From 1981 to 1985, Corbridge was a part-time lecturer in geography at Huddersfield Polytechnic. He was first published in 1982 while he was a postgraduate student. He moved from Huddersfield Polytechnic to Royal Holloway, University of London, where he was a lecturer in geography for two years. From 1987 to 1988, he held a position in the United States of America: he was an associate professor of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He then returned to his alma mater, the University of Cambridge. From 1988 to 1999, he was a lecturer in South Asian geography and a fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. In 1999, he once more moved to the United States and took up his first appointment as a full professor. From 1999 to 2003, he was Professor of International Studies at the University of Miami. However, because of internal events at the university he left to return to the United Kingdom. He joined the London School of Economics as Professor of Geography, soon transferring to International Development. He was Head of the Department of International Development from August 2007 to July 2010. Between 2010 and 2013, he served as Pro-Director for Research. In September 2013, he was appointed Provost and Deputy Director of LSE. In March 2015, it was announced that Corbridge had been selected as the next became Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University. He took up the appointment in September 2015 and is Durham's 24th vice-chancellor. In April 2020, Corbridge was at the center of a controversy surrounding proposed changes to the provision of teaching at Durham University. The proposed changes, which would have involved reducing the number of modules delivered in person by 25% in favor of courses taught either primarily or entirely online, were criticized by university staff and students as "cynical and reckless". After significant resistance the plans were retracted from the university senate, with Corbridge commenting that he was "happy to say that I think we misjudged our academics. It is very clear that most academics do not want to let go of their courses". In May 2020, the Chair of Council announced "with sadness" that Corbridge will retire on 31 July 2021. He will continue to lead the University until that date.
Corbridge has made several major contributions to international development theory, beginning in 1986 with his critiques of radical development. His empirical work is on peasant economy and rural development in India, and the nature of the Indian state as that country undergoes rapid transformation into a capitalist economy.
