Postgraduate Study Geography by Newcastle University

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Postgraduate Study

Geography Find out more about studying at Newcastle Go online for more degree information www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate Visit our video wall www.ncl.ac.uk/video Take a virtual tour www.ncl.ac.uk/tour Contact us Enquire online: www.ncl.ac.uk/enquiries www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply Telephone: 0191 208 5503 Email: gps@ncl.ac.uk www.ncl.ac.uk/gps/geography/postgrad

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The postgraduate community in Geography at Newcastle welcomes students with a range of diverse academic and international backgrounds. Postgraduate studies are research-focused with our taught MA and research programmes, MPhil and PhD, all building upon the research excellence found in Geography at Newcastle. We offer ESRC-recognised taught Masters programmes in both Human Geography and Regional Development for students looking to develop their research skills for a career in an academic, research or policy environment. Many students who complete our Masters programmes continue on to study for a PhD in Geography at Newcastle.

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Welcome to Newcastle

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Newcastle University

The City of Newcastle Voted Britain’s best student city in a survey by ‘AccommodationForStudents.com’, Newcastle is one of the most exciting, friendly and cosmopolitan cities in the UK. Newcastle has an international airport and is 3 hours by train from London.

Newcastle University has grown from a School of Medicine and Surgery, established in 1834, to become one of Britain’s leading research-led universities, with a strong and vibrant interdisciplinary base. Over 16,000 students from some 110 different countries are attracted to the university’s taught programmes each year, including over 4,200 postgraduate students. The university has a reputation for high standards of teaching which has been recognised through success in external assessments conducted by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Newcastle University is among the top 20 higher education institutions in the UK in terms of research power, according to the influential professional publication, Research Fortnight.

The university offers exceptional education experiences, providing students with a sound academic and personal grounding for their career. The university has an excellent record for graduates going on to further study or research or in gaining employment.

The university campus is located in the heart of the compact city centre. The stunning North East coastline is 30 minutes away from the campus via the efficient Metro system. Newcastle is a fairly inexpensive place for students to live compared to many other places in the UK. Newcastle boasts an excellent array of museums, art galleries and music venues and has a diverse range of restaurants and cafes. Extensive shopping facilities include the city centre boutiques, designer stores and markets and Europe’s largest shopping and leisure complex, the MetroCentre.

Our Students Name: Adam Trueman Programme of study: Physical Geography MPhil Before embarking on my Master’s degree, I studied my undergraduate degree in Physical Geography at Newcastle University. I primarily chose to study Physical Geography at Newcastle University due to the excellent reputation of the University as well as the broad range of modules and expertise that was on offer within both the Geography and Geosciences departments. The decision to undertake a master’s degree was based on the fact that the MPhil Physical Geography degree would give me greater exposure to the academic research environment, thus allowing me to make a more educated decision on whether I should pursue an academic research career further. I have thrived under the range of teaching opportunities that have been offered to me and this has been hugely beneficial to my academic CV. The postgraduate community is also a very friendly environment with a warm atmosphere. My Research degree has also given me both the opportunity and time to acquire and hone an array of advanced skills and techniques within Physical Geography and Computing Science that are directly transferable to both industry and other research areas.

Postgraduate Study

Geography Head of Geography Name: Anoop Nayak Job description: Professor of Social & Cultural Geography and Head of Geography Geography at Newcastle has a strong tradition of excellent teaching, research and postgraduate study. We provide a stimulating environment for undertaking postgraduate research in Human and Physical Geography, underpinned by a vibrant community of academic staff and postgraduate researchers. There is a distinctive inter-disciplinary flavour to our research culture, including supervisory teams that can incorporate different disciplinary perspectives. We invite you to undertake postgraduate research in Human or Physical Geography at Newcastle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; given the calibre of our academic staff and our commitment to providing graduate education of the highest quality, I am confident that you will not regret your choice!

Excellence in Postgraduate Studies Geographical research at Newcastle has an outstanding reputation for its research-focused postgraduate taught and research environment.

Collaborative Research

Research Culture and Resources

The research undertaken in Geography is often collaborative and we have an international reputation for undertaking research with a range of local, regional, national and international organisations. Current and recently completed Masters and PhD students have been working collaboratively with organisations such as Newcastle City Council, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, the Scottish Government, Scottish Refugee Council, Cittaslow (Slow Cities) UK and Traidcraft.

Postgraduates in Geography at Newcastle are an important part of the lively and engaging research culture which includes seminars, workshops, visiting scholars and conferences. All postgraduate research students are also provided with a laptop and a range of facilities in our bright and spacious postgraduate suite.

