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PhD/MPhil Molecular Biology / Programme details

Year of entry: 2024

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Programme description

Our PhD/MPhil Molecular Biology programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Molecular Biology.

Molecular biologists seek to understand the molecular basis of cellular processes in microbial, animal and plant systems and also how this underpins clinically relevant subjects including cancer, embryology, development, movement disorders, arthritis, bacterial pathogenesis, tissue injury and repair.

Research is focused on how genes are expressed and how their products interact with other molecules to exert a biological effect. This involves studies of the mechanisms that control transcription, RNA processing and translational events with a view to understanding their roles in regulating cell processes and organisation in living systems. In vitro and in vivo investigations exploit state-of-the-art technologies, including gene editing and genomics/proteomics approaches, to visualise the activity of genes and gene products. These approaches provide a strong link with our strengths in Bioinformatics.

Examples of the breadth and diversity of molecular biology research at Manchester include:

• Transcriptional regulation and signal transduction;
• RNA processing and protein synthesis;
• apoptosis and cell fate;
• molecular basis of inherited diseases;
• cell and tissue morphogenesis;
• biological clocks;
• transgenic technologies;

Special features

Training and development

All of our postgraduate researchers attend the Doctoral Academy Training Programme delivered by the Researcher Development team . The programme provides key transferable skills and equips our postgraduate researchers with the tools to progress beyond their research degree into influential positions within academia, industry and consultancy. The emphasis is on enhancing skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals, whether they relate to effective communication, disseminating research findings and project management skills.

Teaching and learning

Applicants are specifically matched with a Primary Supervisor and individual project based on their research interests and background.

International applicants interested in this research area can also consider our PhD programme with integrated teaching certificate .

This unique programme will enable you to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, whilst also carrying out independent research on your chosen project.

Scholarships and bursaries

Funded programmes and projects are promoted throughout the year. Funding is available through UK Research Councils, charities and industry. We also have other internal awards and scholarships for the most outstanding applicants from within the UK and overseas.

For more information on available the types of funding we have available, please visit the  funded programmes  and  funding opportunities  pages.

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PhD Postgraduate research in Molecular Biology

Why choose this course?

PhD students at the Wolverhampton School of Sciences are supervised by academics who are leading experts in their particular area of expertise. At least one academic in each supervisory team will have a track record of successful supervisions.

The Wolverhampton School of Sciences prides itself on the levels of support provided to postgraduate research students in the course of their PhD journey. Our academics meet regularly with their supervisees, and work closely with them at all stages of the project, from inception to completion.

The University of Wolverhampton provides a collegiate research environment and first-class facilities to its PhD students, including a dedicated postgraduate research room, access to the University’s Harrison Learning Centre and leading databases in the electronic resources.

Postgraduate research students are encouraged to present their research to University academics and fellow PhD students at colloquia within the Wolverhampton School of Sciences, which provide an encouraging and friendly environment for students to sharpen their research and presentation skills.

Our postgraduate research students are afforded the opportunity to develop their research skills through participation in training events organised by the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the University’s Doctoral College.

What happens on the course?

The PhD programme in the School has the following three milestones:

Registration

Progression

Examination

Applicants who satisfy the entry requirements are encouraged to complete the online 'Expression of Interest' form. If the initial application is satisfactory, a conditional offer will be issued and a potential supervisor will be allocated who will provide guidance on the research proposal development.

An interview will take place when the final draft of the research proposal is submitted for approval. The granting of the interview does not imply that the applicant will necessarily be admitted to a research degree programme. Subject to the satisfactory interview and that the Faculty Research Committee (FRC) is satisfied that: a) the research proposal is sound and has the potential to deliver a postgraduate research award; and b) the proposal is appropriately resourced, the applicant will be admitted to the research degree programme.

All students who wish to study for a PhD are required to complete a progression within 18 months (for full-time students) or 36 months (for part-time students). The student at the progression needs to produce a paper which summarises his/her achievements on the research programme and outlines future research plans (including research methods), and conduct an oral presentation of the paper at a workshop set up for the progression purpose.

An independent assessor, nominated by the FRC, reviews the paper produced, together with supervisors’ assessment, the student’s presentation and other evidence. On this basis, the assessor will provide evaluative comments and recommendations to the FRC. Upon considering all aspects, the FRC may recommend that the student a) proceed as proposed; b) proceed subject to changes or amendments being made, addressing the concerns raised; c) be placed 'at risk'; or d) change the research degree originally sought.

Towards the end of the research programme, the student will be examined on the basis of a thesis and an oral examination (viva voce). Normally two qualified examiners are appointed, at least one of whom is external to the institution. If the student is a member of staff at the University, then a second external examiner will be appointed. Following the oral examination, the examiners will make recommendations to the University’s Research Award Sub-Committee (RASC) whether the research degree sought can be awarded.

Potential Career Paths

Research degrees in the Wolverhampton School of Sciences can provide students with opportunities in a multitude of career paths, including academia, government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

Why Wolverhampton?

The University of Wolverhampton (UoW) is home to approximate 23,000 students. The UoW’s research and innovation activities have won the 2013 UK Knowledge Transfer Award, and the 2014 UK Collaborative IMPACT award. It is also the holder of the Athena Swan Bronze Award and the HR Excellence in Research Award.

What skills will you gain?

In addition to the regular supervision provided by supervisors, our PhD students will also be provided with training opportunities by the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the University’s Doctoral College.

