Environment and Sustainability PhD

What you will study

It normally takes three or four years of full-time study to complete our PhD programme, or about twice as long for part-time study. By the end of your programme, you’ll be an independent researcher with expert knowledge on the technical, economic, social and policy aspects of environment and sustainability. Visit the programme website for more information

You’ll have the opportunity to work across the full breadth and depth of theoretical and applied approaches to sustainability. Many of our postgraduate researchers are working on projects with local and multi-national businesses, policymakers, and international bodies, such as the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Health Organization.

You’ll be assigned at least two supervisors, who will guide you through your PhD. In addition, you’ll attend a small number of mandatory training courses to ensure you have exposure to the rich diversity of research and data gathering methodologies, and to understand how to apply data analysis techniques. As part of this, you’ll also co-design an individual researcher development programme with your supervisor. This will include several relevant masters-level taught modules in CES or other departments (covering both research skills and subject-based material), as well as training in research budgeting, seminar and conference presentation skills, and research publishing. You’ll also take a number of voluntary training and transferable skills courses provided by the University’s Doctoral College.

Programme Structure

Research themes

• Sustainable development policies and practices
• Energy, water, food nexus
• Behaviour change
• Waste systems
• Sustainable transportation
• Built environment

Check out the full curriculum

Admission requirements

Academic requirements

GPA: Lower Second Class; Upper Second Class (recommended)

English requirements

Duolingo English Test: 120

TOEFL iBT: 88 (or new TOEFL iBT 1-6 score: 4.5, CEFR-aligned, equivalent to the 0-120 score)

PTE Academic: 67

IELTS: 6.5

Other requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a first or upper second-class (2:1) UK degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent overseas qualification), or a lower-second (2:2) UK degree plus a good UK masters degree - distinction normally required (or equivalent overseas qualification).

Visit programme website

Fees and funding

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International: 53,950 AUD / year (≈ 28,300 GBP / year)

Domestic: 9,985 AUD / year (≈ 5,238 GBP / year)

Additional Details

Part-time: UK £2,619; Overseas £14,200

Living costs

Guildford, United Kingdom: 1,258-2,173 AUD / month

Funding

Scholarships

Available scholarships (selection):

• Fulbright U.S. Student Program – U.S. government – Various benefits – Deadline 07 Oct 2026
• ServiceScape Scholarship – ServiceScape – 1000 USD – Deadline 30 Nov 2026
• ACES Scholarships – ACES Education Fund – 3500 USD – Deadline 15 Nov 2026
• Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility – OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation – Various benefits – Deadline Not specified
• Scholarships for PhD Students – Junhua Li – 19000 GBP – Deadline Not specified
• Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship – Boustany Foundation – Various benefits – Deadline 28 Feb 2027
• $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship – IvyPanda – 1000 USD – Deadline 31 Oct 2026
• Voice Talent Online Scholarship – Voice Talent Online – 1000 USD – Deadline 01 Mar 2027
• Women Scholarship for International Students – educations.com – 5000 USD – Deadline 28 Aug 2026
• The PhD Prep Fellowship – Admit Lab – 10000 USD – Deadline 01 Sep 2026
• Dream Chaser Scholarship – Salvado Law – 1000 USD – Deadline 13 Jan 2027
• Scholarship for students with disabilities – Anonymous Hope Fund – 3000 USD – Deadline 31 Dec 2026
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids – UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – 22500 GBP – Deadline Not specified
• The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship – IELTS from 6 to 9 – 1500 USD – Deadline Not specified
• Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme – The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme – 12000 USD – Deadline 11 Jan 2027