Funding Our MA and PhD programmes are recognised by the Economic and Social Resarch Council in the UK and are part of the ESRC Funded North-East Doctoral Training Centre with Durham. The School also encourages applications to the AHRC-funded Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership (Joint with Durham and Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University Belfast) and the NERC-funded IAPETUS Doctoral Training Partnership (Joint with the Universities of Durham, Glasgow, St Andrews and Stirling, together with the British Geological Survey and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology). Postgraduates in Geography at Newcastle therefore have access to some of the best funding and government-recognised training available in the UK.

International Links As a result of the international research taking place in Geography at Newcastle, our postgraduate community benefit from a range of international links and regularly participate in significant international conferences and institutional visits. Some of our collaborative work is with researchers at the Universities of Kentucky, North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and the University of Western Sydney. We also contribute to an annual international writing and publishing workshop with Monash University at their Prato campus in Italy.

Employability Postgraduates completing their studies in Geography at Newcastle continue to have an outstanding track record in securing employment upon completion of their studies. The alumni profiles in this brochure provide evidence of the range of high-level academic, research and policy work in which our graduates are now employed.

Our Students Name: Daniel Bos Programme of study: MA Human Geography I studied Geography for my undergraduate degree at Newcastle before embarking on the Masters course in in Human Geography Research. The main reason for choosing Newcastle was due to its impressive academic reputation, but also because of the diverse modules and subject matters which are offered within the Geography department. I opted to stay at Newcastle, due to course content and the expertise of staff members within the Political Geography field, which is of particular interest to me. For my future, I am considering a career in research, whether within academia, or, based within a research organisation. This MA provides the perfect stepping stone towards this aspiration, allowing me to examine the theories and concepts within Human Geography to an advanced level, alongside, developing more general research skills. The fact the MA is ESRC recognised, allows me to apply to +3 PhD studentships funded by the ESRC.

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MA Human Geography (Research)

The MA in Human Geography Research provides advanced-level training in research skills, methods and theories to enable you to pursue a career in research, either in the academic sector or within public, private or voluntary sector organisations. This research training programme is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). This can be studied full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months). The course allows lots of room for students to develop and research their own academic interests. This process leads to a dissertation (15,000 words) which is the culmination of the MA and, like other projects undertaken for the MA, is based on a topic chosen by the student. Much of the teaching is done in small groups but the course offers considerable opportunities for working alongside students from across the Faculty as well as students undertaking a similar MA at Durham University. Generic research modules typically cover: Dissertation Preparation; Information Skills; Qualitative Methodology in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and Introduction to Quantitative Methods. Subjectspecific modules include: Philosophies in Human Geography (co-taught with Durham University); Human Geography: Concepts in Action; and Doing Geographical Research.

Our Alumni Name: Elinor Predota Programme of study: MA Human Geography and currently working on a PhD

I received a full ESRC CASE studentship for my studies, including both Masters and PhD. The CASE partner is the Scottish Government, specifically, the Forestry Commission. My choice was based on the 1+3 PhD studentship on offer here; the topic looked as if it had been written for me! However, Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation and the warmth I found from my new supervisor at interview certainly helped me to be sure Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d made the right decision in applying. The postgraduate suite in the Daysh Building is very plush and ha very good computing facilities. Away from my studies, I enjoy meeting up for coffee and going out for meals with fellow postgrads in my subject area.

MA Regional Development & Spatial Planning

MA Local and Regional Development (Research)

This specialist multidisciplinary programme is designed to integrate regional development and spatial planning concerns in an international context, bringing together two fields which are often considered separately. It will address the challenges of building capacity for analysis, strategy and policy making in regional development and spatial planning.

The MA Local and Regional Development (Research) is designed for graduates and professionals who wish to enhance their research skills in regional and local development, governance and policy in an international context. It is aimed at students who want to progress onto a PhD and/or a research career in universities or the public or private sectors. This can be studied full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months).

The programme aims to: provide knowledge and understanding of contemporary regional development, governance and spatial planning theory, policy and practice in an international context develop practical skills and capabilities required to engage, research and participate in the emergent regional development and spatial planning agendas. You will have the opportunity to carry out UK- and internationally-based fieldwork providing valuable practical project experience. The programme is available as an MA or diploma and can be studied full-time (12 months for the MA) or part-time (24 months for the MA). The programme is a joint initiative involving staff based in CURDS and The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (APL). Students complete a number of compulsory modules and a research dissertation in an area of regional development and spatial planning of interest to them. Key modules include: Local and Regional Development Theory and Policy; Local and Regional Development and Governance; Developing Local and Regional Strategies; Local and Regional Development: Methodology, Analysis and Statistics; Planning and Regulatory Frameworks; Spatial Strategies; Research Design; and Planning and Sustainability.

