Our
Division provides a stimulating and supportive environment for PhD and
MPhil students. In Archaeological Sciences we enjoy a longstanding
international reputation in fundamental scientific research (see RAE
2008). Geography and Environmental Sciences enjoys a rapidly developing
reputation in the field of human responses to sustainability issues, and
to climate and environmental change, an exciting area of overlap with
archaeology. Our vibrant research community includes 32 academic staff,
around a dozen honorary research fellows, and about 60 postgraduate
research students.
We encourage our research students to be fully integrated into academic community life. They organise and participate in seminars, workshops and conferences where they present papers and posters (with internal funding opportunities), and from support to publish their research results in peer-reviewed journals. Research students also form a vital part of our outreach and open-day programmes to schools, museums and public interest groups. Some enterprising students have developed successful businesses on the basis of these experiences.
All research students have shared office allocations, each with telephone and internet. In addition, students have access to extensive field equipment, technical support, computer facilities, and a library with excellent electronic journal and database access. Specialist training is provided as required for use of our outstanding research collections and first-rate analytical facilities (see below). Each student has a doctoral committee with a principal supervisor and one or more associate supervisors to monitor progress and provide guidance. The University Graduate School provides generic research- and transferable skills training. Formal transfer from the MPhil to PhD programme occurs some 12 to 15 months after first registration, and completion of the PhD is expected in 3 to 4 years (longer for part-time students).
Funding opportunities are available to applicants through the UK Research Councils, and through the Commonwealth and ORS funding bodies. The Division has consistently achieved more AHRC and NERC studentships than any other unit within our university (currently 12). We also offer modest internal bursaries in particular cases.