Programme overview

The Department’s highly regarded PhD programme gives students the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary research over a 3 or occasionally 4 year period.

Research projects

Research topics vary significantly among PhD candidates; themes in recent years have included carbon capture and storage, climate change finance, closed-loop business models and water scarcity. Study is self-directed, and students explore their chosen topic under the supervision of one or two members of the Department’s academic supervisors. Further support is provided through periodic meetings with an academic review panel composed of the student’s supervisor and two other faculty members. 

CEP's interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental problems allows PhD candidates to develop familiarity with ideas from a diverse range of academic disciplines, including the economic, social and natural sciences, law, and management theory. The Department’s expertise in interdisciplinary research assists PhD students in integrating these ideas and in developing methodologies to explore them.

Funding opportunities

Fully funded PhD Scholarship in Environmental Research

Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London

Eligibility: Candidates with Home fee status with (or who are expected to gain) a first-class MSc degree or equivalent in a suitable field.

The Centre for Environmental Policy conducts fundamental and applied research in environmental sustainability. We work both within our core disciplines and in an interdisciplinary fashion at the interface of science, policy, development, and the natural world. We collaborate widely across the College, within the UK and internationally. Our work falls within three broad research themes: energy and climate, environmental management, and the human dimensions of environmental change. Within these themes we address a range of topics relevant to real-world environmental policy-making.

Potential applicants should identify and contact a PhD supervisor based in the Centre for Environmental Policy to discuss a research project. A list of available supervisors can be found here https://www.imperial.ac.uk/environmental-policy/study/phd/supervisors/  Candidates can then apply through the Imperial College application portal mentioning they are applying for this specific opportunity.

The selection panel will allocate the studentship accounting for academic excellence, research potential and extracurricular activities.

Deadline: Application by 10 January 2024 for start by April 2024 at the latest

Teaching opportunities

The MSc in Environmental Technology provides PhD students with exciting teaching opportunities. PhD candidates are able to assist academic staff with small group seminars and statistics courses, as well as occasionally co-supervising MSc theses during the summer months.

Seminars

In addition to collaboration with the teaching faculty and professional training provided by the Graduate School, the PhD programme places strong emphasis on learning the 'craft' of research.

Monthly informal seminars allow students to present and explore research ideas – at any stage of development – amongst themselves. A more formal seminar summarising their research to date is required at the half way stage of the PhD, and supervisors, department staff and MSc candidates may all attend these seminars.