University Research Conference – The University Research Conference is held in June for research active staff and PhD students to showcase their areas of research and exchange research initiatives. Research students are welcome to make presentations during their period of study. Research students are also encouraged to disseminate final results of their research prior to submission.

University Research Training - Students are encouraged to participate in training provided by the Doctoral College not only because of its intrinsic value but also because these sessions may facilitate meetings with post-graduates outside the school.

Teaching Skills Development - At the Wolverhampton School of Sciences, we understand that postgraduate research students wish to develop their academic CVs while with us. For this reason, research students are provided the opportunity to undergo teaching skills development. The Wolverhampton School of Sciences seeks to ensure, wherever possible, that PhD students have the opportunity to teach on relevant undergraduate modules.

Course Fees and Finance

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure , with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

  Applicants for a research degree shall normally hold either:

 • a first or upper second class honours degree, or

 • a master’s degree, or

 • evidence of prior practice or learning that is accepted by the Dean of Research.

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English at least to the level of an IELTS score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no individual element less than 6.0. The only exemption to this is for students who are not required to do so as per UKVI regulations: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english. 

Financial support for research study:

Before applying, you should consider carefully how you will finance your studies for the duration of your programme, including tuition fees, research support fees and living costs.

Government loans (Home Fee Status):

Government loans are available for postgraduate research students of up to £28,673, to cover fees and living expenses. More information can be found at Doctoral-loans website.

Studying in the UK: Guidance for EU students

For 2021/22 new entrants, EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for home fee status and financial support from Student Finance England.

Self-funded:

We are able to take payments in instalments, to spread out the cost of your studies, and it is possible to switch between full-time and part-time modes of study. For more information go to How to pay.

Postgraduate Research Loyalty Discount:

To students progressing from an undergraduate programme and/or a taught postgraduate programme to a postgraduate research programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree and/or Masters level qualification, as long as the new award is at a higher level.

Research councils:

The UK Research and Innovation funds postgraduate study in all subject areas on a discretionary basis.

University Research Studentships:

Other sources:

Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

01902 32 22 22

[email protected]

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  Why study dynamic molecular cell biology?

Our understanding and treatment of human disease is increasingly dependent on research undertaken by cell biologists.

While human genomics can identify gene mutations and perturbed levels of gene expression that lie at the heart of complex diseases, simply identifying these genes is, by itself, insufficient to understand the disease process.

In order to understand gene function in a cellular and tissue/organism context, and to fully appreciate a cellular process, it is vital to examine its dynamics in living cells, tissues and organisms. Only then is it possible to validate new protein targets for which rational drug design may help reduce aspects of the disease pathology.

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Why study at Bristol?

The University of Bristol is one of the UK’s leading institutes using advanced cell imaging to assist the study of cell biology. Underpinned by these core facilities, we have designed our programme to provide an intentionally broad research framework, drawing on the expertise of a wide range of specialists across the faculty. This gives you the freedom to focus on research that most interests you while being able to explore varied, supporting aspects of cellular and molecular biology.

We offer you the invaluable opportunity of joining an exceptional scientific environment at the beginning of your research career, helping you to develop the intellectual and practical knowledge required to study modern cell biology and, importantly, how to apply and translate this to human disease.

What funding does the programme provide?

This programme is fully-funded by the  Wellcome Trust . The Trust provides funding to cover PhD programme fees at UK/EU student rate, research expenses, a stipend for living expenses, contribution towards travel and a contribution towards transferable-skills training.

Programme details

Key admissions information, including overview, structure, core research areas, eligibility criteria and more.

Our students

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A great programme where the first-year rotations allow you to experience different labs and learn a whole range of interesting techniques before settling into your PhD project.

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Biosciences PhD

£4,778 FT (UK students) £2,389 PT (UK students) £27,360 FT (International Students) More detail

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Our Biosciences PhD offers four key themes, each representing areas of research excellence in human, animal, plant, microbial, cell and molecular biology. The course sits within the School of Biosciences, which has excellent teaching and research profiles.

Research in the School of Biosciences centres around four interlinked groupings, which focus on multi and interdisciplinary research.

Each theme represents areas of research excellence in human, animal, plant, microbial, cell and molecular biology, and these areas integrate with systems biology and structural biology.

If you already have a supervisor in mind, you can contact them directly about their projects currently on offer.

Research students at the School are members of the Biosciences Graduate Research School, and receive training in many generic and transferable skills in addition to those that are specific to their research discipline. We give special emphasis to postgraduate student research training, including regular monitoring of progress and the provision of an induction programme and short courses in core and specialised techniques. 

You can study for a PhD on campus or by  Distance Learning . 

In the video Professor Neil Hotchin describes what studentships are available for studying a PhD in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.

PhD funding opportunities

• CENTA NERC  
• Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP)
• Wellcome IMI
• Physical science for health
• Darwin Studentships
• The Forest Edge Doctoral scholarship

PhD by Distance Learning

The following research staff in the School of Biosciences may be able to offer a project appropriate for the distance learning programme. Clicking on the name below will take you to their research profile. If the option of a PhD by Distance Learning is one that appeals to you, please contact the relevant member of staff to discuss further. 

• Professor John Colbourne
• Professor Rob Jackson
• Dr Lindsey Leach
• Dr Nigel Maxted
• Dr Jim Reynolds
• Dr Eugenio Sanchez-Moran

There is a postgraduate seminar programme at which students present their work and all students are strongly encouraged to participate at national and international meetings. The School also provides each PhD student financial support to become a student member of a learned Society of their choice.

