Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability PhD

Why choose this course

Our PhD in Sustainability allows you to pursue research studies at doctoral level while gaining invaluable research experience in a prestigious organisation external to the University, enabling you to apply your knowledge to real life sustainability issues. You will have the unique opportunity to further your research knowledge in the academic field of sustainability and apply this to an external partner organisation.

This programme is aimed at high-achieving researchers and graduates whose vision is to become a sustainability leader in industry. You’ll receive in-depth industry experience with a bespoke taught programme of advanced technical and specialised business modules.

The Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability PhD/EngD falls within the world-leading Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES), internationally recognised for multi-disciplinary research and teaching across all areas of sustainability. Collaborative research is carried out across the University, giving you an excellent opportunity to learn from, and contribute to, this vital domain of human development.

What you will study

This unique programme offers you the opportunity to pursue your research studies at doctoral level and take a role in industry, applying your knowledge in the ‘real world’. You will further your research knowledge in the academic field of sustainability and apply this to a real challenge, spending the majority of your time within the external partner organisation.

You will have two academic supervisors, one from CES and one from another relevant University department. You will also have an industry supervisor who will work alongside you on a day-to-day basis. The academic role of the supervisors is to guide and help train you in becoming an independent researcher whose thesis and associated publications and conference presentations make a contribution to academic and practical knowledge. You will closely collaborate with your supervisors, who will monitor your research progress at monthly and formal appraisal points.

The programme is assessed by formal progress reports at six monthly intervals, a confirmation report, a viva, and by submission and oral examination of a final thesis by independent external and internal examiners.

You will also have the opportunity to complete four specified taught modules from the CES masters programme, in order to qualify for The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) professional membership at Associate level. Completion of the PhD also provides strong support for application for the Managerial Full IEMA membership and Chartered Environmentalist level. Depending on the focus of the PhD research, it would similarly offer strong contributions to chartered status with other professional bodies, such as those in engineering.

Research themes

The following give some examples of areas that our PGR students work on:

• Sustainable development policies and practices
• Energy, water, food nexus
• Behaviour change
• Waste systems
• Sustainable transportation
• Built environment
• Social research on sustainability
• Lifestyles and resource consumption, etc.

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).