Students complete a number of compulsory modules and a research dissertation in an area of regional development of interest to them. Key research modules cover: Thinking about Research; Information Skills; Qualitative Methodology in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Introduction to Quantitative Methods; and Dissertation Preparation. Subject-specific modules led by experienced staff from our Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies include: Local and Regional Development Theory and Policy; Local and Regional Development and Governance; and Local and Regional Development â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Methodology, Analysis and Statistics.

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Postgraduate Taught Programmes in Geography

MPhil in Physical Geography

For students who are eager to pursue postgraduate studies in Physical Geography after completing their undergraduate studies, we offer an MPhil in Physical Geography. This programme involves advanced study and fieldwork or lab-based research into a specific area of Physical Geography research. Students on the MPhil in Physical Geography have access to a range of specialist research modules in the Postgraduate Research Development Programme in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering. The extensive programme offers students the opportunity to develop their research, analytical, organisation and professional skills in liaison with other scientists studying at Newcastle University. Alongside this, students complete a thesis that is examined by an internal and external examiner. Recent specialist projects undertaken by students have focused on proglacial fluvial responses to rapid glacial retreat and modelling landscape evolution.

Our Alumni Name: Kate Bazeley Programme of study: MPhil in Physical Geography I wanted to continue studying after my undergraduate degree, and preferred the idea of a research programme rather than a taught one, as I think that you gain more skills from it; whereas in a taught programme you sit in lectures and do coursework and exams, a research programme means that you have to be disciplined to work in your own time, thus improving your time management skills. It also gives you the opportunity to be involved in teaching and demonstrating work, through which you not only gain leadership and organisational skills from being in a position of responsibility, but it also allows you to achieve basic teaching and First Aid training qualifications. I would recommend a research degree to anyone interested in pursuing an academic or research career, as it allows you to become integrated within the research side of university life, as opposed to the student aspect, through internal seminars and opportunities to attend conferences that are relevant to your research.

PhD Programme Geography at Newcastle has an excellent reputation for its PhD programme and hosts approximately 50 PhD students. All students are regarded as an integral part of the research community within Geography at Newcastle and take part in reading groups and seminars as well as contributing to our teaching programme. All students are also encouraged to present at international conferences, engage with policy and practice and to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals; they are also provided with a laptop and workspace within the postgraduate suite and are supported by an excellent team of technical and administrative staff. Research within Geography at Newcastle has an international reputation for being both theoretically sophisticated as well as having relevance for policy and practice. Alongside exploring key theories, philosophies and concepts, PhD students also benefit from the broad range of connections that Geography at Newcastle has with scientists, policy makers and practitioners working internationally, within the UK and at the regional level. As such, our PhD programme is ideal for students who are planning an academic career as well as those who are hoping to move into careers in the public or private sector.

Our Alumni Name: Rory Padfield Programme of study: GeographyPhD Job description: Environmental Consultant with Ove Arup & Partners in Leeds, UK With excellent supervisory guidance and a very supportive and engaging research culture within Human Geography, I was able to fully develop my personal empirical and theoretical approach to the research. In terms of fieldwork, I spent twelve months undertaking research in Zambia which included a month long institutional visit at a South African university. This provided a wonderful opportunity to meet other development geographers and experience an alternative research environment. Alongside the core activities of undertaking a PhD, I actively engaged in the departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teaching commitments.

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Postgraduate Research in Geography

Geographies of Social Change

A well-established research strand within Human Geography at Newcastle explores and extends an applied, critical understanding of the changing social geographies of towns and cities, through which we explore often longstanding and always important social issues in projects which are both methodologically and theoretically innovative. We seek to understand the everyday geographies of urban life and to explore the intersections and inequalities which shape those geographies. Ideas about identity, families and households, health, welfare and care, infrastructures and community run through our research and these lead us to connect with issues of gender, race, ethnicity and migration, youth, religion, class, social size and generation, amongst others.

Key themes: Young People Feminist Geographies Race, Ethnicity and Migration Geographies of Religion

Our Alumni Name: Valerie Egdell Programme of study: PhD Human Geography Research I applied for the MA in Human Geography Research because of the broad course content â&#x20AC;&#x201C; focusing on both generic research skills and subject specific modules such as Philosophies in Human Geography. The Geography departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation for research excellence was a key factor. Thus I was delighted to be able to continue at Newcastle for my PhD. My supervisors provided support and guidance when preparing my successful application for joint ESRC and MRC funding. The opportunity to be supervised by a team from across the university was essential because of the interdisciplinary nature of my PhD. Furthermore the guidance provided by my PhD supervisors was invaluable. One of the most positive aspects was that the postgraduate community was close knit and supportive, and the facilities, such as the library were excellent. Looking back I find that the generic research skills and subject specific expertise that I developed during my MA and PhD have been vital in the start of my academic career.