Standard fees  apply - For international students, this programme is in Fee Band 3a  (Laboratory)

Fees for 2024/25

• Code 5818: £4,778 FT (UK students)
• Code 5752: £2,389 PT (UK students)
• Code 5818: £27,360 FT only (International Students)

Learn more about  fees and funding . 

Are you an international applicant?

Find out more about the deposit >> .

Scholarships and studentships

A number of studentships funded by UK Research Councils (eg BBSRC) and other major sponsors (e.g. Cancer Research-UK) are available each year for home and EU students. For more information contact Postgraduate Admissions on +44 (0)121 414 5922 or email: [email protected] . International students may be eligible for a bursary of £4,000 per year awarded by the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. For more information visit Postgraduate Scholarships and Funding . Darwin studentships in Bacterial Molecular Genetics may also be available to non-UK students.

For further information contact the School directly or get in touch with the Funding, Graduation & Awards via the online enquiries system .

How To Apply

Please note: A research proposal is not required when applying for a Biosciences PhD/MPhil.

For applicants to the PhD Distance Learning study mode only:

As part of the application process, we will ask you to provide evidence to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study for a PhD by Distance Learning. Please be prepared to provide evidence, and details, of the following:

• Examples of your postgraduate research experience and ability to work independently e.g. papers/presentations at professional and academic conferences or publications in professional journals or previous completion of an independent research project, etc.
• Full reasons (academic and personal) for registering for the distance learning mode of study rather than by standard full or part-time on-campus options. In particular, how you will be able to carry out your project in your chosen location.
• Access to local library facilities (where needed)
• Access to IT facilities
• Access to communications, including e-mail, and audiovisual communication media e.g. Skype and Facetime
• Access to facilities to support any study-related disability (where appropriate)
• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

At least a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent, or a postgraduate Masters, in a relevant subject

Learn more about entry requirements.

International students

Standard English language requirements apply.

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below.  Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table)  ,  Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2022（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 。  

Business School    - MSc programmes (excluding MBA)  

商学院硕士课程（MBA除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学 学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education  (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies  全部硕士课程 International Development Department  全部硕士课程

  All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

• Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
• Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

International Students

Standard English language requirements  apply (IELTS: 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any band)

The four School research themes are:

• Biosystems and environmental change
• Microbiology and Infection
• Cells and Molecules
• Plant Science and Food Security

Each theme represents areas of research excellence in human, animal, plant, microbial, cell and molecular biology.

If I gain a postgraduate research degree in this area, what are my career prospects?

Birmingham’s Bioscience graduates develop transferable skills that are useful in many occupations. These include experience with a variety of modern research methods; the ability to manage and analyse large and diverse quantities of information; the ability to organise information in a logical and coherent manner; analysing and evaluating complex information; and making reasoned arguments, both orally, in meetings, conferences and other presentations, and in written work. There are many careers where a bioscience qualification is useful and past graduates have entered areas including ecology, laboratory research in a number of different fields, clinical science, recruitment, and commercial management. Some of our PhD graduates also continue onto successful careers in academic research and teaching.

What type of career assistance is available to doctoral researchers in this department?

The College of Life and Environmental Sciences, to which the School of Biosciences belongs, has specially designated careers advisors and careers consultants who can provide guidance for doctoral researchers on career paths, CVs, training opportunities, application and interviews. The University’s central Careers Network also runs workshops and offers personally tailored advice and guidance including 1-1 careers advice and 1-1 CV advice. Careers Network also runs CV writing workshops especially for postgraduates, giving advice on how to compile CVs for both employment and for academic roles.

The University also has dedicated careers advisors for International students who run workshops and networking opportunities with potential employers. These are especially popular with International postgraduate researchers.

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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

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About the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is a world-class research laboratory, dedicated to understanding important biological processes at the molecular level – with the goal of using this knowledge to tackle major problems in human health and disease.

The LMB is one of the birthplaces of modern molecular biology. Many techniques were pioneered at the laboratory, including DNA sequencing, methods for determining the three-dimensional structure of proteins and the development of  monoclonal antibodies .

Over the years, the work of LMB scientists has attracted 12  Nobel prizes , dozens of  Royal Society awards  and numerous other scientific honours.

In addition, many of our scientists have succeeded in exploiting their discoveries through  technology transfer  generating over £700 million of commercial income, to help support UK science.

2 courses offered in the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Biological science (mrc laboratory of molecular biology) - phd.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is one of the world's leading research institutes. Discoveries and inventions developed at the LMB such as DNA sequencing or methods to determine the structure of proteins, have revolutionised all areas of biology. Our scientists work to advance the current knowledge of biological processes at the molecular level. This information will help us to understand the workings of complex systems, such as the immune system and the brain, and solve key problems in human health.

Every year the LMB International PhD Programme welcomes 20–30 postgraduate students from universities all over the world to do cutting-edge research. At the LMB, we aim to train the scientific leaders of the future: we seek engaged and motivated students, give them rewarding research projects and provide a supportive environment with access to world-class facilities and experts.

Our building is at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, a hub of one of the largest and most internationally competitive concentrations of healthcare-related talent and enterprise in Europe. The LMB building's stunning design is home to a globally competitive research centre with state of the art facilities for making the discoveries of the 21st century.

We have an active student association, founded and run entirely by students, who organise numerous events specifically for postgraduates. Postgraduate students register for their PhD with the University of Cambridge and belong to a Cambridge College.

More Information

Biological Science (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology) by thesis - MPhil - Closed

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology occasionally takes on MPhil students providing they have the support of a group leader in the Laboratory. To obtain support from a group leader, students should contact them directly. For information on our faculty members’ research interests, please visit the Research and the Group Leaders pages on the LMB website.

