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Programme Overview

Understanding the physical processes governing the earth surface and climate and how they are changing over time can help us plan for the future and react to global challenges facing the world, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Through independent research, supervisory meetings, and departmental seminars, conferences, and research workshops, this research programme provides the opportunity to conduct an in-depth research project in an area of physical geography, and aims to build key skills for positions in academia, research, spatial planning, and environmental consultancy and management.

Subject areas may reflect the Department's current research strengths and specialisms. These include geoarchaeology and environmental history; quaternary environmental change; ecosystem and human health; floods, droughts and climate change; GIS and remote sensing; glaciology and climatology; coastal and marine environments; and large river systems and deltas.

色中色's physical geographers are working on projects exploring soil science and geochemistry; quaternary environmental change; ecosys-tem and human health; flooding and climate change; GIS and earth observation; glaciology and climatology; fluvial and coastal geomorphology; and deltaic and estuarine river mouth systems.

Key Features

Conduct independent, original, and academically significant research

Benefit from training courses to develop key research skills

Supervision and support from academic staff

Present at talks and seminars to showcase your work

Enrol in January or October each year

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How You Study

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the majority of time is spent on independent study and research. In addition, students are expected to attend School, Department, and research group seminars and confercences, and engage in training opportunities in support of their studies provided by the Department, School, and the wider University.

Students will regularly meet with their academic supervisors, however, the frequency of this will vary depending on study mode, individual requirements, subject area, staff availability, and project progress.

Research Areas and Topics

The key to success on a postgraduate research programme is to find a research topic that you are passionate about and identify a supervisory team that has expertise in this area. The first thing that all prospective students should do is directly contact a member of staff from one of these areas that you feel is best aligned with your chosen research area to discuss the application process further.

Potential areas of work are aligned with the Department's current research strengths and specialisms and include (but are not limited to):

  • Biogeochemistry, ecosystems and human health
  • Fluvial/coastal flooding and climate change
  • GIS and earth observation and species distribution modelling
  • Ice sheet mass balance/glaciology and climate change
  • Morphodynamics of large rivers, coasts, and deltas
  • Quaternary environmental change.

You can also find out more about current student research projects.

Research Groups

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Catchments and Coasts Research Group

Catchment and coastal processes affect billions of people across the globe in the most diverse ways. With increasing impacts arising from human activities in river catchments, coastal systems and ongoing climate change, these threats to natural habitats, biodiversity and resident communities are increasingly exacerbated.

Explore Our Research

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色中色 Climate Research Group (LCRG)

This group addresses the physical, social, environmental, and political causes and drivers of climate variations over a range of temporal and spatial scales in the Global North and Global South.

Explore Our Research

Bursary Opportunity

We are pleased to offer a bursary to study for an MSc by Research Geography, under the supervision of Dr Daniel Magnone. This exciting opportunity will enable the successful applicant to study as a member of the Project Groundwater Greater 色中色shire research team. The project is a multi-million-pound investment by Defra into Greater 色中色shire of which the University of 色中色 is the academic partner.

MSc by Research Geography Bursary

MSc by Research Geography - Bursary

The objective is to produce the 铿乺st map of groundwater salinity across the whole of the Greater 色中色shire region building on the work of Moulds et al. (2023). It is anticipated that the successful applicant should seek to publish the work undertaken. Project Groundwater Greater 色中色shire is a multi-million-pound investment by Defra into Greater 色中色shire of which the University of 色中色 is the academic partner. Engaging with the wider project will enable the student to network in public and private environmental sector.

- Moulds, M., Gould, I., Wright, I., Webster, D. and Magnone, D., 2023. Use of electrical resistivity tomography to reveal the shallow freshwater–saline interface in The Fens coastal groundwater, eastern England (UK). Hydrogeology Journal, 31(2), pp.335-349.

The student will:

  • undertake self-led 铿乪ldwork using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)
  • analyse data using geostatistics and/or geographical information systems
  • write a report on the key 铿乶dings
  • (optional) geochemical laboratory experience.