Power, Space, Politics Researchers working in the Power, Space and Politics cluster have a particular research strength examining the expression of political power across space. We do this at a range of scales, from the international and national to the individual, and with reference to a range of global contexts. Our explorations of power, space and politics range from group and individual negotiations of identity and political action, to the lived experiences of political transformation. Our work is methodologically innovative, and we draw on ethnographic, discourse analytic, participatory and visual methodologies which enable grounded, empirically-informed reflections on the multiple ways in which concepts of power, space and politics intersect. We share and make explicit through our work a desire to produce cutting-edge research which has utility for policy and user communities.

Key themes: Borders and Boundaries Critical Geopolitics International Development Militarism and Military Geographies Resistance, Justice and Peace

Our Alumni Name: Sara Fregonese Programme of study: PhD in Human Geography Job description: British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London The main reason for undertaking my studies at Newcastle University was a PhD studentship that looked very relevant to my BA and MA studies, and I got it! The research interests of colleagues in the School of Geography, Politics, and Sociology were very close to my subject. I am a Political Geographer researching cities and conflict. My research concentrates on how infrastructure, planning, and architecture are affected, influenced, and changed by different degrees and types of conflict and social tension; and vice-versa, how planning, infrastructure, and architecture can be a source of conflict, as well as a tool for conflict management and hopefully resolution. Currently I am writing two books, one on the urban aspects of war in Lebanon, and the other (which I am coauthoring with colleagues from other universities) on the role of the built environment in shaping community relations and cohesion in dividing or divided with case studies from Amsterdam, Beirut, Belfast, and Berlin. Reflecting on my time studying at Newcastle I find that my programme provided me with sufficient knowledge and skills to equip me for my future career.

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Research in Human Geography

Economic Geographies

We have a longstanding international reputation for theoretically-informed and politically-engaged research on the production, forms, experiences and impacts of uneven geographies of commodities, people, finance, knowledge and technology. Conscious of our location in the North East, a European periphery, researchers in this theme explore ‘ordinary’, diverse and/or marginalised economies and subjectivities while also scrutinising orthodox socio-economic models and practices in Western industrialised, post-socialist and postcolonial contexts. This theme has an excellent reputation and track record with external funding for research and studentships and staff participate in two ESRC funded national research centres, the Spatial Economics Research Centre and the Centre for Russian, Central and East European Studies.

Key themes: Local and Regional Development Geographies of Money Postcolonial and Poststructural Economies

Our Alumni Name: Felicity Wray Programme of study: PhD in Human Geography Job description: Postdoctoral fellow in the Urban Research Centre at the Universityof Western Sydney, Australia Being a postgraduate in CURDS was an invaluable and very enjoyable experience: postgraduates are thoroughly welcomed into the research culture and are exposed to numerous debates and issues in regional development by the active seminar series and plethora of visiting scholars – a great way to forge contacts and keep current with contemporary debates. We were also given opportunities to work on the odd consultancy project and were encouraged to present our findings at international conferences. Being part of such a vibrant and applied research fabric was an excellent environment in which to undertake and complete my PhD.

Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies The Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) provides the main focus for international research on local and regional development at Newcastle. Founded in 1977 and comprising 18 academic, research and support staff, as well as a number of visiting professors and visiting researchers, it is one of the largest centres of expertise in local and regional development in Europe. CURDS undertakes research for a wide range of other bodies including recently, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the European Commission, the OECD, and national, regional and local governments, think tanks and non-governmental organisations and private bodies in the UK and elsewhere. CURDS offers MAs in Local and Regional Development and Regional Development & Spatial Planning, runs an international seminar series and hosts major international conferences. The vibrant research culture in CURDS encompasses our postgraduate community and postgraduates are seen as an integral part of the Centre’s work. The CURDS staff has longstanding experience in delivering postgraduate programmes and supervising postgraduate research. In total, nearly 60 PhDs and over 60 MA degrees have been awarded since the establishment of CURDS. www.ncl.ac.uk/curds/study

Our Alumni Name: Peter O’Brien Programme of study: PhD in Human Geography Job description: Director, Tyne and Wear City Region

Returning to higher education after five years of employment – in order to undertake postgraduate studies at Newcastle University – was instrumental in supporting my career development. It is a real badge of honour for me to be able to say that I have a PhD which I undertook at CURDS.

