Postgraduate research

Our postgraduate degrees are based on independent full-time research work, with an academic supervisor to guide you in discovering new and exciting areas.

Underpinned by substantial external funding, our vibrant research environment provides PhD and MPhil students with opportunities to work with world experts and use high-quality research equipment.

Each year we recruit approximately 15 students for PhD degrees, who benefit from participating in teaching exercises, School activities and essential skills-training experiences.

PhD studentships

We have two types of PhD studentship:

• Studentships with guaranteed funding are made available through our funding database.
• Projects eligible for NERC funding are awarded through the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP).

Descriptions of both DTP and non DTP PhD projects are advertised on the postgraduate research web pages when available. The DTP project titles are divided according to our ten research areas.

The standard of the research and facilities at Cardiff University is excellent and after completing my undergraduate degree here I knew that Cardiff was a great city to live and work in. During the course of my PhD I’ve had an extremely rewarding academic experience and have enjoyed a thoroughly encouraging and supportive atmosphere.

Research areas

Our researchers are broadly divided into three research centres.

Centre for Solid Earth and Natural Resources

Our research deals with the composition and dynamic evolution of the Earth's mantle and crust, including its mineral and petroleum resources.

• Economic Geology
• Sustainable Geoenvironments
• Tectonics and Geophysics

Centre for Geobiology and Geochemistry

Our research focuses on the Earth's surface, including in and under its oceans, where life has evolved and profoundly affected environments over billions of years.

• Geochemistry
• Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry
• Palaeobiology

Centre for Resilience and Change

We investigate the causes and consequences of changes in the Earth system, in the ocean, atmosphere and on land, from the geological past into the present and future.

• Cold Climates
• Earth Surface Processes
• Ocean and Climate Systems

Geoscience Africa

Geoscience Africa spans our three Centres offering expertise with local partners and collaborators to meet the geoscientific challenges of Africa.

Enquiries