PhD in Agricultural Geography

Agricultural Geography is a sub-discipline of Human Geography, that focuses on how humans have influenced and interacted with natural landscapes through agricultural activity. As a PhD candidate in the field, you may explore, for example, the impact of a particular practice, or how human activity has transformed a specific region.

What’s it like to study a PhD in Agricultural Geography?

You’ll conduct independent research in Agricultural Geography, with the aim of completing an extended dissertation that will make a substantial contribution to the field.

You will be assigned a specialist supervisor to oversee your progress, and likely be placed in a research group comprised of fellow PhD candidates and researchers that share your interests.

Possible research areas include:

• Sustainable food systems
• Agricultural policy
• Decision-making in farming
• Women in agriculture
• Post-productivism in agriculture

A PhD in Agricultural Geography will likely involve research across a range of disciplines, since the processes by which land patterns arise can be cultural, social, economic and political.

Data collection will usually involve field work, but may also consist of studying satellite imagery, maps and photographs. Depending on your focus, you may wish to conduct surveys, focus groups and interviews. You will often receive training from your department in research methodology and field skills.

There are a small number of advertised PhDs in the field of Agricultural Geography, but most students will need to propose their own project. This means you’ll define your own objectives and the parameters of your research.

PhD in Agricultural Geography entry requirements

The minimum requirement for students wishing to study a PhD in Agricultural Geography is normally a good upper-class second degree in a relevant subject. A Masters degree is not always compulsory, but it’s worth baring in mind that applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and additional qualifications are often advantageous.

A driving license may occasionally be required for advertised projects with a significant fieldwork element.

PhD in Agricultural Geography funding

Most Agricultural Geography projects in the UK are funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), though depending on the focus of your research you may occasionally be able to apply for funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) or Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Research councils provide studentships that will usually cover both tuition and living costs.

Research council studentships are limited and competitive, so it’s possible that you’ll need to ‘self-fund’ your PhD. Many students achieve this through the UK government’s doctoral loan, support from charities and trusts, part-time employment or a combination of these.

PhD in Agricultural Geography careers

A PhD in Agricultural Geography will equip you with all the skills needed for a career in academia, such as abstract reasoning, research methodology, academic writing, and conference presentation.

Not all graduates will want to pursue further research, however. There are numerous other sectors in which your skillset will be invaluable such as environmental management, rural development, and conservation.