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Rural Studies MPhil, PhD

Our broad range of research areas relate to land use, natural resources and environmental change; rural planning, community governance and resilience; rural change, culture and wellbeing; and rural economy, enterprise and innovation.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:


Start date(s):

  • September 2025
  • January 2026
  • April 2026
Is PG right for me? Join our webinar. Wednesday 23 October, 14:00-15:00 BST

Overview

Join us for your MPhil or PhD in Rural Studies. You'll be supervised and supported by our research-active academic staff.

Areas of research include:

  • impact and implications of ‘local-global’ processes and relationships for rural areas
  • characteristics and performance of rural businesses and households
  • rural governance
  • demographic ageing and social change
  • living with environmental change

Opportunities are available for postgraduate research in the following areas:

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

How you'll learn

Your development

Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) researcher development programme

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

  • perform better as a researcher
  • boost your career prospects
  • broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

  • techniques for effective research
  • methods for better collaborative working
  • essential professional standards and requirements

Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Facilities

Centre for Rural Economy

The Centre for Rural Economy is a Newcastle University Research Centre. It specialises in interdisciplinary social science. It carries out research on:

  • rural development and policy
  • food and society
  • the well-being of rural communities

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

  • matriculation
  • registration
  • tuition (or supervision)
  • library access
  • examination
  • re-examination
  • graduation

Find out more about:

Search for funding

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Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

How to apply


Using the application portal

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You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.


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Overseas events

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Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Postgraduate Research Administrator
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6900
Email: snes.pgr.support@ncl.ac.uk
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
ncl.ac.uk/nes

Online

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

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