Identifying supervisors
The department welcomes applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff in the department. We recommend that you investigate staff research interests before applying.
Please note: Prospective candidates are not expected to contact potential supervisors in advance of their application. Due to the high volume of enquiries, potential supervisors are unlikely to be able to provide feedback on all enquiries and outline proposals.
Completing your application
The Department of Geography and Environment offers five PhD programmes. Programme details and general application requirements can be found below:
Full information on how to apply. For more information on our Visiting Research Scheme, please see the ‘Visiting Research Scheme’ section below. All prospective research students must apply using the LSE Online Application System.
Alongside your application form, you must include:
- details of academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications)
- a statement of academic purpose
- a CV
- a sample of written work
- an outline research proposal
- 2 academic references
When completing your application and supporting documents, please follow the guidance listed on the School’s supporting documents page.
English language requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not been taught entirely in English at degree level, are required to provide evidence of their English language ability. The most common qualifications are the IELTS or TOEFL tests.
Applicants do not need to have the required marks when they apply, but successful award of the qualification would form a condition of any offer issued and would have to be achieved before registration. For research level, candidates are expected to meet the research programmes requirement. See our English language requirements.
Application and funding deadlines
Applications for the MPhil/PhD programmes will open in early October 2023 and close at the end of May 2024. For any prospective applicants that wish to be considered for funding, please note the deadline below.
Funding deadline: 15 January 2024
Please note: There is no separate application for funding. Funding is allocated by nomination and you will automatically be considered for the award you are eligible for, provided you submit your application for admission by the funding deadline.
Interviews
Interview invitations are sent directly by the faculty members who will be conducting your interview. If you are invited to interview, this means that the department is strongly considering you as a potential candidate for doctoral study. All potential students are interviewed, regardless of any previous association with potential supervisors, the department, or LSE.
Interviews will generally be conducted remotely, by telephone or VOIP. Interviews will generally last 20-30 minutes but may last longer than this. Interviews are not recorded, but your interviewers are required to record their assessment of your interview using a departmental interview record form. All interviews will conform to the expectations described here.
Admissions and funding outcomes
We aim to process all complete applications in a timely manner, however the application process for research programmes can take up to three months. This is to enable the department to make an informed decision about your proposal and to establish if there is appropriate supervision available for your research.
Admissions and funding outcomes are decided separately, therefore you should expect to receive an outcome on your application for admission before receiving an outcome on the allocation of funding. The Department of Geography and Environment Research Degrees Funding Panel (‘the department panel’) normally convenes in February, and funding outcomes are communicated shortly thereafter.
Please check the funding announcements section above to stay up-to-date with the latest information.