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Department of Environment and Geography
HomeDepartment of Environment and GeographyStudyPostgraduate research degrees in environment and geographyMSc Environmental Science (by research)

MSc Environmental Science (by research)

Explore your own environmental science research project, supported by leading academics.

Supervisors

Funding

Our research

UK fees

International fees

  Length Start dates (semester dates)
MSc by research

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Apply for MSc in Environmental Science (by research)

January
April
July
September

Gain experience of independent research to solve current environmental challenges, guided by an expert in the field.

Your research

You'll have the opportunity to contribute directly to advancing knowledge and solutions in key areas of environmental science research, including climate science, biodiversity, ecotoxicology, ecosystem services, air quality, and pollution.

Assessment

You will write up the results of your research project in a thesis of up to 40,000 words which will be examined by at least two examiners. In some cases an oral examination may be requested, but this is at the discretion of the examiners.

Although there are no formal taught modules for an MSc by research, as a research student, you'll be required to complete our graduate researcher training programme.

Choosing a project

We are looking for research students to work on the following projects. To find out more about the projects, please contact the relevant staff member associated with the project.
If you have a research idea you'd like to pursue, please contact us to explore developing this idea.

Contact us

Related links

Msc by research projects
  • How do occupants and their activities impact indoor air quality? - Nic Carslaw and Helen Davies
  • Ranking the health risks of indoor air pollutants using experimental and modelling methods - Helen Davies and Nic Carslaw
  • Earthworm ecology: earthworms, plants and climate change - Mark Hodson
  • Informing a burning topic: assessing fire impacts on past carbon accumulation rates in peat cores considering dating methods and sampling conditions - Andreas Heinemeyer
  • Functional ecology of mountain forest and alpine habitats - Rob Mills
Joint 2nd for research impact
according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
Athena Swan Silver
for our continuous commitment to equality.
12th in the UK for sustainability
The University has been ranked 12th in the UK and 34th globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025. These rankings assess 1,744 universities worldwide on their impact in addressing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) challenges, in which York achieved the number one global position for governance. See the full QS World Sustainability Rankings.

Funding

Supervision

Training and support

When you start your postgraduate journey with us, you'll receive a warm welcome, a desk space, and a supervisor to guide your research. You'll have the option to attend non-examined modules, known as auditing. This offers valuable insights and knowledge to support your research. These sessions can enhance your work and deepen your understanding in relevant areas.

Progress is monitored through regular meetings with a Thesis Advisory Panel. This will be every six months for full-time students and annually for part-timers. The panel offers feedback and guidance. You'll also attend an annual two-day departmental conference with opportunities to contribute at each stage of your studies.

Course location

This course is run by the Department of Environment and Geography.

You will be based on Campus West where all of our facilities are housed. 

Careers and skills

This programme equips students with advanced research, analytical, and problem-solving skills highly valued by employers across environmental, academic, and policy sectors. Students will gain experience in project management, data analysis, and scientific writing. Students also develop transferable skills in critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication. Many projects will provide opportunities to collaborate with external partners, enhancing practical insights and professional networks. 

There are opportunities to gain experience of demonstrating to undergraduate and taught Masters students, and receive practical advice on career planning. We hold a series of programme of professional researcher development and careers workshops across all disciplines which are open to all researchers. There are also opportunities to present your own work through posters and talks.

Our research seminars offer the chance to engage with a diverse range of topics and we offer specific careers support including a dedicated careers team and 1:1 career support sessions.

Career opportunities

  • Doctoral positions
  • Government environmental consultancy positions
  • Careers in environmental services
  • NGOs
  • Scientific research
  • Teaching and lecturing

Entry requirements

Applicants should have, or be expecting to achieve, a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant, related discipline. International equivalent qualifications are accepted. We have research students from a range of backgrounds on a variety of projects. A 2:1 is the minimum requirement to be considered for a Masters by research, funded studentships are very competitive and it is likely that you would need to be predicted a high 2:1 / First-class degree.

If you are an international applicant, please check the entry requirements for your country.

International entry requirements

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.

Check your English language requirements

Applying

Apply for the MSc in Environment (by research)

Take a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.

How to apply

  • Take a look at the research interests of our staff and our list of Masters projects to identify some specific members of staff with whom you would like to work. Please feel free to contact potential supervisors directly. You may wish to discuss your plans before starting your application.
  • Complete the online application for your chosen research degree by selecting the appropriate link above. You can apply for more than one project on the same application by listing the projects in the Research Proposal section.
  • Include the name(s) of the supervisor(s) whose research groups you are interested in joining, and the project title if you are applying for a specific project. You can list more than one.
  • There is no need to provide a full research proposal, although applicants not applying for advertised projects should give an indication of areas in which they would be interested in working.

Find out more about how to apply.

Discover York

Accommodation

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.

Why York

Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Graduate Research School

Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.

Next steps

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