Scholarships
Fully Funded ESRC PhD Studentship at University of Cambridge: “Climate Urbanism – Sustainability for the Affluent?”
Application Deadline: 2 December 2025
Interviews: 16 January 2026
Start Date: October 2026
🌍 Why This PhD Matters
As cities worldwide race toward net-zero goals, urban sustainability strategies—like renewable energy deployment, retrofitting, promoting cycling systems, and 15-minute neighbourhoods—are hailed as solutions to climate change. However, critics warn these policies may prioritize affluent groups and leave behind vulnerable communities, reinforcing unequal access to benefits.
This Cambridge/Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) PhD studentship seeks to unpack that tension. It asks:
Does current “climate urbanism” primarily protect and promote lifestyles of the privileged, while marginalising those already disadvantaged?
By comparing case studies in the UK and South Africa, the research will examine whether sustainable urban interventions reproduce or challenge existing inequalities. You’ll explore the intersections of climate justice, urban policy, and social equity.
Research Focus & Questions
- How do urban sustainability policies (transport, water, energy, etc.) play out in affluent vs. marginalised neighbourhoods?
- In what ways might “green” interventions reinforce exclusion or displacement?
- Are there models in which climate urbanism can be inclusive and equitable?
- What roles do governance, institutional structures, and community participation play in shaping outcomes?
You’ll have flexibility to tailor the project to your interests—whether energy transitions, water justice, or mobility—and conduct comparative fieldwork in both the UK and South Africa.
Approach & Methodology
The studentship emphasizes qualitative, mixed, and interdisciplinary methods. Possible approaches include:
- In-depth interviews with policymakers, community leaders, and residents
- Policy and institutional analysis
- Participatory workshops and co-production of knowledge
- Ethnographic or observational fieldwork
Your work should integrate critical thinking with grounded empirical evidence to reveal how sustainability narratives shape (and are shaped by) inequality.
Supervisory & Institutional Support
You will benefit from dual affiliation:
- University of Cambridge, Department of Geography — a global hub for human geography and urban research
- Global Sustainability Institute (GSI), ARU — experts in interdisciplinary sustainability work
You will also join the CAM-DTP (Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership), which provides training, research networking, writing support, and cross-disciplinary engagement.
Funding Package & Benefits
This is a fully funded 3.5-year studentship, which includes:
- Full University of Cambridge tuition fees
- A competitive UKRI-aligned maintenance stipend
- Funding for research and fieldwork (including travel to South Africa)
- Training and professional development support
This funding ensures you can focus fully on producing high-quality research without financial burdens.
Who Should Apply?
Ideal candidates will:
- Hold (or be about to complete) a master’s degree in geography, urban studies, environmental science, sociology, planning, or a related discipline
- Show strong interest in urban sustainability, social justice, climate justice, and comparative research
- Demonstrate capacity for independent research, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary work
How to Apply & Important Dates
- Submit your application by Tuesday, 2 December 2025
- Online interviews will be held on 16 January 2026
- Offers will be announced, with enrolment beginning in October 2026
Before applying, applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to the supervisory team to discuss their prospective research ideas:
- Dr. Charlotte Lemanski (University of Cambridge): cll52@cam.ac.uk
- Dr. Rosie Robison (ARU): rosie.robison@aru.ac.uk
The supervisory team will also run online drop-in sessions for prospective applicants on:
- Friday, 24 October 2025
- Monday, 17 November 2025
Final Thoughts & Why You Should Apply
Climate change and sustainability challenges demand not only technical solutions but critically reflective inquiry into who benefits—and who is left behind. This PhD offers a rare opportunity to interrogate whether urban sustainability frameworks, under the guise of progress, may exacerbate inequality.
If you are passionate about urban justice, climate action, and meaningful social impact through research, this Cambridge-ARU studentship offers the training, resources, and platform to contribute to global scholarship on climate justice.
Apply now and help shape a more equitable urban future.
