Geographical and Environmental Research

Geographical and Environmental Research - MSc

The MSc in Geographical and Environmental Research is a research-focused masters programme designed to provide a strong educational background for a career in research and development, or the public or private sector. During the course you will develop generic and subject-specific research skills through working with our research-active staff on an extended research project of your choice. We have research project opportunities at Keele, with UK-based external organisations and with overseas institutions.

Month of entry

September, January

Mode of study

Full time, Part time

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Environment, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Science

Fees for 2023/24 academic year

UK - Full time £10,000 per year. Part time £5,500 per year.
International - £18,800 per year.

Duration of study

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

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Please note: this course is no longer accepting applications from international students for January 2023 entry

Why study Geographical and Environmental Research at Keele University?

Develop generic research skills such as a critical evaluation and research design, alongside subject-specific research skills such as fieldwork and data analysis

Work with our research-active staff on an extended research project of your choice

Attend our monthly Geography, Geology and Environment (GGE) Research Seminar and hear from external speakers and visiting researchers

Course summary

OVERVIEW

Our MSc in Geographical and Environmental Research is a research-focused masters programme designed to develop generic and subject specific research skills over a broad range of disciplines within Geography, the Environment and Sustainability.

The programme is designed to develop generic research skills such as a critical evaluation, research design, scientific writing, data management, literature reviews, reflective practice and science communication, alongside subject-specific research skills such as fieldwork, laboratory skills, data collection, data analysis and interpretation. As part of the course, you will undertake an extended research project. You can see the available projects on our website.

The aim of the programme is that on completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights at the forefront of the chosen research area in Geography, the Environment or Sustainability
Critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship in your chosen area of Geography, the Environment or Sustainability
Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, and how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in Geography, Environmental Science or Sustainability
Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, propose new hypotheses
Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level
Demonstrate the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:
- The exercise of initiative and personal responsibility
- Decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations
- The independent learning ability required for continuing professional development

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"Completing the MSc Geoscience Research course was critical in helping me get my PhD as the research I completed for this course was very similar to my current research. In addition the course taught me vital skills (in writing, presentation, laboratory and fieldwork)"

Charlotte, MSc Geographical and Environmental Research

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Course structure

The MSc Geographical and Environmental Research is a 180 credit programme that runs full time over one year or two years part time and will develop research skills through focusing on a project of your choice. The programme comprises five modules that run over three semesters, with the main focus of the programme being a research project undertaken either at Keele University or on placement with either a UK-based partner or a host institution overseas:

Research Skills (30 credits)
Literature Review (15 credits)
Geography/Environment Option module or Modern Language module or Academic English for Postgraduate Students* (15 credits)
Research Project Design and Management (30 credits)
Dissertation (90 credits)

During Semester 1, students focus on generic research skills including science communication and planning the research project through the Research Skills, Literature Review and Research Project Design and Management module. Semesters 2 and 3 are primarily focused on the research project.

Students undertaking their research project at a host institution overseas will normally take an appropriate modern language module or, if available, a language and culture module for their international placement, or are encouraged to sign up for an Online Linguistic Support (OLS) module via Keele University’s Global Education Team.

*International students for whom English is not their first language will take Academic English for Postgraduate Students to further improve their English language skills, either as their 15 credit option module or as an additional module.

Core Taught Modules

Research Skills:

The programme starts with a module aimed at developing your research skills. Comprehensive generic research skills will provide you with transferable research skillsets needed to successfully complete the course and provide employability skills in your job or research roles following successful completion of the course. Alongside the taught skills sessions covering research design, critically evaluating literature, ethics and methodologies, you will also begin to learn the techniques needed to carry out your independent research project under guidance from your supervisor. You will present your research ideas and plans via an oral presentation to the rest of the cohort and teaching team, and the feedback received will be used to improve your assessed research proposal. This will better prepare you to carry out your dissertation project, and also provide you with a deeper understanding of methodologies in, and impact of, your chosen field of research.

Being able to work both individually and as part of a team are essential employability skills for driving projects forward in the work place, and sustainability is at the forefront of our global society. Therefore, in this module, you will work in small groups to research a ‘grand challenge’ in your field of research and write a website article/blog. This assessment will develop your skills in project management and communication, along with providing you with transferable skills of considering the wider implications of your research to society and the environment – key attributes for many jobs in the employment sector.

Literature Review:

A successful, well-designed, well-analysed research project stems from an excellent understanding of research in the discipline. In this module, you will develop information literacy and skills in searching for, selecting, and critically evaluating peer-reviewed research literature relevant to their masters research dissertation and then synthesising this information into a literature review. Regular seminar/tutorial meetings with supervisors will develop your confidence in discussing and critiquing issues within your field of interest.

Research Design and Management:

This module builds on research training to support you to successfully manage your research and career through reflective practice, skills audits and action plans, and developing peer-reviewed CV and cover letters. Module content is delivered via a combination of taught sessions in semester one, one-to-one fortnightly meetings with the project supervisor(s), independent research and self-learning techniques. You will present your preliminary research project results and receive formative feedback via a poster presentation to your cohort and teaching team.

