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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate the Geography and Environmental Studies research area
Pursuing a PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies at the Open University offers the chance to develop new independent research on the most pressing social, environmental and political issues shaping the world today.
You will join our OpenSpace Research Centre – where we are driven by a longstanding commitment to rethinking the difference geography makes for interpreting and intervening within emerging issues, debates, and concerns: from environmental crisis, urban politics and migration, to astrobiology, sonic cultures, and more.
As a postgraduate student – whether part-time or full-time – you will engage in virtual and in-person seminars, workshops and reading groups and gain training in a wide range of skills, for research, broadcast, career development and more, to amplify your research among academic, policy and public audiences across Britain and beyond.
As a research collective in Geography and Environmental Studies, we pride ourselves on:
Most of our full-time research students are based at our Milton Keynes campus; for details of residence requirements for different modes of study see Full-time study and Part-time study.
Explore specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, fees and funding, available supervisors, how to apply and contact details for advice.
Cities, politics, infrastructures
Creative geographies: engaging, knowing, experimenting
Culture and environmental change in the Anthropocene
Mobilities and migration
Open geographies
Political economy and environmental politics
Consider linked topics from other research areas.
Biodiversity and conservation
Climate change and ecosystem services
Climate change, past, present and future
The journey has been nothing short of excitement, new insights, great exposure, collegiality and in-depth understanding, within a conducive learning atmosphere. The OU offers me access to state-of-the-art tools for my research, including access to the very latest software which has greatly assisted me in my data analysis and offered me great confidence for working after the completion of my study.