Intelligent Earth (UKRI CDT in AI for the Environment) (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The Intelligent Earth CDT is a doctoral degree, available in both full- and part-time modes, designed to equip a new generation of students with advanced AI skills to tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues.

The Intelligent Earth CDT will train a new generation of quantitative environmental data scientists to make substantial contributions in environmental and data sciences.

The course is intrinsically interdisciplinary. You will be advised by both an environmental science supervisor and an AI supervisor from two different departments, as well as a non-academic partner who also serves as host for a secondment. This course is suitable for quantitative applicants from data science, mathematical, physical and environmental science backgrounds.

Course structure
Key components of the teaching programme:

• Induction week

• Core courses in foundations of AI/ML and foundations of the four environmental themes

• Responsible AI training

• Computational skills training

• Advanced cross-cohort courses will focus on specific areas of AI applied to grand challenges and associated datasets from the four environmental themes

• Professional skills training

• Teaching skills training

After introductory lectures, you will be introduced to the corresponding AI tools, frameworks and environmental datasets to apply the taught material in tutorial-based project work. You will work in interdisciplinary groups tackling grand challenges in environmental science of increasing complexity with AI. The course will be individually tailored to your needs.

In addition to the formal teaching programme, student experience and training will be enriched by:

• Weekly Intelligent Earth seminars

• Annual hackathon

• Annual two-day CDT conference

Following the initial training period, you will undertake a three-month research project supervised by one of the potential DPhil supervisors. In year two (years three to four if studying part-time), you will transition to your primary department and supervisors, and you will start your DPhil research. In year four (years seven to eight if studying part-time), you will finalise your DPhil research and complete your thesis writing. Professional training will focus on career development, job/fellowship applications and interviews.