The research MPhil is assessed by submission of a thesis and an oral examination. Students start in October and the thesis is submitted by the end of August.

Applicants will generally have a bioscience background, but applicants with a computational, physics or mathematical background can also apply.

3 courses also advertised in the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Biological sciences bbsrc dtp - phd - closed.

From the School of the Biological Sciences

The Cambridge Biosciences DTP is a four year fully-funded PhD programme that aims to create highly skilled and employable people. The programme offers training across 23 University Departments/Institutes and 3 Partner Institutes providing access to a wide range of research areas related to the strategic themes of the BBSRC. We offer three types of DTP studentships:

• DTP Standard

During the programme, DTP Standard and Targeted students will undertake two ten-week rotations in different labs before commencing their PhD. They will receive training in a variety of areas including but not limited to statistics, programming, ethics, data analysis, scientific writing and public engagement. Students will also undertake a 12-week internship (PIPS).

iCase students are not required to undertake rotations but may do so if they feel that this training would be useful. They must undertake a placement with their Industrial Partner for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 18 months.

Students will be expected to submit their thesis at the end of the fourth year.

Part-time study, whilst not the norm, may be viable, depending on the project, and will be considered on a case by case basis so please discuss this option with your proposed supervisor before making an application for this mode of study.

Clinical Medicine Wellcome Trust - PhD - Closed

From the Faculty of Clinical Medicine

We provide high-quality research training to clinical health professionals with an aptitude for research to enable them to become future leaders in medical and healthcare science. We offer training in an outstanding environment, spanning basic science, translational medicine, interdisciplinary, behavioural and applied health research.

We take great pride in our track record of successfully training health professionals to undertake the highest quality research across Cambridge and Norwich. We offer one of the most rewarding environments in which you could pursue your research training with world-leading researchers in The  Schools of Clinical Medicine and Biological Sciences at the Universities of Cambridge, Wellcome Sanger Institute and other MRC, Wellcome & Cancer Research UK funded Institutes, Centres & Units in the wider Cambridge area, as well as the School of Health Sciences and Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia with other partners on the Norwich Research Park.  The most important criteria we are looking for are the pursuit of research excellence, hard work and the will to make a difference to health.

The programme faculty provides mentoring and guidance on opportunities to undertake pre-doctoral research placements, enabling successful candidates to make an informed choice of PhD project and supervisor.  Bespoke training and support for career development for fellows, together with support to supervisors, ensures a successful research experience.  Post-doctorally, we will guide fellows based on their individual progress, to make the transition into higher research fellowships and clinical pathways, enabling ongoing training with continuance of research momentum.

National Institutes of Health Oxford/Cambridge Programme NIH Ox/Cam - PhD

From the Department of Medicine

This innovative programme was established in 2002 as a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. Its aim is to train outstanding students in biomedical research, taking advantage of the excellent research environments in Cambridge and the US. Students work on collaborative projects organised by co-supervisors in Cambridge and the NIH, spending two years at each institution. Students have access to all NIH facilities and are paid by the NIH. The PhD is awarded by the University of Cambridge.

Department Members

Dr jan löwe head of department, dr cristina rada director of graduate studies.

• 54 Academic Staff
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• 106 Graduate Students

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UCL Division of Biosciences

• Benedetto De Martino
• Jason Rihel
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• Frequently Asked Questions
• Neuroscience - Andrew Copp
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Research interests span the scales from molecules to organisms, including humans. We have particular Research strengths in structural and molecular biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, ecology, cell biology, development and neuroscience.  

Doctoral Training Programmes for new student applications

    PhD programmes

• BBSRC London Interdisciplinary Biosciences PhD Consortium
• Cell and Developmental Biology PhD
• Genetics, Evolution and Environment PhD
• UCL Birkbeck MRC Doctoral Training Programme
• London NERC DTP
• Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology PhD
• Wellcome Trust PhD in Neuroscience
• Structural and Molecular Biology PhD
• UK Food Systems Centre for Doctoral Training

Find out more about PhD programmes offered by UCL Biosciences research departments

Cell and Developmental Biology PhDs

Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology PhDs

Genetics, Evolution and Environment PhDs

Structural and Molecular Biology PhDs

Thinking about studying for a phd.

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Frequently asked questions

Find out more about studying for a PhD at UCL Division of Biosciences.

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Biological Sciences PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Biological Sciences

Upcoming Introduction to Postgraduate Study and Research events

Join us online on the 19th June or 26th June to learn more about studying and researching at Edinburgh.

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Research profile

Based in King's Buildings Campus at the University of Edinburgh, our staff and students within the School of Biological Sciences are the modern inheritors of a 400-year-old reputation for excellence with Nobel laureates among our notable alumni.

Currently at the leading edge in teaching, research and innovation, we are ranked top 5 in the UK and top 30 in the world for biological sciences in both the QS and Times Higher Education world university rankings (2024).

Key to our success is the highly dynamic and supportive research environment we offer our postgraduate research community; we offer students the tools and confidence they need to make a lasting, positive impact in our world.

Within the School our research is clustered into six large research institutes:

• Institute of Cell Biology
• Institute of Ecology and Evolution
• Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences
• Institute of Immunology & Infection
• Institute for Stem Cell Research (Centre for Regenerative Medicine)
• Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of two experienced and well-published supervisors. Our staff have a wide range of research interests and we strongly encourage interdisciplinary research, working closely with physical sciences, engineering, medical and veterinary sciences.

