university of bristol phd programs

School of Education

Doctoral programmes.

Join our welcoming community of doctoral students from across the world, who all play an integral part in our thriving research culture.

Find out more about our PhD programme details, such as entry requirement, duration, supervisors and tuition fees.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Education (EdD)

PhD Education prospectus page

Why choose Bristol?

Doctoral study at the School of Education offers:

• full access to a large range of seminars (often featuring national and international visitors)
• research student seminars and workshops
• access to specialist methodological support
• excellent specialist library services
• the opportunity to be part of one of our active research centres and networks , which have their own regular research events and seminars
• access to three high quality dedicated doctoral study spaces
• a full range of computing and information technology facilities
• annual two-day research conference run by doctoral students

How to apply

Read the application page and admissions statement for full details.

Apply for Education (PhD)

Bristol Doctoral College

Our Bristol Doctoral College supports the community of postgraduate researchers across our research degree programmes.

Our research focuses on driving change towards a more sustainable, inclusive and socially just world.

Doctoral studies in the School of Education has exceeded my expectations. There have been so many opportunities to meet and work with other PGRs and world-renowned academics. The support of my supervisors along with the taught modules has really supported me in the development of my research proposal.

REF 2021 results

In the most recent REF 2021, the School of Education was ranked in the top-ten leading UK centres for high quality and high impact research on education.

90% of the School’s research was assessed as either 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' with 60% of that in the 4* category. 

Results are from the Research Excellence Framework 2021 .

Student Services office

School of Education University of Bristol 35 Berkeley Square Bristol, BS8 1JA

Phone: +44 (0)  117 331 4234

Email:  Ed Phd Mailbox [email protected]

PhD in Population Health Sciences

Prepare for a high-impact career tackling public health problems from air pollution to obesity to global health equity to the social determinants of health.

The PhD in population health sciences is a multidisciplinary research degree that will prepare you for a career focused on challenges and solutions that affect the lives of millions around the globe. Collaborating with colleagues from diverse personal and professional backgrounds and conducting field and/or laboratory research projects of your own design, you will gain the deep expertise and powerful analytical and quantitative tools needed to tackle a wide range of complex, large-scale public health problems.

Focusing on one of five complementary fields of study at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and drawing on courses, resources, and faculty from the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, you will become well-versed in a wide variety of disciplines while gaining specialized knowledge in your chosen area of study.

As a population health sciences graduate, you will be prepared for a career in research, academics, or practice, tackling complex diseases and health problems that affect entire populations. Those interested in pursuing research may go on to work at a government agency or international organization, or in the private sector at a consulting, biotech, or pharmaceutical firm. Others may choose to pursue practice or on-the-ground interventions. Those interested in academics may become a faculty member in a college, university, medical school, research institute, or school of public health.

The PhD in population health sciences is a four-year program based at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the world-renowned Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. The degree will prepare you to apply diverse approaches to solving difficult public health research issues in your choice of one of five primary fields of study:

• Environmental health
• Epidemiology
• Social and behavioral sciences
• Global health and population

In your first semester, you and your faculty adviser will design a degree plan to guide you through the program’s interdisciplinary requirements and core courses, as well as those in your chosen field of study. After successfully completing the preliminary qualifying examination, usually at the end of your second year, you will finalize your general research topics and identify a dissertation adviser who will mentor you through the dissertation process and help you nominate a dissertation advisory committee.

All population health sciences students are trained in pedagogy and teaching and are required to work as a teaching fellow and/or research assistant to ensure they gain meaningful teaching and research experience before graduation. Students also attend a special weekly evening seminar that features prominent lecturers, grant-writing modules, feedback dinners, and training opportunities.

