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Geography (practice-related) MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£6,400

£3,200

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£31,300

£15,650

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

October 2026

February 2027

May 2027

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but should be submitted at least three months prior to your preferred start date.

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a UK Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The MPhil/PhD in Geography (Practice-Related) offers a unique route for students whose research includes both scholarly and creative practice. Students undertake a body of work that integrates a written thesis with practice-based outputs—such as visual media, performance, or site-specific work—that together form a cohesive research contribution.

Designed for those working at the intersection of geography and creative disciplines, the programme supports methodological experimentation and critical reflection. Students are supervised by a team with expertise in both academic and practice-based research, and benefit from UCL’s networks across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. This course is especially suited to those pursuing careers in academia, the cultural sector, the media or creative research environments.

Who this course is for

This practice-related research degree is designed for applicants who wish to explore geographical questions through creative, applied or interdisciplinary methods. It is particularly suited to artists, designers, practitioners and researchers who combine critical thinking with innovative practice. Applicants should have a clear research focus and demonstrate how creative or practice-based approaches will contribute to original knowledge in geography.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

UCL Geography provides a supportive and internationally recognised environment for doctoral research combining scholarly and creative practice. Ranked 4th in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025) and part of the UK’s top university for research strength (REF 2021), the Department is a hub for interdisciplinary experimentation and innovation.

The MPhil/PhD in Geography (Practice-Related) enables students to produce original research through a combination of thesis and creative work, supported by specialist supervision and a rich programme of academic training. With strong institutional support for public engagement and collaboration across the arts, humanities and sciences, students are equipped to make meaningful contributions within and beyond the academy.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

PhD graduates from our practice-related route pursue careers that combine academic research, creative practice, and interdisciplinary teaching. This pathway supports professional development in both higher education and the arts, with graduates going on to roles in institutions such as Kings College London.

Others apply their practice-based research expertise in areas such as:

Higher education and academic research
Creative and cultural industries
Public engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration

According to the Graduate Outcomes survey (2017–2022), all respondents were engaged in further study or academic employment 15 months after graduating. Employment was UK-based, though the course’s creative and international focus supports a wide global outlook.

Typical job roles include:

Higher education teaching professionals
Practice-based researchers

Graduates benefit from a supportive research culture, access to UCL’s world-class facilities, and opportunities for cross-disciplinary exploration—all of which foster adaptable, research-led career pathways.

Employability

Skills development is an important component of the research degree process, and UCL provides a strong and varied graduate skills development programme. Within UCL Geography, research students have access to state-of-the-art research equipment, a variety of data archives and receive research council-level training in methodology.

The department also offers research students a range of teaching assistant opportunities that provide valuable experience. Our established track record in partnership working, knowledge transfer, applied research, public engagement and impact further enables students to gain broad experience to support career development.

Networking

Practice-related graduate students in Geography are part of a dynamic and interdisciplinary research community. You will have the opportunity to participate in seminars, workshops, the Postgraduate Research Forum and conferences within the Department, as well as across UCL’s wide range of interdisciplinary research centres. These events provide valuable occasions to present your work, engage with leading academics, and build meaningful academic networks.

Research Councils UK (RCUK)-funded students benefit from additional opportunities to collaborate with non-academic partners, including time spent developing skills in public, private, and third sector organisations. These experiences support the applied dimensions of practice-based research and help build connections beyond academia.

You will also be encouraged to engage with wider academic and public audiences through workshops, exhibitions, conferences, and other events relevant to your research practice—expanding both your professional network and the impact of your work.

Teaching and learning

You will receive continuous support throughout your PhD to help you develop and refine your practice-based research. In your first year, you will undertake rigorous training designed to build the specialist and transferable skills needed to complete your PhD and to support your future career development.

This training is delivered by leading academic researchers and professional staff in the department, and covers key areas including:

Effectively communicating your research in written and spoken formats
Media engagement and communication beyond academia
Risk assessment and ethical considerations in research
Critical engagement with relevant literature and theoretical frameworks

The focus on both academic and practice-based methods ensures you are well equipped to pursue careers within and beyond higher education.

PhD students on the practice-related route are encouraged to shape their own training journey, drawing on a range of workshops, skills sessions and interdisciplinary networks at UCL. Training may include sessions in research design, visual and creative methodologies, research ethics, and professional practice.

Practice-related students can participate in UCL’s Doctoral Skills Development Programme, and those funded through doctoral training partnerships (such as the UBEL DTP or the London Arts and Humanities Partnership) may access structured training, placements, and cohort activities.

The flexible and responsive nature of the training offer is designed to support research that bridges academic and creative or professional practice, with opportunities to develop skills relevant to careers across academia, the arts, and the public and third sectors.

The PhD is assessed through an oral examination (viva voce), conducted by a panel of two academic experts: an external examiner—who may be based anywhere in the world—and an internal examiner, usually drawn from UCL. You should not have had substantial prior contact with either examiner.

During your final year, your primary supervisor will nominate appropriate examiners in consultation with you. These nominations are reviewed by UCL’s examinations office, which may approve or reject them in line with university policy.

The examiners will be given several weeks, or sometimes longer, to read your submission in detail. The viva is a formal academic discussion typically lasting two or more hours, during which you will be expected to engage in both structured questioning and informal academic dialogue about your research and creative practice. This process assesses the originality, rigour, and significance of your contribution to knowledge.

This practice-related route supports the development of doctoral researchers who combine academic inquiry with creative or practice-based outputs. Students refine their ability to work across disciplines, develop critical and reflexive research methods, and produce both scholarly and practice-led contributions to knowledge.