Programme structure

Our PhD programmes are available as full-time or part-time study. The full-time route is 36 months and part-time 72 months, with study normally commencing in October. Both modes of study have an optional additional 12 months, commonly used to write up the final thesis.

The first year of PhD studies is probationary. Your supervisor will identify your training needs and invite you to attend relevant training as appropriate. To successfully progress onto the next year of study students must pass an annual review.

Annual reviews

Students submit a 10-week report and a 10-month report, both assessed by the thesis committee. Each committee comprises of the student's supervisory team, the committee chair, and up to two additional academic staff members.

The 10-week report is a short report outlining the project, with the 10-month report an extended version that includes a literature survey. While meeting their thesis committee, students deliver an oral presentation of their work.

Students complete a presentation during the School’s annual Poster Day. Academic staff and peers review presentations, with feedback discussed with the thesis committee during a 2nd year review meeting.

Students deliver a presentation to academic staff and their peers, traditionally during their Institute’s annual symposium. They also submit a thesis plan for their 3rd year review meeting that contains a timetable for completion, content listings of each chapter, completed work and highlighting outstanding tasks.

To be awarded a PhD, students must submit their final thesis and defend it in an oral examination (assessed according to the University's regulations).

Training and support

We encourage support in a range of academic subjects, transferable skills and personal development. All students who join the programme will have access to our core training and development programme or our specialist cohort-programmes (e.g. EASTBIO).

Our training environment is highly dynamic, with students learning through hands-on, laboratory-based projects as well as guided reading, one-to-one supervision, group seminars, societies and workshops.

The University of Edinburgh Main Library, open to all students, has one of the largest and most important collections in Britain. It has some two million items including the latest publications, key texts, and rare books.

The School of Biological Sciences is based wholly within King's Buildings and in close proximity to the Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library, well stocked with specialist literature, subscription databases and group study rooms and silent study spaces.

Students, dependent on their field of study, will also have access to a range of specialist laboratories and equipment, and state-of-the-art facilities. Examples include:

• imaging facilities including the Central Optical Instrumentation Laboratory (COIL) and Collaborative Optical Spectroscopy Micromanipulation & Imaging Centre (COSMIC)
• advanced flow cytometry facilities, including sorting and analysis
• cutting-edge proteomics facility and automated drug-screening platforms
• Edinburgh Genomics, a University-based sequencing and bioinformatics facility
• multiomics facilities
• the Edinburgh Genome Foundry
• cell culture facilities
• expertise in genomic editing (animal and plant)
• animal and plant facilities

The School also has strong collaborative links to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to give access to an even broader range of facilities and expertise.

Postgraduate students are given their own desk space in shared student offices and have similar access to facilities available to academic and support staff. Wireless network access is available in many parts of the University campus.

Career opportunities

The School of Biological Sciences offers training events and support for all our postgraduate research students in both academic and key life skills. In collaboration with the University’s Institute of Academic Development (IAD), we also provide a supportive training programme for students hired as tutors and demonstrators.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject. You should have some research experience and be able to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the field you propose to study.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

• Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU , EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Fees and costs

Scholarships and funding.

School of Biological Sciences PhD funding

Research scholarships for international students

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Postgraduate Research Administrator
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5525
• Contact: [email protected]
• Graduate School of Biological Sciences
• Mary Brück Building
• Colin Maclaurin Road
• The King's Buildings Campus
• Programme: Biological Sciences
• School: Biological Sciences
• College: Science & Engineering

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Biological Sciences - 3 Years (Full-time)

Application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible, and before the funding deadline.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

You should submit two references with your application. Before applying you should identify potential supervisors from the School of Biological Sciences and discuss your proposal.

You can find more information on how to apply at our website:

• Postgraduate research at the School of Biological Sciences

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.

To carry out a three year PhD with the University of Cambridge, you will need sufficient funds to cover the University fee (your course costs) and your “maintenance” – that is, your accommodation, meals, books, travel, clothes and any other expenses that you incur while you study (see  fees and costs ).

You need to apply using the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal regardless of the source of your funding.

During the application process you will automatically be considered for the appropriate LMB funding:

• MRC Studentships for UK and international students (a limited number are available)
• César Milstein Studentship for Argentinian Nationals

You will also be able to indicate in your application whether you:

• Wish to apply for LMB Cambridge Trust Scholarships (for international graduates from the EU, the Commonwealth and other overseas countries)
• Wish to apply for University-wide funding competitions (e.g.  Gates ,  Cambridge Overseas & Commonwealth Trusts , and other Cambridge Home and Overseas Scholarships, etc.)
• Wish to apply for a College studentship (from a University of Cambridge college)
• Have an external scholarship or competitively awarded own funding

If you have not already secured your own funding, we recommend that – before making an online application – you explore your eligibility for:

LMB funding

University of cambridge sources of funding.

• Studentships from your home country (if you are applying from overseas)

Approximately three quarters of LMB students receive full or partial funding from the LMB, through MRC studentships, the LMB Cambridge Scholarship scheme and other funds administered by the LMB (all of which provide funding for up to 4 years).

All LMB PhD students also receive a training and conference travel allowance provided by the LMB (this is in addition to any fee and maintenance funding they may be receiving).

Applicants to the LMB PhD programme who have not already secured their own funding will be considered for the appropriate LMB student funding (through the Application Portal application process). However, please be aware that competition for the available funding is very high.

