Environmental communication PhD
Environmental communication is a dynamic and cutting-edge research area that helps envision and create more sustainable societies through its focus upon the central role of media and communication in shaping understandings of and responses to environmental and climate change.
Working across theory and practice, and with non-academic partners and communities, we are perfectly placed to support students who wish to work on projects that both explore and challenge how environments are constructed, represented, communicated, experienced and contested through a variety of media and communication forms and creative practices.
Your Environmental communication PhD will address the urgent challenges of environmental and climate change through media, communication and practice, with the vision to create sustainable and environmentally just societies. We take as a basis that we understand and experience environments through everyday practices that are mediated through communication practices – from texts, visual imagery and social media interactions, to the products we consume and the spaces we inhabit - shaping how we respond to and engage with, and indeed construct, the daily, built and natural environments.
Environmental Communication PhD research contributes towards, and intervenes in, current debates surrounding climate change, human-animal relations and ethics, sustainable food production and consumption, big data and everyday life, climate induced migration, (anti)consumerism, and sustainable ways of living.
Key supervisory staff have research expertise in climate change communication and engagement; environment, media and popular culture; ‘smart’ technologies and big data as tools for change; human-animal relations and speciesism; intelligent and sustainable mobility/transport; climate activism and climate justice; creative and participatory methods for climate engagement; and feminist critiques and interventions. Collectively, our staff and student research aims to contribute towards ecological literacy and ethical subjectivities that enable more sustainable societies to develop.
As one of our postgraduate students you will have the opportunity to be engaged in a range of activities, including involvement in research centres, particularly the Centre for Spatial, Environmental and Cultural Politics, where PGR students can organise research events and workshops, contributing to the centre and School of Media’s research culture. Environmental Communication students also benefit from the School of Media’s Centre for Digital Media Cultures which can provide supervisory support and possibilities for organising joint research activities.
Campus Information
City campus
Our City campus is in the cultural heart of Brighton, a short stroll from the beach and the pier. The nearby Phoenix Brewery halls of residence are home to 300 students. The city centre is just a short walk away, including the popular Kemp Town, Hanover and Queens Park areas.
Intakes
- Jan
- Sep
Application Processing Time in Days: 10
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
The Careers team is here to support you from your first day at the university.
We can help you decide what career is right for you, develop the skills you will need to follow it, and get a job when you finish your studies.
We can also offer support and advice about placements, volunteering, mentoring and business startup.
The Careers team are offering their full range of services, including one-to-one appointments remotely. These mainly take place via the Microsoft Teams app If you are having any issues with setting up Microsoft Teams please get in touch.
Work and further study
Vacancy service
Make the most of our vacancy service, social media, paper and media resources.
Careers advice
Decide what career is right for you. Help with CVs, applications and interviews.
Resources for finding a job
Find graduate jobs, part-time work, and location-specific work.
Meet employers
Meet employers at careers fairs and events organised throughout the year.
Postgraduate study
For students considering postgraduate study at Masters level or higher.
PSW Opportunity
- 2 Years PSW is applicable after completing a minimum duration of 9 months course (like- Undergraduate, Postgraduate Level)
- 3 Years PSW is applicable after completing PhD level courses.
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
You will apply for entry to a named disciplinary area. Your final award will not use this name, it is only for application.
The entry requirements for the PhD are:
a recognised Masters degree with a significant research component, for example MPhil from another university, or similar qualification which is regarded by the University of Brighton as being equivalent and relevant
or substantial appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level which resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment. An application made by someone with this experience will be considered on its merits and will normally require independent academic references
or, unless a School exercises their right to specify more stringent entry requirements, we may consider a first or upper second honours degree or other qualification which is regarded by the University of Brighton as being equivalent and relevant.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the minimum standard of English competence accepted is normally equivalent to the following International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores:
Normally we require an overall score of 6.5 with 6.5 in reading and writing, 6.0 in listening and speaking. There are exceptions to this and they are as follows:
research degrees in Arts and Humanities and Health Professions require 7.0 overall, 7 for writing, and none below 6.5.
research degrees in Brighton Business School and the School of Sport and Service Management: 7.0 overall, 7 for writing, and none below 6.0.
research degrees in Engineering, and Environment and Technology require a minimum of 6.0 in each component
All SELT (Secure English language tests) must have been obtained within the preceding two years of the course start date.
Important information regarding changes to the approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) list:
The University of Brighton will continue to accept non-SELT tests such as ‘IELTS Academic’ and ‘Pearson Test of English Academic’, as long as your test results meet the course requirements.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Doctoral Degree/PhD
- Duration: 04 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
60504 GBP
Average Cost of Living: 13632 GBP /year
Application Fee: N/A