Dissertation:

The cumulation and highlight of the programme is the strong focus on the research project. Using the research skills gained over the duration of the course and its accompanying modules, you will communicate the background, methods, results and conclusions of the masters research project in the form of a 20,000-25,000 word dissertation that is structured to easily translate the work into a manuscript fit for peer-reviewed publication. We always encourage you to publish your work where possible and this has generated a number of publications in peer-reviewed, high quality international journals, geoscience magazines and newspaper articles.

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"As I have pursued further postgraduate education many skills learnt on the MSc Geoscience course were directly transferable. The generic research skills and research design and management modules dramatically improved my research dissemination ability both in terms of producing high standard graphics and also providing guidance on effective platform and poster presentations"

Steven, MSc Geographical and Environmental Research

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Entry requirements

ACADEMIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should have an honours degree in Geography, Environmental Science or Sustainability, or a related discipline, or hold an equivalent qualification. The minimum degree category for entry is 2:2 (or international equivalent). Students who can evidence alternative professional qualifications and/or relevant experience/training will also be considered.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to view our available projects, then contact and discuss research options with the Keele University staff member listed for the research area/topic of interest before making an official application. In your application documents, state clearly your preferred subject area or specific project, as advertised on the MSc Geographical and Environmental Research website (including potential supervisor), and your motivation and background for carrying out a project in a particular area. Please contact us if you would like to discuss options.

Acceptance on the course is subject to having an agreed research project and project supervisor. Places with external partners and at individual host institutions overseas are limited and subject to availability. A placement at a specific host institution (or external partner) is not guaranteed and is allocated on a competitive basis after discussion with the potential host supervisor. A decision on a particular student placement is made at the time of application to the course. In the case that an agreement to host a student cannot be reached with the host institution (or external partner), students may be accepted on the MSc Geographical and Environmental Research programme to carry out a research project in the chosen field at Keele University.

Applicants from a country where English is not the first language are required to show evidence of English language competence, either an IELTS score of at least 6.5 (with no subtest lower than 5.5), or by holding a previous degree which has been taught and examined in English, unless the specific entry for the course indicates otherwise.

A comparative IELTS score to other English Language qualifications is available on the Keele International web pages.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component. The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

During your degree programme you can study additional English language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.

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MSc Geographical and Environmental Research student, Connor Shiggins.

Connor shares his experience of the course and the opportunities that it has provided him.

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Your career

Our previous graduates have entered employment in the Geography, Geology and Environment sector or moved on to PhD programmes. We strongly encourage our students and graduates to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals, where appropriate.

Our programme includes a Career development workshop and the emphasis on the substantial ‘hands on’ research training (with the provision of an international placement option) makes this programme unusual within the Higher Education Sector in the UK and will enhance your employability. We believe that our programme structure will help to develop future employees with strong and transferable research skills that are valued both within industry, organisations and academia. Students are encouraged to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals, enhancing employability.

The MSc Geographical and Environmental Research programme at Keele offers the added value of My Keele Journey, which develops students' intellectual, personal and professional capabilities (Keele Graduate Attributes) through both subject-specific and generic workshops and activities.

The University has a Careers and Employability team who can provide you with advice and guidance about your future career. The team offer specialist workshops and can also meet you individually to give guidance and support to help you develop your career. We also may hold careers fairs on campus and informal events where you can meet employers. You may also have access to our database of job opportunities and digital resources such as online psychometric testing.

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"The knowledge and experience of Quaternary environmental change that I gained through the MSc course was a huge part of why I got offered a place to study at Tulane. My supervisor was very impressed with the MSc course at Keele, especially its focus on laboratory work and producing research of a high standard."

Keir, MSc Geographical and Environmental Research

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Keele Postgraduate Association

Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

KPA interior

Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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Our expertise

The MSc in Geographical and Environmental Research is taught in the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment by experienced, well-qualified and enthusiastic staff who work across a range of areas within Geography, the Environment and Sustainability, including Outreach. You can find the teaching and research profiles of our staff on our website. We have expertise in areas such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Quaternary environments, glaciology, rural geographies, animal geographies, energy, soil system science, sustainability, water chemistry, ecology and ecotoxicology, cultural and economic geographies, art-science crossover projects, artistic geographies, and plastics in the environment.

All of the staff on our programme are research active within the discipline, and are accomplished at working on research-funded projects both nationally and internationally. Staff take an active role in encouraging students to disseminate their work and we have a number of past graduates who have successfully published their work in peer-reviewed journals or in the media. Many of our staff are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy and hold both Keele and national awards for Teaching and Learning.

Alongside our staff expertise, the School hosts a monthly Geography, Geology and Environment (GGE) Research Seminar Series where staff and students benefit from knowledge and expertise from external speakers and visiting researchers to the School. A number of our projects are carried out with external collaborators in the public or private sector, or at overseas institutions, giving students on our course plenty of opportunity to enhance their employability and network within the sector.

The School of Geography, Geology and the Environment holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and is contributing to the University Race Equality Charter and Stonewall initiatives. We strive to work towards promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within our School environment and programmes.

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