A Supportive Research Environment
Over the past 25 years the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) has supervised over 30 students to the successful completion of their PhD. The CCRI has a thriving research student community, with students studying on both a full-time and part-time basis. Many of our former students have gone on to distinguished careers in academia, the third and private sectors.
Research Degrees at the CCRI
The CCRI fosters a vibrant research culture that includes a range of training and intellectual exchange within the Institute, that research students are actively encouraged to take part in.
Members of the CCRI staff run a Winter School, which is aimed specifically at the needs of research students. Its main aim is to deliver advanced training in research methods, inter-disciplinary approaches and theoretical constructs, as well as providing an opportunity for students to present their research to a sympathetic audience. It also aims to foster knowledge exchange and debate between students, as well as between staff, external speakers and students.
This close association with the staff of the CCRI helps ensure that research students feel supported and part of a larger research community. This relationship is further enhanced as students also have the opportunity to be actively involved in contract research projects being undertaken by the CCRI.
Case Study - Julie Urquhart
“I graduated from the CCRI in 2010 after completing an ESRC CASE 1+3 Masters in Research Methods and PhD. My PhD, entitled ‘Public benefits from private forests and woodland in England: investigating the opportunities for public good enhancement’ was co-funded by the Forestry Commission and supervised by Dr Paul Courtney (CCRI) and Professor Bill Slee (CCRI and latterly the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen). While at the CCRI I was also given the opportunity to work on several contract research projects for clients such as the Forestry Commission, Defra and English Heritage.
One project, commissioned by Defra, as part of their SAIF (Sustainable Access to Inshore Fisheries) programme, looked at the social impacts of inshore fishing in England. This led to a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Greenwich working for 2.5 years on the Interreg 4a ERDF-funded CHARM III project, exploring the social and cultural importance of marine fishing for coastal communities in England and France. Alongside the CHARM research, I have also co-written 6 funding bids over the past year, as well as organising and hosting an international conference in April 2011 in Greenwich for over 100 delegates.”
In 2017, Julie returned to the CCRI as a Senior Research Fellow.
Research Areas
- Food, farming and agri-environment
- Heritage, landscape and rural development
- Economy and society
- Sustainable environments and governance
Pathways to a Research Degree
- Full-time over 3 years
- Part-time over 5-7 years
- PhD with publications
In addition, studentships are sometimes built into research projects. Where this is the case, they will be advertised through these pages as well as in the Guardian and on jobs.ac.uk. An MPhil or PhD will open the door to work in fulltime research, management posts in a wide range of rural and environmental organisations or to careers in local authorities or government agencies concerned with rural issues. Research Degrees are primarily carried out through individual supervision.
As an MPhil or PhD student you will critically evaluate an approved topic, resulting in an independent contribution to knowledge and demonstrate an understanding of research methods through a thesis and coursework. For the PhD you will also be required to make an independent and original contribution to knowledge.
Other options are Masters of Research (MRes) which is a taught course or the Masters by Research (MSc) which is entirely project based.
Contact: Dr Matt Reed mreed@glos.ac.uk
Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr Matt Reed to discuss their ideas.
More information on Research Degrees in the CCRI
CCRI PhD completions
Postgraduate news updates
Winter School 2021 – “Can everyone see my slides?”
The CCRI Winter School took place last month in exceptional circumstances. Although in the virtual environment it was still a warm and supportive one. PhD student Pippa Simmonds recounts the activities across the three days.
Caitlin Hafferty’s reports published by Welsh Government
CCRI PhD student Caitlin Hafferty recently completed a four-month internship with the Welsh Government, during which time she authored six policy research reports.
CCRI Winter School – Rurality in the 2020s. A new decade of rural scholarship?
The CCRI will be hosting its ‘Winter School’ in January and is inviting PhD students and early career researchers to submit abstracts if they would like to attend.
PhD Student Caitlin Hafferty article on community-led river management published in Wild Trout Trust journal
PhD student, Caitlin Hafferty has written an article for ‘Salmo Trutta’, the journal of the Wild Trout Trust. The article is focussed on the River Brue in the small Somerset town of Bruton and details community engagement and management of the river. Find out more and download Caitlin’s article for free.
First publication success for CCRI PhD student
2019 has started well for PhD student Kamilla Skaalsveen, with the publication of her first article which reviewed existing literature on the effects of farming practices on water quality and retention.
Multiple graduation celebrations
We are delighted to announce that thousands of students have been celebrating their graduations over recent days and amongst them are a number which the CCRI has played an integral role. Read more about who they are and the subjects which they have been studying.