The following LMB funding is available through open competition to prospective PhD students:

MRC Studentships

We offer up to 17 fully funded MRC Studentships.

The full MRC studentships cover all University fees and provide an annual maintenance allowance (£21,350 tax-free).

A limited number of LMB awarded MRC studentships are available to international candidates. This will cover the annual maintenance allowance for (£21,350 tax-free) and University fees at the home level. The remaining fees will be covered from alternative funding.

LMB Cambridge Trust Scholarships

In collaboration with the Cambridge Commonwealth European and International Trust , the LMB offers up to four scholarships to outstanding international graduates to pursue a course of research leading to a PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Cambridge.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the University of Cambridge entrance requirements and specify that they wish to apply for Cambridge Trust funding in the online application.

However, please be aware that competition for LMB Cambridge Scholarships is particularly high. Due to this high level of competition, candidates who also have a first class Master’s degree, or its equivalent, and/or considerable laboratory experience may have an advantage.

These Scholarships, tenable for four years, provide full University fees and a maintenance allowance (£20,250 tax-free) for a single student. The Scholarship also covers visa costs, health surcharge and initial travel costs (subject to conditions).

César Milstein Studentships (for Argentinian nationals)

In memory of César Milstein and his contributions to science, Professors Kenneth and Noreen Murray, at the Darwin Trust in Edinburgh, established the César Milstein Studentship. There is one award per year tenable in the LMB’s Division of  Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry  (PNAC), where Milstein carried out most of his research work. Milstein conducted many seminal studies in molecular immunology – the pinnacle being his invention of the method for monoclonal antibody isolation. He was awarded the  Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine in 1984  for this work.

The fellowship is in the form of a graduate studentship for four years, to allow the recipient to carry out research in the PNAC division. Candidates should be of Argentinian nationality  and hold a first degree (Hons) in science.

Application deadline: 1 March each year.

Neuberger Studentship

In memory of Michael Neuberger and his contributions to science, the Max Perutz Fund in collaboration with Trinity College established a studentship based at the LMB, awarded to outstanding PhD candidates of any nationality. The successful candidate will be registered with the University of Cambridge and Trinity College.

There are a large number of scholarships and sources of financial aid available to prospective LMB graduate students. (NB: Over a third of our graduate students secure competitive external funding such as Gates or Boehringer Ingelheim Scholarships or studentships from their home country). When you apply for the LMB PhD programme, the  Applicant Portal  will give you the opportunity to indicate that you want to be considered for a number of major  scholarships from the University of Cambridge  and elsewhere. These are:

• Gates Cambridge Trust  – (for international students – except UK)
• Cambridge Trust
• Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarships

University of Cambridge funds are also available for particular projects or nationals. For example  Cambridge Africa  offers advice and funding for postgraduates from Africa applying for courses at Cambridge.

Early application is recommended.  Deadline dates for applications for the LMB International PhD Programme starting in October 2024 are as follows:

• US Gates Scholarship (US applicants only) – 11th October 2023
• General applications (UK, EU and overseas applicants) – 5th December 2023

All supporting documents and references must be received by the above dates.

Please note that these are not the only sources of funding you can apply for. Before beginning the application process, we recommend that you explore the full range of funds available. Helpful information on  funding for prospective students  is available on the University of Cambridge’s graduate admissions website.

The University also provides a useful postgraduate funding  search facility , which allows you to explore the hundreds of other sources of student funding administered by offices, departments, faculties, institutions, NUIs (Non-University Institutions) or colleges of the University of Cambridge.

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• Postgraduate study

Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z

• Molecular Genetics
• Staff research interests search

Postgraduate research  

Molecular Genetics PhD/iPhD/MSc (Research)

Our research lies at the interface of organismal, functional and systems biology. Our principal investigators are internationally-recognised for their research on insect functional genomics, mechanism and application of DNA-rearranging enzymes, the translational genetics of myotonic dystrophy and related unstable DNA disorders and systems biology including ‘omics analysis and computational frameworks.

Research projects

Identification of cis- and trans-acting genetic modifiers of somatic expansion as novel therapeutic targets in the repeat expansion disorders.

Supervisor :  Darren Monckton

Project description : At least 40 human disorders, including Huntington disease and myotonic dystrophy, are caused by the expansion of a simple sequence repeat [1].

More repeats are associated with a more severe form of the disease. Expanded disease-associated alleles are highly unstable and frequently expand during intergenerational transmission accounting for the anticipation observed in these disorders. Expanded disease-associated alleles are also unstable in the soma, in a process that is age-dependent, tissue-specific, and expansion-biased [2].

Notably, large expansions accumulate in affected tissues, such as the brain in Huntington disease and muscle in myotonic dystrophy, driving the tissue specificity and progressive nature of the symptoms. We have also established that residual variation in age at onset and disease severity not accounted for by inherited repeat length is inversely associated with residual variation in somatic expansion rates not accounted for by inherited repeat length and age (i.e., individuals in who the repeat expands more rapidly, get earlier and more severe symptoms than expected)[3-6].

As such, prevention of somatic expansions presents as a novel therapeutic target in these disorders. Insights from animal and cell models have revealed that expansions are critically dependent on the DNA mismatch repair pathway. Using candidate gene and genome-wide association studies we have also revealed that common polymorphisms in the some DNA repair genes modify the rate of somatic expansion and disease severity in both myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Huntington disease [5,7-10] However, powerful as such approaches are, the application of genome wide association studies in the repeat expansion disorders is limited by the rarity of the conditions that generally precludes the assembly of the very large cohorts needed to conduct them.

