Digital Education for Sustainability

Award Award	Duration Duration	Start dates Start dates	Application Application
PhD or Professional doctorate PhD or Professional doctorate	PhD: Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Professional doctorate: Part-time: 4–8 years PhD: Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Professional doctorate: Part-time: 4–8 years	October October	November to January November to January

The Digital Education for Sustainability research programme brings together academics from multiple disciplines to investigate how innovative, equitable digital education can contribute to addressing the urgency of the climate crisis. The programme examines how pedagogies, practices, systems, and values shape climate-focused learning across sectors, disciplines, and social contexts, with the aim of supporting informed individual and collective action, and long-term sustainability transitions.

Situated within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals – particularly quality education, climate action, reduced inequalities, and sustainable innovation – the programme recognises that climate change is not only a scientific and technical issue but also a social, cultural, and ethical challenge. It explores how digital education can support systems thinking, critical engagement, and transformative learning through collaboration across fields including education, science, social sciences, health, business, and the creative arts.

This research programme investigates both the transformative potential and the unintended consequences of digitally mediated sustainability education, developing evidence, models, and design principles to support climate-responsive, socially just, and environmentally responsible digital learning.

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and an MA or research methods training at MA level (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

UK fee UK fee	International fee International fee
Full-time: £5,006 per year Full-time: £5,006 per year	Full-time: £12,705 per year Full-time: £12,705 per year
Part-time: £2,503 per year Part-time: £2,503 per year	Part-time: £6,353 per year Part-time: £6,353 per year

Some of our research students are funded via the Faculty or The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership and others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

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