• Multifunctional land use and the evolving role of small farms
• Land use and food security
• The management and governance of natural resources
• Agri-environment policy
• Environmental valuation and choice modelling
• Access to land for outdoor recreation and leisure
• Protected areas management

• Relationship between rural development policy and communities in a changing political landscape
• Rural policies and the role of communities in policy development
• Neo-endogenous or networked rural development
• Rural housing and trends in counter-urbanisation
• Community asset management
• Rural partnerships and stakeholder relationships
• Community resilience

• Perceptions of rurality
• Rural social change
• The role of rural women
• The needs of a changing rural community
• Wellbeing and quality of life
• Rural social capital
• Social exclusion and rural poverty
• Changing perceptions of farming

• Rural enterprise and its economic contribution
• Innovation and entrepreneurialism
• Networks and knowledge exchange
• The nature and needs of rural enterprise
• Technological adoption and innovation in agriculture
• Linkages between urban and rural economies
• Business collaboration and networking
• Expertise and knowledge exchange
• Social and community enterprise
• The green economy

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 – 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

We offer a number of different routes to a research degree qualification, including full-time and part-time supervised research projects.

We attract postgraduates via non-traditional routes. This includes mature students and part-time postgraduates undertaking study as part of their continuing professional development.

Off-campus (split) research is also offered, which enables you to conduct trials in conditions appropriate to your research programme.

Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:

• Thesis
• Viva

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.