Dan Keech at University of Valencia as Javi Serrano Lara defends PhD thesis
Dan Keech has been at the University of Valencia this week in his capacity of PhD supervisor for Javi Serrano, who successfully defended his thesis
MSc by Research success for CCRI’s Kate Smith
CCRI student, Kate Smith, has successfully completed her MSc by Research degree, which involved evaluating the use of 3D landscape visualisation technology (Google Earth) for enhancing and improving participation in Natural Flood Management
CCRI Seminar – Looking into the dynamics of interpersonal resilience
On Thursday 26th April, Dilshaad Bundhoo will present her PhD work, which has developed a context based framework for understanding how relationships transform effectively at times of stress (interpersonal resilience) instead of breaking down.
PhD success for Stephen Pritchard
The CCRI is delighted that Stephen Pritchard has successfully defended his PhD thesis. Stephen has only minor corrections to make to his final thesis, an abstract of which can be read here.
Come and find out about CCRI postgraduate research opportunities – Open Day, Sunday 19th November
The University of Gloucestershire is holding an Open Day on Sunday 19th November where CCRI’s postgraduate leader, Dr Matt Reed, will be on hand to offer information about the postgraduate and research opportunities in the CCRI.
CCRI announce 2017/18 Postgraduate Winter School
We are pleased to announce that the CCRI 2017/18 Postgraduate Winter School will take place on the 10th – 11th January, 2018, in Cheltenham. The number of places is limited, so register your free place now!
CCRI welcomes new Senior Research Fellow
The CCRI welcomes Julie Urquhart to the team today (1st September) as a Senior Research Fellow
Complete our survey to help improve landscape visualisation technology for Natural Flood Management
A Masters by Research project run by Kate Smith, together with her supervisors Rob Berry, Lucy Clarke and Chris Short, is evaluating the use of 3D landscape visualisation technology (Google Earth) for enhancing and improving participation in Natural Flood Management (NFM). Help the research team by participating in an online survey.
CCRI Postgraduate Summer School
The CCRI held its first ever postgraduate Summer School on 29th June, as an internal day of training and discussion for our PG research students.
Still time to apply for our funded studentship!
The CCRI, University of Gloucestershire and the School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, supported by the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Wales (Wales DTP), are currently inviting applications for a funded PhD studentship – QUALMAP: Qualitative Geospatial Methods for Active Participation
CCRI Postgraduate Winter School
The CCRI Postgraduate Winter School is currently taking place at the University of Gloucestershire Oxstalls Campus.
CCRI Postgraduate Winter School
The CCRI Postgraduate Winter School takes place at the University of Gloucestershire Oxstalls Campus on Thursday 12th January.
CCRI Winter School – Call For Participation
The annual CCRI Winter School will be taking place on the 10th and 11th January 2017, at Oxstalls Campus of the University of Gloucestershire. Find out more about the event and how to apply if you would like to attend.
New ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships
The CCRI/University of Gloucestershire is delighted to be named as a collaborating research organisation for the ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership, led by Cardiff University.
Second GLAMUR paper published in special issue of Sustainability
A second paper based on the key findings of the EU GLAMUR project has been published in a special issue of Sustainability which has open access.
Studentship vacancy
The CCRI/University of Gloucestershire is currently inviting applications for a three year jointly-funded Natural England and University of Gloucestershire research studentship. The title of the research studentship is ‘Exploring the influence of agri-environment schemes on farmers’ longer-term environmental behaviour’.
CCRI Winter School 2016
In association with the Royal Geographical Society (the Institute of British Geographers) Rural Geography Research Group and the Rural Services Network, the CCRI hosted another successful postgraduate Winter School at the University of Gloucestershire Park Campus on 13th-14th January, 2016.
CCRI Postgraduate Winter School 2016
The programme for the 2016 CCRI Winter School is available to download. This year’s Winter School will be held on 13th – 14th January 2016 at the Park Campus of the University of Gloucestershire.
2015/16 Winter School – abstracts deadline extension
The deadline to receive abstracts for the CCRI 2015/16 Winter School has been extended to 5 December 2015.
Celebrations as first five graduates from MSc in Sustainable Environments receive their awards
There were celebrations yesterday (26 November) at the University of Gloucestershire Awards Ceremony as the first five graduates from the MSc in Sustainable Environments were presented with their postgraduate degrees.
2015/16 Postgraduate Winter School announced
The 2015/2016 CCRI Winter School is to be held on 13th and 14th January 2016 at the University of Gloucestershire.
PhD Opportunity
The CCRI is currently inviting applications for a three year jointly-funded Environment Agency and University of Gloucestershire (UoG) research studentship with the title ‘Assessing the impact of farming practices on soil functions: achieving benefits for soil, water quality and flow and the farm business’.
CCRI Winter School 2014 – Floods and Filming
On Friday 7th November the annual CCRI Winter School took place at the University of Gloucestershire’s Park Campus.
Bristol Pound & CCRI
CCRI are developing closer links with the Bristol Pound (B£), an alternative local currency for the city.
New PhD Students/Research Assistants in CCRI
This week two new PhD students took up residency in CCRI.