All students, including international students, who maintain satisfactory progress (B+ or above) receive a multiyear funding package, which includes tuition, fees , and a competitive stipend.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Anyone with a distinguished undergraduate record and a demonstrated enthusiasm for the rigorous pursuit of scientific public health knowledge is encouraged to apply. Although a previous graduate degree is not required, applicants should have successfully completed coursework in introductory statistics or quantitative methods. Preference will be given to applicants who have either some relevant work experience or graduate-level work in their desired primary field of study.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Like all PhD (doctor of philosophy) programs at the School, the PhD in population health sciences is offered under the aegis of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). Applications are processed through the Harvard Griffin GSAS online application system located at gsas.harvard.edu/admissions/apply.

OUR COMMUNITY: COMMITTED, ACCOMPLISHED, COLLABORATIVE

As a PhD in population health sciences candidate, you will be part of a diverse and accomplished group of students with a broad range of research and other interests. The opportunity to learn from each other and to share ideas both inside and outside the classroom will be one of the most rewarding and productive parts of the program for any successful candidate. The program in population health sciences provides these opportunities by sponsoring an informal curriculum of seminars, a dedicated student gathering and study area, and events that will enhance your knowledge, foster interaction with your peers, and encourage you to cooperatively evaluate scientific literature, while providing a supportive, collaborative community within which to pursue your degree.

As members of both the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences communities, students have access to the Cambridge and Longwood Medical Area campuses. Students also qualify for affordable transportation options, access to numerous lectures and academic seminars, and a wealth of services to support their academic and personal needs on both sides of the Charles River.

LEARN MORE Population Health Sciences Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health www.hsph.harvard.edu/phdphs

Careers Service Blog

Helping you get to where you want to be when you graduate

Writing a PhD research proposal

If you’re looking to apply for a phd program, one of the key requirements is writing a research proposal..

This document is essential, as it outlines your plans and will serve as a roadmap for the next few years. 

You won’t be completely bound to the contents of your proposal if you are successful in your application, there are many reasons your project might change and evolve over time.

You will be expected to stick broadly to what you originally proposed though, especially if you secure external funding.

Read on to find our top tips and advice on how to write a successful research proposal for your PhD application.

Once you’ve pulled a draft together, you may want someone at the Careers Service to check this over for you. If so, book a Careers Information and Advice appointment with us, or drop in to see us at 5 Tyndall Avenue.

What are your intentions?

Your research proposal needs to be convincing as a statement of intent and convey that you are serious about taking on a research project and training as a researcher. This means your proposal also needs to be tailored to the specific University and position you are applying for. Make sure you check their own specific advice and guidance on applications

Start early

Writing a research proposal can be a lengthy process, so it’s crucial to start early.

Give yourself plenty of time to conduct background research, refine your research question, and write the proposal itself.

Don’t leave it close to the deadlines for applying, as this could lead to unnecessary stress and a weaker proposal.  Try to think through how you might structure your PhD thesis in advance.

The more work you do to define the scope and approach of your research upfront, the less time you’ll need to spend on doing this during the PhD itself when the clock will already be ticking towards submission.

Conduct thorough background research 

Before you can write a research proposal, you must first conduct thorough background research on your chosen topic. This will enable you to refine your research question, identify gaps in the existing literature, and establish the importance of your research. It’s crucial to use and highlight credible sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles and books from reputable publishers. 

You will also need to research the University you are applying to and tailor your application to them. Do they have a specific research focus or purpose? Do they favour certain methodologies over others? 

Define your research question 

Once you have conducted your background research, you should be able to clearly define a research question.

It’s important to make sure your research question is clear, specific, achievable within the time and resources available to you, and contributes something new to your field of study. 

Be aware that PhD-level research needs to make an original contribution. This is the main criteria that will be assessed at the end of the process, so in a way, this is the most important part of your proposal. 

Justify your research 

Originality is not enough, especially in today’s competitive research environment, so you’ll also need to provide a clear justification for why your research is important and why it should be undertaken. This could involve discussing the gap in the literature that your research aims to fill, and why.  

Depending on your project and discipline you may also want to outline a hypothesis about your results, covering potential outcomes you expect in terms of practical applications or contributions to theory. 

