan that must be approved by the Departmental Postgraduate and Research Committee (PaRC). Although the specific training programmes provided for physical geography and human geography students differ somewhat, both use a variety of means, including lectures and practical classes, individual reading and study, and informally through discussion with other graduates.
Students go on to become lecturers and research assistants, directors and senior managers of international consultancies, lawyers, consultants for environmental agencies, governments, charities and research organisations.
Hear from 2017 graduate, Tianran Zhang (Remote Sensing Processing Engineer at Constellr)
What my career is like: I have been actively engaged in scientific research, development and implementation of a Land Surface Temperature (LST) product. This product is expected to play a crucial role in supporting farmers' decisions related to cultivation and water resource management.
How King's helped me: No doubt the study at King's has built a solid foundation in satellite remote sensing knowledge for me. During my time at King's, I am grateful to the Geography department and my supervisor, Professor Martin Wooster, for providing me with numerous opportunities to engage directly with other researchers and stakeholders in the field. This experience allowed me to develop a more constructive understanding of the field, identifying gaps and exploring ways to enhance the user experience.
My top career tip: If you are interested in any new tech or tool, you can use your nights and weekends to try them out. You can combine the knowledge you gain from your studies to build something cool.
Search through a list of available supervisors.
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