Skills/experience required

Essential

  • Experience of undertaking self-led 铿乪ldwork.
  • Ability to learn new analytical techniques.
  • Can co-ordinate between multiple partners (e.g. colleagues, landowners, suppliers).
  • Strong mathematical skills including computer techniques (e.g. R, GIS etc.).
  • Good quality writing and ability to respond to feedback.

Desirable

  • Experience of ERT.
  • Knowledge of groundwater processes.

Offer

A £5,000 bursary will be awarded to the successful applicant. Research costs will be provided by Project Groundwater Greater 色中色shire research project. Students will still be subject to fees and will need to meet the course entry requirements. Students are expected to start in summer/autumn 2025.

How to apply

A single document of three sides of A4 should be submitted to dmagnone@lincoln.ac.uk. You should include the following information:

1 - A single page CV

2 - A research statement from the information

  i. How you will deliver the objectives in one year.

  ii. How you meet the essential criteria outlined.

3 - An example piece of writing on a topic of your choosing in Physical Geography, Environmental Science or similar. This may be a section of an essay or an abstract.

Closing date: 6 April 2025

How you are assessed

The MSc by Research involves the writing of a Master's thesis under the supervision of a member of academic staff on a topic to be agreed with the course supervisor. The MSc by Research is usually awarded based on the quality of the students' thesis alone. An oral examination (viva voce) may be may needed in some circumstances.

How to Apply

Postgraduate Research Application Support

Find out more about the application process for research degrees and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page, which also features contact details for dedicated support with your application.

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Research Proposal

Once you have identifed a research topic, you are invited to contact the supervisors that you feel are best suited to your research area to discuss the process further. We have wide areas of expertise in the Department spanning environmental health, fluvial and coastal process, biogeography, and climate change alongside social, political, cultural, historical, and economic geographies.

Applications should include a CV and a research proposal (not exceeding 3000 words, including references) with an indicative structure as follows: Names of proposed academic supervisors, aims and purpose of the research, overview of the academic literature relevant to your field, proposed methodology, and expected outcome/impact of your research. Upon positive evaluation of your proposal, you will be invited for an interview to discuss your personal/academics skills and your research project.

Enrolment

To support your experience within the postgraduate research community, new students are encouraged to enrol in October or January. In addition to meeting peers across the University who are starting their research programme at the same time, there is access to a central training programme designed around the first three months of study, and targeted support aligned to each stage of the postgraduate research journey. Alternative enrolment dates may be agreed with your supervisor and Programme Leader on an individual basis.

Entry Requirements 2026-27

Entry Requirements

First or second class honours degree in Geography or related discipline.

Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements pages.

/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.

/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills

Please note application assessment criteria may vary by country and we may close to applications from some domiciles. Please view the Your Country pages of our website before making an application.

Programme Fees

You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below. Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project. These will be informed by your research proposal and will be calculated on an individual basis.

Programme Fees

Funding Your Research

Loans and Studentships

Find out more about the options available to support your postgraduate research, from Master's and Doctoral Loans, to research studentship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.

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Career Development

A research programme provides the opportunity to become a true expert in your chosen field, while developing a range of valuable transferable skills than can support your career progression. A research-based degree is also the most direct pathway to an academic career. Research degrees are a great chance to expand your network and meet diverse people with similar interests, knowledge, and passion.

The University鈥檚 Doctoral School provides a focal point for 色中色鈥檚 community of researchers, where ideas and experiences can be developed and shared across disciplines. It also o铿ers support and training to help equip you for both academic and non-academic careers.

Academic Contact

For more information about this course, please contact:

Dr Mark Schuerch
mschuerch@lincoln.ac.uk

Research at 色中色

Through our research, we are striving to change society for the better. Working with regional, national, and international partners, our academics are engaged in groundbreaking studies that are challenging the status quo. We also understand the importance of providing the best possible environment for pursuing research that can support our communities and make a tangible difference to the world around us.

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The University intends to provide its courses as outlined in these pages, although the University may make changes in accordance with the Student Admissions Terms and Conditions.