Postgraduate research

The postgraduate research programmes offer you the chance to study at a world class centre for research and contribute to the understanding and knowledge of one of the worlds most valuable resources. Soil Science at Reading is the only university department in the UK devoted to the study of soils and has an international reputation for excellence.

Working closely with other research groups including the Environmental Systems Science Centre (ESSC), the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS-Climate), the  Walker Institute and the Hydrosciences Research Association (HYDRA) the overall research theme is sustainable soils. 

Over the years we have supervised a large number of UK, Europe and Overseas students on a wide variety of topics. Often students will come to us proposing their own PhD topic, based on a personal research interest or linked to pressing problems in their country of origin (water/nutrient shortage, salinity problems, contamination etc.). In other cases, students apply to specific topics, often linked to current research projects, generally funded by UK Research Councils (NERC, BBSRC, EPSRC or the EU).

For information about funded research projects and research topic ideas, read the research opportunities page.