However, although expansions at the disease associated loci are rare, at least one locus, ERDA1, presents with a high frequency of expanded alleles (~20%) in the general population. These alleles are not associated with a disease state, but are genetically unstable. It is our hypothesis that, as we have done at the Huntington disease [5,11] and myotonic dystrophy type 1 loci, we can use high-throughput ultra-deep sequencing to derive individual-specific measures of mutational dynamics that act as biomarkers of genetic instability and can be used as molecular phenotypes in genome wide association studies. To this end, the student will address the following aims:

• Develop assay. Develop high-throughput ultra-deep sequencing assay for sequencing the triplet repeat at the ERDA1 locus.
• Determine the range of ERDA1 alleles present in general population. Sequence large numbers of alleles in the general population (from the Generation Scotland collection) to derive allele length distribution and identify potential variant repeats that we have shown to have a profound effect as cis-acting modifiers of somatic mutational dynamics and disease severity in myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Huntington disease [5,12].
• Measure somatic instability. The data generated will be used to quantify the degree of somatic mosaicism in the general population and determine the role of sequence purity, allele length and age in mediating the degree of somatic instability.
• Identification of therapeutic targets. After correcting for sequence purity, allele length and age, residual variation in somatic mosaicism will be used as a molecular phenotype in a genome wide association study in the Generation Scotland cohort. The results will identify novel therapeutic targets for the repeat expansion disorders.

Training outcomes : The studentship will provide training in state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technologies, bioinformatics (including use of the Galaxy platform), computational modelling and core skills such as the use of mathematics and statistics in handling large datasets and experimental design.

• Monckton. 2021. The contribution of somatic expansion of the CAG repeat to symptomatic development in Huntington’s disease: a historical perspective. J Huntingtons Dis 10, 7–33. https://doi.org/10.3233/JHD-200429
• Monckton et al. 1995. Somatic mosaicism, germline expansions, germline reversions and intergenerational reductions in myotonic dystrophy males: small pool PCR analyses. Hum Mol Genet 4, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/4.1.1
• Overend et al. 2019. Allele length of the DMPK CTG repeat is a predictor of progressive myotonic dystrophy type 1 phenotypes. Hum Mol Genet 28, 2245–2254. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddz055
• Cumming et al. 2019. Genetic determinants of disease severity in the myotonic dystrophy type 1 OPTIMISTIC cohort. Neurology 93, e995-e1009. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000008056
• Ciosi et al. 2019. A genetic association study of glutamine-encoding DNA sequence structures, somatic CAG expansion, and DNA repair gene variants, with Huntington disease clinical outcomes. EBioMedicine 48, 568–580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.09.020
• Morales et al. 2012. Somatic instability of the expanded CTG triplet repeat in myotonic dystrophy type 1 is a heritable quantitative trait and modifier of disease severity. Hum Mol Genet 21, 3558–3567. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/dds185
• Morales et al. 2016. A polymorphism in the MSH3 mismatch repair gene is associated with the levels of somatic instability of the expanded CTG repeat in the blood DNA of myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients. DNA Repair 40, 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dnarep.2016.01.001
• Genetic Modifiers of Huntington’s Disease Consortium et al. 2019. CAG repeat not polyglutamine length determines timing of Huntington’s disease onset. Cell 178, 887–900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.06.036
• Flower et al. 2019. MSH3 modifies somatic instability and disease severity in Huntington's and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Brain 142, 1876–1886. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz115
• Morales et al. 2016. A polymorphism in the MSH3 mismatch repair gene is associated with the levels of somatic instability of the expanded CTG repeat in the blood DNA of myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients. DNA Repair 40, 57–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dnarep.2016.01.001
• Ciosi et al. 2018. Library preparation and MiSeq sequencing for the genotyping-by-sequencing of the Huntington disease HTT exon one trinucleotide repeat and the quantification of somatic mosaicism. Protocol Exchange. https://doi.org/10.1038/protex.2018.089
• Cumming et al. 2018. De novo gain of variant repeats in myotonic dystrophy type 1 is associated with reduced somatic instability and mild or absent clinical features. Eur J Hum Genet 26, 1635–1647. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-018-0156-9

Applications accepted all year round.

Mechanisms and applications of DNA site-specific recombinases

Supervisor:  Marshall Stark

Outline & aim: Site-specific recombinases are enzymes that promote rearrangements of DNA molecules, by cutting and rejoining DNA strands at precise places within short target sequences (sites). For example, a specific piece of DNA can be cut out of a larger molecule, or its orientation can be reversed. Our research group aims to understand in detail how recombinases catalyse these reactions, and how they are controlled. To do this we use high-resolution structural data and advanced techniques for laboratory analysis. Site-specific recombinases have tremendous potential as tools for manipulating DNA in the fields of biotechnology, synthetic biology and gene therapy. We are investigating how to engineer “designer recombinases” that are suitable for these purposes, and how to use them for novel applications.

The aim of the research project will be to advance our understanding in one of the areas outlined above. For example, the project might be an investigation of the mechanism of DNA strand cutting and rejoining, using novel “single-molecule” methodologies, or to develop novel designer recombinases suitable for targeting specific genes in a living organism for deletion or modification.

