PhD Planning and Environmental Management

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Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 19 January 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024

1. Develop your own research proposal and project title.
2. Find a supervisor by browsing our academics' profiles, and reach out directly to discuss if they are interested in supporting your research.
3. Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor.

• A 1,500 word PhD research proposal. Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
• Copies of the academic transcript and certificate from both your Bachelor's and Master's degrees. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript;
• An up to date academic CV, detailing your education and qualifications; employment history; publications; and any other relevant information.
• You must nominate two academic referees (including one from your most recent institution). Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following submission of your application form. You may wish to contact your referees to request they submit your reference in a reasonable timeframe as this forms part of the review process;
• International applicants must additionally provide English Language evidence (e.g IELTS).

PhD Planning and Environmental Management provides a vibrant and nurturing research environment for those who are interested in pursuing research in:

• urban and regional planning;
• future cities and data analysis;
• environmental planning and management;
• environmental impact assessment;
• green infrastructure, urban design and regeneration;
• housing and property development.

Our planning, property and environmental management research focuses primarily around the making of future cities - embracing issues such as spatial analysis, urban governance and sustainability.

We aspire to create better cities by critically analysing and helping shape better policies for promoting equitable and sustainable cities for future generations.

Our research focuses on the UK, Europe and other international arenas such as China and Latin America.

Staff members and research students are also active in engaging with the Manchester Urban Institute , particularly via the Spatial Policy and Analysis Laboratory and the Global Urbanism Research Group .

Postgraduate research students are regarded as an integral part of our research culture, and we recruit high-calibre students from all over the world to join our diverse, multidisciplinary, and international team.

Manchester is a city where planning has been taught and researched for more than 50 years, and urban development and environmental impacts are right on your doorstep.

We have one of the longest established and largest professionally recognised planning departments in the UK.

Our research addresses the urgent challenges that cities face.

Over recent years we have broadened our work beyond planning and environmental management, towards the themes of real estate and urban design.

Planning, Property and Environmental Management is part of the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED), a unique interdisciplinary collaboration between the disciplines of Architecture, Education, Geography, International Development, and Planning, Property and Environmental Management.

What unites us is a shared commitment to highlight and address the uneven relationships between societies, economies and the environment.

We want to understand better the world in which we live, and to offer solutions to the problems within it.

We acknowledge that a complex and interconnected world presents many challenges for analysts, but researchers in SEED are pioneering new evidence, measures, concepts and theories in order to address these challenges in practice.

SEED's world-leading research is rooted in everyday life but international in relevance and scope, addressing social, economic and environmental concerns across the globe.

Our PhD and professional doctorate research community, grouped around a range of dynamic centres and themes, is central to the SEED research agenda across all our disciplines.

We provide excellent doctoral research training on research methodology and substantive content.

Based on an individual skills audit, you may take course units on planning theory, research design process, and quantitative and qualitative methodologies, together with course units that support your specific research specialism.

Our students are proactive in an interdisciplinary forum where PhD students share their work and hosting their own PhD seminar series as well as participating in the department's own academic seminars.

PhD students also can work as Teaching Assistants, following a training session accredited by the Higher Education Academy.

When you become a postgraduate researcher, you'll join a diverse and vibrant community of doctoral students from nearly 100 different countries, all studying within the Faculty of Humanities.

You'll be assigned to a specific research grouping that complements your research interests and have access to a variety of interdisciplinary research institutes.

Our working environments are often spacious and open plan, giving you plenty of opportunities to communicate with colleagues and staff within the School, and you will have your own desk space as well as access to our fantastic range of libraries on campus.

All our academic supervisors are research active and will support you to work on challenging research problems and develop rigorous, creative and original research.

You can expect to meet with your supervisor at least once a month to discuss progress on your project.

You will have access to a large and diverse community of internationally recognised academic experts offering an environment that will stimulate intellectual debate and development. We provide additional financial support for several activities related to your PhD, including:

• presenting at international conferences;
• attending workshops that provide relevant professional opportunities;
• conducting fieldwork in the UK and overseas.

Discover what it's really like to conduct postgraduate research at The University of Manchester on our student spotlights page.

You can develop your practical skills in our project studio, model-making workshop, and computer suites with specialist design and spatial analysis software.

For more information, see Facilities

As a postgraduate researcher, you will have access to a dedicated Researcher Development Team who will support your professional development throughout your PhD journey and beyond.

Our researcher development programme will enable you to become more aware of your developing researcher identity, equipping you with the skills you need during your PhD and prepare you to integrate into the researcher community.

At every stage of your career, you will receive relevant, effective and comprehensive professional development opportunities.

We offer training sessions to build your skills and confidence in writing and presenting, with specific sessions on viva preparation, thesis submission and preparing for your Review Panel. You'll also have access to a range of workshops, covering areas such as:

• increasing research impact through blog posts;
• making the most of social media;
• publishing in journals;
• applying for fellowships;
• designing academic posters;
• improving time and self-management.

In addition, our Humanities training hub - ProGRess@humanities - gives you additional training opportunities within the University.

You can choose courses in public engagement, wellbeing, language training and teaching, alongside more specialist courses in tools and software such as Python, R and Nvivo.

methods@manchester , meanwhile, is an initiative that gives you the chance to learn from the very best in research methods expertise at Manchester and beyond.

Regular talks, workshops and other methods-related events are organised throughout the academic year, bringing in experts from across the University and externally.

Finally, taking a placement provides a great opportunity to engage in knowledge exchange and to develop professional networking opportunities for your future career development.

We have established Postgraduate Researcher Exchange programmes with a small number of institutions around the world, offering you the opportunity to visit another institution, access research resources and experience another academic culture as well as build professional networks.

Successful applicants will receive some funding towards travel expenses, accommodation, subsistence, education materials and/or other education-related costs for anything from two weeks to a three-month visit.

For more information, see Careers and employability.

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .