Research within this area centres on ethnobiological knowledge systems and other systems of environmental knowledge and is supported by members of the Centre for Biocultural Diversity.

We research local responses to deforestation, climate change, natural resource management, medical ethnobotany, the impacts of mobility and displacement and the interface between conservation and development. The Centre has an Ethnobiology Lab and Ethnobotanical Garden, and extensive collaborative links, including with the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew), and Eden Project.

MSc by Research This course is a one-year full time or two-year part-time programmes. You research and write a thesis under the supervision of one or two academic staff.

PhD The PhD is a three-year full-time and five-year part-time programme. You research and write a thesis of a maximum of 100,000 words under the supervision of an academic team. Progress is carefully monitored through the duration of the programme.

The first year includes coursework, especially methods modules for students who need this additional training. The remaining years involve field or library research and writing up. In general, you work closely with one supervisor throughout your research, although you have a committee of three (including your primary supervisor) overseeing your progress.

Applying

You are required to find and be accepted by a supervisor prior to applying for a programme. Details of our academic staff and their research interests are available on our website. We advise that you identify a member of staff whose research interests resonate with yours then email them with your CV and an outline of your proposal.  Once a supervisor has agreed to provide lead supervision on your research then you can apply.

As part of your application you will be required to upload your CV and a 1,000 word research proposal in addition to providing contact details for two academic references.