MA Human Geography and Sustainability Research

The complex challenges facing the world today - including social and spatial inequalities, new migration flows, climate change and pollution - have led society to question the interactions between humans and the environment, demanding answers and new ways of working that human geography can provide.

Studying the ways in which people interact in economic, political, social, and spatial contexts can help us identify issues and challenges, and understand what causes them. Only then, can we develop solutions to improve long-term human wellbeing and protect the planet as a whole, distributing and managing our natural resources more equitably and sustainably.

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the MA in Human Geography and Sustainability Research not only draws on social sciences more generally, but also brings together Keele’s internationally recognised expertise across the two distinct disciplines of human geography and sustainability.

Generic and subject-specific research training prepares you to consider why and how humans behave, interact with, shape and affect their surroundings; studying our many diverse environments, habitats and resources (both natural and man-made).

Hands-on practical research equips you with valuable experience and skills to identify innovative solutions to broader societal problems. Such measures could include the development of new approaches for securing migrant settlement and integration, tackling rural deprivation, addressing health inequalities and / or generating new forms of sustainable energy.

As part of our exciting new advanced traineeships, you'll work with a research mentor on one of our 'live' research projects. For example, we are currently studying the effects of poverty on rural communities in Wales, as well as access to services and transport. Typical activities might include support to collect and analyse data, conduct literature reviews, assist the preparation of future funding bids, or to prepare 'key findings' reports.

The Dissertation provides a further opportunity to undertake an extended independent research project with freedom to come up with your own idea for subject matter or choose from a list of selected research projects. These include: animal geographies; rural or urban geographies (including rural and urban planning); post-colonial geographies; health geographies; temporal geographies of 'busyness'; children’s geographies; plastics and recycling geographies; geographies of international migration; geographies of responsibility and care; and geographies of mobility (and e-mobility).

You'll graduate with cutting-edge insight into the latest academic, policy and practice-related discussions, debates and developments in the fields of human geography and sustainability, together with the advanced research skills required for a career in the public, private or third sector. This includes positions with national and local government, other public bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private sector consultancies, research and policy institutes, charitable and community organisations.

Accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the course is also an ideal choice for those wishing to pursue a PhD in human geography or sustainability and environmental studies. The programme complies with the ESRC's research training requirements for PhD scholarships (commonly termed +3), and is also suitable as the master's year as part of an ESRC scholarship award that covers both the master's and PhD (commonly termed a 1+3 award).