PhD Research

Explore PhD opportunities in the Coastal and Estuarine Research Unit at UCL Geography, with projects spanning coastal modelling, sediment dynamics, and climate impacts on estuarine systems.

PhD Research at CERU

We welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in studying in the Coastal and Estuarine Research Unit (CERU). This page provides details on research interests, current students, funding, and application procedures.

Contact Us

Interested in a PhD at UCL Geography? Get in touch to discuss research opportunities in the Coastal and Estuarine Research Unit.

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Research Interests

We are particularly keen to attract students with strong mathematical and/or computing skills interested in modelling environmental systems. PhDs will be jointly supervised by Professor Jon French and Dr Helene Burningham.

  • Hydrodynamic and morphodynamic modelling of coastal and estuarine systems
  • Tidal inlet and tidal-delta morphodynamics
  • Tidal wetland processes and restoration
  • Beach and dune processes
  • Coastal sedimentology and sediment budgets
  • Impacts of climate change and sea-level rise on coastal and estuarine systems
  • Coastal applications of remote sensing and GIS
  • Coastal geomorphology in nature conservation

Examples of PhD Research Topics

The Coastal and Estuarine Research Unit (CERU) supervises PhDs across a wide range of coastal and estuarine topics. Past research has included:

  • Historical morphodynamics of Andalucian saltmarshes
  • Coastal lake hydrogeomorphology and ecology
  • Maltese beaches: a source-to-sink approach
  • Physical processes of sediment accumulation in tidal saltmarshes
  • Modelling climate change impacts on large-scale coastal habitats
  • Estuary-coast interaction and morphodynamic evolution
  • Coastal and estuarine habitat dynamics
  • Numerical modelling of lake hydrodynamics and sedimentation
  • High-resolution coherence in lake dynamics

Funding Your PhD

Before completing an application, consider how you will fund your studies.

Usually self-funded or supported by UK Research Council scholarships (NERC, EPSRC). Citizens of other EU countries may also be eligible.

Primarily self-financed or funded by scholarships from their home country.

Competition for the very small number of funded places is strong. Most successful applicants have a relevant Master’s degree. Deadlines for these awards are normally in March for October start.

Further Funding Information

  1. Fees and costs of graduate research at UCL
  2. Entry scholarships and funding sources at UCL
  3. Research Scholarships at UCL for EU applicants
  4. Non-EU Research Scholarships
  5. Funding for students on postgraduate research courses
  6. UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship

How to Apply

For more information about graduate study in the Department of Geography, visit our Postgraduate Research pages

Apply or Enquire

Have questions about funding, research areas, or application procedures? Contact the Department of Geography to start your PhD journey.

Contact us

Got questions? Get in touch.

Contact us if you have any questions about studying Geography at UCL.

Department of Geography Click to email. geog.office@ucl.ac.uk Click to call. +44 (0)20 7679 0500