Support is provided through regular tailored supervision, methodology training, and engagement with UCL’s Doctoral Skills Development Programme. Students may also gain experience in teaching and research collaboration. The department’s strong links with cultural, public and policy organisations offer valuable opportunities for impact, visibility and career development within academia and the creative, cultural, or public sectors. Full time study is expected to be 36.5 hours a week or up to 20 hours a week part time equivalent.

Research areas and structure

Past climates
Recent environmental change and biodiversity
Environmental modelling and observation
Global urbanisms
Environment, politics and society
Culture and mobility
Geospatial analytics and computing

Please visit the departmental website for full details on the research areas.

Research environment

The practice-related PhD at UCL Geography offers a unique environment for students whose research combines scholarly inquiry with creative or practice-based methods. The Department supports a range of research styles and outputs, including visual, participatory, artistic, and digital approaches, alongside written theses, enabling students to push disciplinary boundaries.

Doctoral students are supported by expert supervisors and a broader interdisciplinary network, with access to UCL’s outstanding research infrastructure, including specialist labs and facilities. In Term 1 of the first year, students undertake a core seminar series in research design and development on a fortnightly basis, which must be attended on campus. Additional training and development opportunities include teaching experience, conference organisation, and public engagement activities.

We have an excellent track record of securing research funding and supporting global fieldwork. Practice-related students are encouraged to contribute to UCL Geography’s vibrant research community and to produce innovative, impactful work that challenges conventional academic formats.

The practice-related PhD in Geography is a three-year, full-time degree that combines scholarly research with a body of creative work. Applicants are expected to have prior experience in the creative practice they intend to pursue and will develop this alongside rigorous academic research.

As with all research degrees at UCL, you will initially register for the MPhil, with the expectation of upgrading to PhD status after approximately 12 months. In Term 1 of your first year, you will participate in a mandatory programme of fortnightly training seminars, which support your understanding of the PhD process, prepare you for the upgrade, and strengthen your engagement with the research student community.

The upgrade process for practice-related PhD students (after one year of study) involves submitting a substantial piece of written work along with an element of creative practice. You will present this work to a panel comprising your subsidiary supervisor and an independent assessor and also give a presentation to the department. You must also maintain a current research log and create a departmental research webpage.

Following the approved period of registration, you may enter the Completing Research Status (CRS) phase to finalise your thesis and creative submission. CRS status may require approval from your funding provider and can begin after three years of full-time fees.

The practice-related PhD in Geography is available part-time over a five-year period. You will register initially for the MPhil, with the expectation of upgrading to the PhD in your second or third year.

In your first year, you will outline the structure of your research project and begin developing your creative and academic work in tandem. You will also attend departmental induction sessions and receive ongoing support through training and supervision.

To upgrade to PhD status (between 15-30 months after initial registration as a part time student), you will submit a substantial piece of writing and a sample of your creative practice. You will present your work to an upgrade panel that includes your subsidiary supervisor and an independent academic assessor. A departmental presentation, updated research log, and personal webpage on the Geography Department site are also required.

After the upgrade, your supervisory team will continue to support your progress through the remainder of the degree. If your thesis and practice are not ready for submission by the end of year five, you may enter Completing Research Status (CRS) for up to two further years, during which you retain access to UCL resources without paying tuition fees.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£6,400	£3,200
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£31,300	£15,650

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no required additional costs beyond tuition and general living expenses. Practice-related research may involve optional expenses linked to creative production, public engagement, or collaboration with external partners.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Research students undertaking practice-related PhDs in UCL Geography have received funding from a variety of sources. These include UK Research Council awards, UCL Research Excellence Scholarships, UCL Research Opportunity Scholarships and international funding such as Commonwealth Scholarships. Some students choose to self-fund or are supported through work-associated or project-specific funding.

We ask any students wishing to self-fund their studies to provide a forecast of costs for discussion with your prospective supervisor. The forecast must include fees (overseas or home, depending on your fee status), living and accommodation costs, visa / NHS surcharge costs and also any additional costs relating to your specific fieldwork, travel or research costs. Please estimate this for the full duration of your PhD (three years full time plus up to a year of Completing Research Status.

Funding options change from year to year and may include full studentships as well as funding linked to particular supervisors, research centres or external partnerships. Applicants should visit our Fees and Funding page for the most current details on funding availability, eligibility, and how to apply.

Beyond Department-specific opportunities, UCL offers extensive financial support across its research community, including institutional scholarships, doctoral training programmes, and further support via the UCL Doctoral School.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: Wolfson Postgraduate Scholarships - SHS

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27

Value: Full fees plus annual stipend (Full fees plus annual stipend)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Next steps

The Department of Geography prefers students to begin at the start of the academic year for Postgraduate Research students on 1 October. Starting at the same time as your peers encourages a sense of community within your cohort as you progress together throughout the degree. Non-standard start dates may be accommodated on 1 February and 1 May where this can be justified. If you are considering an alternative start time, please contact the Geography Postgraduate Research team before submitting your application.

Start dates and deadlines are often determined by funding arrangements, so we recommend checking with the Department if funding will factor into your application.

Although applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, we advise applying by the end of May if you intend to begin on 1 October. This allows sufficient time to complete all admissions processes, particularly for international students who may need to obtain a visa. Applications received after this date may result in a deferred start if a timely arrival cannot be guaranteed.

Before applying, please follow the guidance on our Postgraduate Research pages and complete the necessary steps to identify a suitable supervisor. Applications that are submitted without a named supervisor who has agreed to review your application when it is submitted may not be processed further. Such applications will be held in the system awaiting further follow up for you regarding a supervisor, and potentially rejected depending on the number of applications we receive.

Part of the Department’s application assessment process is to ensure you fully research the Department, the staff and research areas. When embarking on a Research degree it is vital that you demonstrate your own research initiative to find your supervisor.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.