Techniques:

• analysis of high-resolution structures
• protein expression, purification and biochemistry
• methods for manipulation of DNA in E. coli
• cloning, sequencing, sequence analysis
• synthetic biology
• novel methods for gene assembly
• advanced methods for analysis of protein-DNA complexes, including single-molecule methods
• Olorunniji, F.J. Rosser, S.J. and Stark, W.M. (2016) Site-specific recombinases: molecular machines for the Genetic Revolution. Biochem. J. 473 , 673-684.
• Olorunniji, F.J. et al. (2017). Control of serine integrase recombination directionality by fusion with the directionality factor . Nucleic Acids Res. 45 , 8635-8645.
• Proudfoot, C., McPherson, A.L., Kolb, A.F. and Stark, W.M. (2011) Zinc Finger recombinases with adaptable DNA sequence specificity. PLoS ONE 6 , e19537.

Our staff have leading expertise and funding in human and model organism research including Drososophila melanogaster and microbes; as well as ‘omics - genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics. They utilise a multi-disciplinary approach within the School of Molecular Biosciences  with core links to Glasgow Polyomics; and have good external links with industry. Research in molecular genetics has strong alignment with the broad areas of agriculture and food security; bioscience for health; and industrial biotechnology and bioenergy.

Research topics are allied to ongoing research within the School. Projects can be related to either fundamental or translational science including clinical science and sustainable agriculture. Multi-disciplinary research approaches applied within the molecular genetics research programme include molecular genetics (human, Drosophila and microbial genetics), biochemistry, molecular biology, systems biology, ‘omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics), bioinformatics and synthetic biology, as well as cellular imaging of biological functions using advanced technology. Specific areas of interest include:

• modelling kidney disease in Drosophila
• insect neuropeptides and GPCRs
• ‘omics and network modelling in Drosophila
• designer recombinases for genome engineering
• DNA rearrangements for Synthetic Biology
• topoisomerases and DNA topology
• mutational dynamics of unstable DNA in human disease
• new approaches to transcriptomic data analysis
• computational frameworks for omics data integration

Our PhD programme provides excellent training in cutting edge technologies that will be applicable to career prospects in both academia and industry. Many of our PhD graduates go on to research positions in academia, as well as to industry, and to policy and government organisations.

We have strong research connections with international collaborators. Funds are available through the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences to allow visits to international laboratories where part of your project can be carried out. This provides an excellent opportunity for networking and increasing the scientific knowledge and skill set of our PhD students.

Study options

• Duration:  3/4 years full-time; 5 years part-time

Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators.

Integrated PhD programmes (5 years)

Our  Integrated PhD  allows you to combine masters level teaching with your chosen research direction in a 1+3+1 format. 

International students with MSc and PhD scholarships/funding do not have to apply for 2 visas or exit and re-enter the country between programmes. International and UK/EU students may apply.

Taught masters level modules are taken alongside students on our masters programmes. Our research-led teaching supports you to fine tune your research ideas and discuss these with potential PhD supervisors. You will gain a valuable introduction to academic topics, research methods, laboratory skills and the critical evaluation of research data. Your grades must meet our requirements in order to gain entry on to your pre-selected PhD research project. If not, you will have the options to pay outstanding MSc fees and complete with masters degree only.

Years 2, 3 and 4

PhD programme with research/lab work, completing an examinable piece of independent research in year 4.

Thesis write up.

MSc (Research)

• Duration : 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

Entry requirements

A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:

Toefl (ibt, my best or athome).

• 79; with Reading 13; Listening 12; Speaking 18;Writing 21
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

• 59 with minimum 59 in all subtests

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

• 176 overall, no subtest less than 169

Oxford English Test

• Oxford ELLT 7
• R&L: OIDI level no less than 6 with Reading: 21-24 Listening: 15-17
• W&S: OIDI level no less than 6

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country  and  within the last 6 years
• students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country  and  within the last 6 years

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• School of Modern Languages and Cultures: English for Academic Study
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses

Fees and funding

• UK: £4,786
• International & EU: £30,240

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School with us. The discount is applied at registration for students who are not in receipt of another discount or scholarship funded by the University. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

The iPhD  is not supported by University of Glasgow Scholarship/Funding

• External funding information

The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Graduate School provides a vibrant, supportive and stimulating environment for all our postgraduate students. We aim to provide excellent support for our postgraduates through dedicated postgraduate convenors, highly trained supervisors and pastoral support for each student.   Our overarching aim is to provide a research training environment that includes:

• provision of excellent facilities and cutting edge techniques
• training in essential research and generic skills
• excellence in supervision and mentoring
• interactive discussion groups and seminars
• an atmosphere that fosters critical cultural policy and research analysis
• synergy between research groups and areas
• extensive multidisciplinary and collaborative research
• extensive external collaborations both within and beyond the UK 
• a robust generic skills programme including opportunities in social and commercial training

How to apply

Identify potential supervisors.

All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search .

Gather your documents

Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:

• Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
• Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document
• Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional [except iPhD applicants, where only one academic or professional reference is required]. References may be uploaded   as part of the application form or you may enter your referees contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference.  We can also accept confidential references direct to  [email protected] , from the referee’s university or business email account.
• Research proposal, CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area. iPhD applicants do not need to submit any of these as you will start your programme by choosing a masters.
• Completed  College of MVLS Postgraduate Research Cover Letter

Notes for iPhD applicants

• add 'I wish to study the MSc in (select MSc from IPhD project choices) as the masters taught component of the IPhD' in the research proposal box
• For supervisor name, please ensure you write the named supervisors from your chosen IPhD project.

Before you apply

PhD/MSc/MD: email  [email protected]

iPhD: email  [email protected]

After you have submitted your application

PhD/MSc/MD/iPhD:  contact our Admissions team

Any  references  may be submitted by email to:  [email protected]