Field of Geography
The doctoral field of Geography has been operational since 2009, established by Ministerial Order OMECI 5732/22.10.2009, and has been managed since 2024 by the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences (ȘDȘEȘN).
This field includes studies in two major doctoral subfields:
- Physical Geography, covering topics such as geomorphology, geographic environment, climatology, hydrology, vegetation, fauna, soils, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and their spatial interconnections.
- Human Geography, focusing on aspects related to population, economy, transportation, tourism, and the ways in which these interact with geographic space
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The main objectives are training doctoral researchers to obtain the PhD degree, implementing postgraduate programs focused on current research topics, and developing strong doctoral theses validated through publications in reputable academic journals. A key goal is ensuring recognition of doctoral research results through citations and encouraging further research through postdoctoral programs.
The curricula are approved annually by the SDSESN Council and are developed in accordance with current legislation and ARACIS regulations.
Doctoral supervisors
Thematic areas of interest (2025)
Prof. univ. dr. CREÈšAN Remus
- Memory and postmemory in Romania’s post-socialist space;
- Stigmatization and the vertical development of vulnerable social groups;
- Social justice and modern trends in tourism;
- Toponymy and historical geography;
- Regional and cultural geography studies.
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Prof. univ. dr. URDEA Petru
- Mountain geomorphology, geodynamics of sensitive mountain environments;
- Geomorphological structures analyzed via geophysical methods;
- Geoarchaeology and paleogeomorphology;
- Dendrogeomorphology.
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Prof. univ. dr. habil VOICULESCU Mircea
- Assessment of slope processes and tourist trail erosion using dendrogeomorphology;
- Study of the upper forest limit using dendroclimatology;
- Analysis of environmental conflicts;
- Implementation of green-blue infrastructure as a climate change mitigation alternative.
Useful information
Proposed topics for admission (2025)
For the complete list of topics, please consult the table (link).
The funding status of each topic (scholarship-based budget, budget without scholarship, or tuition fee) is determined based on the admission competition, in accordance with the UVT methodology.
Admission
Only candidates who have an average grade of at least 8.00 (eight) calculated as the mean of their Bachelor’s and Master’s graduation averages are eligible to apply for the Geography doctoral program.
The admission interview consists of two components:
- The average of the graduation grades for Bachelor’s and Master’s studies (50% weight);
- Motivational essay (50% weight), which must include:
- Justification for choosing the research topic;
- Purpose and objectives of the research;
- Proposed methodology;
- Tentative table of contents for the doctoral thesis;
- Relevant bibliography.
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The minimum general admission average for enrollment in doctoral studies is 7.00 (the average is calculated to two decimal points without rounding).
The doctoral research topic is chosen following a prior discussion with the doctoral supervisor.
For more details regarding application files, the admission calendar, and the organization of the doctoral admission process within the Doctoral School of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, please consult the Admission Regulations of the DSESN and the UVT Doctoral Admission Methodology.
Curriculum
- Doctoral students admitted in the first year in 2024 (link)
- Doctoral students admitted in the first year in 2025 (link)
Courses
Advanced Methods and Models for Geographical Data Processing
Completion of studies
For more details about the IOSUD-West University of Timișoara study completion procedure, please visit the Doctoral Studies > Completion of doctoral studies page (link).
For field-specific details, please consult the following:Â
- Order of the Ministry of Education and Research no. 3018/2025, dated January 13, 2025, on the approval of the minimum mandatory national standards required for awarding doctoral degrees, published in the Official Gazette no. 78 of January 29, 2025
(applicable to doctoral students admitted from 2025 onward)Â (link) - Order of the Ministry of National Education no. 5110/2018, dated September 17, 2018, regarding the approval of the minimum national standards for awarding doctoral degrees, published in the Official Gazette no. 817 of September 24, 2018 (link)
(applicable to doctoral students admitted before 2025)Â (link) - The National Guide for Writing Doctoral Theses related to the Field of Study (forthcoming publication)
- Sections concerning the graduation procedure in the Regulations of the Doctoral School to which you are affiliated