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Research in Human Geography

Quaternary Research

Quaternary research at Newcastle focus on two related aspects of quaternary global change: past changes in the Earth’s climate system using a range of palaeoclimatic proxies and palaeoenvironmental change including palaeoceanography, palaeohydrology and anthropogenic changes. All researchers are concerned with exploring a range of palaeoclimatic proxies – indicators of past climate variability. Staff and postgraduates work at the forefront of applying innovative techniques to reconstruct quaternary environmental change. The lead role taken in the development of biomarker research signals the strategic importance of this work as a key strength and area for development within the group.

Key themes: Past Changes in the Earth’s Climate System Palaeoenvironmental Change

Our Alumni Name: Benjamin Petrick Programme of study: PhD in Physical Geography My project is to reconstruct the past climate of a site in the South East Atlantic. I will be constructing a 3.5 million year record of the site which encompasses the entire period of most recent glaciations. The site which is located near the Cape of Good Hope is near a number of important oceanic currents. These currents are thought to respond during ice ages in ways that have global repercussions. The currents may play a role in the abrupt warming and cooling of the planet. The way that I plan to look at the history of the cores is using biologic markers which tell me about the changes that took place at the site. The most important of these is the UK37 index which reconstructs the sea surface temperature of the site. By looking at these markers over long periods of time it allows me to say something about not only how the local climate changed during past periods but how it might change in response to future warming predicted by global warming. It also will enable me to relate changes seen in the core to global climate changes.

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Researchers in this cluster deliver world-leading research at the frontiers of knowledge relating to the Earth’s surface and the processes that form its structure and drives its function. Our key research themes cover water landscapes, cold regions and tectonically-active environments, geoarchaeology and sustainability, and in all these we study the causes of, and responses to, environmental change over a range of spatial and time scales. Our key objective is a strong science base underpinning these long-term thematic approaches, emphasising a strategic approach to earth surface science and sustainability issues, whilst incorporating flexibility to respond to transient events and feed into policy initiatives. Our vision is a grouping with a global reputation for academic excellence that provides leadership within Newcastle University, the North East region and beyond. We aim to achieve this via a vibrant, integrated and inclusive research community.

Key themes: Changing River Landscapes Glacial Environments Active Tectonics

Our Alumni Name: Rupert Bainbridge Programme of study: MPhil in Physical Geography I chose to do the MPhil because I wanted to do an individual project on a specialised topic. I had enjoyed doing a Glacial Meltwater module in my undergraduate degree and wanted to take that topic further, the MPhil was my opportunity to do that. I did my undergraduate degree at Newcastle. I really enjoy the atmosphere of the university and the city as a whole. The staff in the department are helpful and I’ve got to know them well and wanted to stay in this environment. Also the expertise which I needed for my MPhil degree were available in the department, therefore it seemed a sensible place to stay. I have had plenty of work experience throughout my degree such as TA work with fieldtrips, laboratory and practical sessions for first and second year courses. There has also been opportunities for me to be a part of Education and Outreach programmes to further my transferable skills and qualifications for future jobs. I have had the opportunity to learn new skills in surveying and data management within my course, this was part of organising an expedition to Iceland in summer 2010 where myself and three other students went and camped by a glacier for 5 weeks, definitely a university experience to remember!

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Research in Physical Geography

Further Information Contact Us You are welcome to visit us at any time of the year to meet staff and current postgraduates. To arrange a visit or to request further information please contact: Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3923 Fax: +44 (0) 191 208 5421 E-mail: gps@ncl.ac.uk

Find Out More About us www.ncl.ac.uk/gps

More specific information on postgraduate research www.ncl.ac.uk/gps/geography/ postgrad/research

PG Geography Ambassadors www.ncl.ac.uk/gps/geography/ postgrad/ambassadors

Newcastle University online prospectus www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate

Further Information on How to Apply Application forms can be found at: www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply

Copies of the Prospectus are Available From Enquiries Service Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5503 Fax: +44 (0) 191 208 6139 www.ncl.ac.uk/enquiries

Disclaimer This brochure is intended as advance publicity for information and guidance purposes only and does not constitute a contract. The matters covered by this brochure are naturally subject to change from time to time, both before and after a candidateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s admission to the University.

Acknowledgements Design: The Roundhouse Design Consultants, Newcastle upon Tyne. Photography: J Donoghue; J Fish; N Pugh. Printing: Potts Print (UK). Typeset in Bookman Old Style, Calvert, Din and Helvetica. ÂŠ Newcastle University, 2014. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne trading as Newcastle University.

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Postgraduate Study

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