Outline your methodology 

Your research methodology is the approach you’ll take to answer your research question. You’ll need to provide a clear outline of this in your proposal, including details of any data collection methods, sampling techniques, and data analysis methods you plan to use.

This can be refined over time, but make sure you choose an appropriate methodology for your question, and justify your choice. 

If there are any budgetary implications to your research, you should also include these. If you think this will be the case, talk to academics in your field to get a sense of what the appropriate spend looks like. 

Consider any ethical implications 

Depending on your topic and methodology, there may be ethical implications to consider. For example, if you’re conducting research with human participants, you’ll need to obtain ethical approval from your university’s ethics committee, and possibly elsewhere. It’s crucial to be aware of any ethical issues related to your research and address them appropriately in your proposal. 

Provide a timeline

Finally, you’ll need to provide a timeline for your research.

This should include details of when you plan to complete each stage of your research, from data collection to data analysis to writing up your findings.

Ensure your timeline is realistic and includes some slack to account for potential delays and unexpected issues that may arise (they will).

Writing a research proposal can be a challenging task but with sufficient time and awareness of the requirements you will get there.

By following the tips and advice outlined in this blog post, you’ll be well on your way to writing a successful proposal that showcases your research plan and sets you up for success in your PhD program. 

Best of luck!

Postgraduate study

Find a course

Shout out to the brave .

It’s brave committing to postgraduate study. To focus on your ambition regardless of whatever else is going on in life – career, family, you. It’s not easy, but it pays off. Our students and graduates are proof of that. They’ve taken a risk and are achieving what they set out to do.

See more postgraduate stories from Roberta and Tiffany in our montage .

Study to suit you

From short courses and part-time Masters through to immersive research degrees, it's easier than ever to find a postgraduate option that works for you.

Further study that works for you

How to apply

Time to make it happen? Here’s everything you need to know to apply for postgraduate courses.

Paying for postgraduate study

Don’t let money stand in the way of ambition. There’s more help available than ever before – see if there's a funding option to suit you.

Postgraduate research study

Changing the world? Do it with us. We want to meet the brightest and best – work alongside international experts and be supported by dedicated teams.

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Open up your career options with courses designed to fast-track you into all kinds of different professions, regardless of the subject of your first degree.

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Existing UWE Bristol students

If you have studied your undergraduate degree with us, you may be eligible for fee discounts if you decide to undertake postgraduate study at UWE Bristol too.

20% alumni discount

We are delighted to offer UWE Bristol alumni a tuition fee discount of 20% on our full-time and part-time taught postgraduate courses. No application for this scholarship is required.

Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship

We are offering a number of Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships for 2023/24 for students that studied their undergraduate degree at UWE Bristol. The scholarship will provide a tuition fee discount of 50% on full-time and part-time courses and includes the 25% alumni discount.

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PhD Programs

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has made significant contributions to the history of global medical research. From the development of the first polio vaccine by Jonas Salk more than 50 years ago, to the groundbreaking biomedical investigations being led today, our program is dedicated to fostering those who hunger for discovery. Students can explore a personalized training path with opportunities that range from fundamental mechanistic biology to clinical translation. 

The  Biomedical Informatics program  provides training in knowledge based systems and medical artificial intelligence in the context of health care delivery.  Students conduct research on: simulation and modeling of complex phenomena; information retrieval, problem solving and cognition; system evaluation, social/organizational factors, and health services research; machine learning, data mining and knowledge discovery; enterprise computing: integrated architectures and clinical and biomedical application of the Internet; organization and representation of multimedia biomedical information.

We live in an exciting era of scientific revolution. The nation has devoted extensive resources to basic biomedical research, and this has led to many fundamental discoveries. Now is the time to cross the barriers between basic science and clinical research to translate new knowledge into enhanced clinical care of the patient and back again to the bench.  Clinical and translational science   is the emerging field that aims at closing the gap between basic science and clinical research. This rigorous and advanced training program is intended primarily for clinicians.

The joint  PhD program in Computational Biology  represents an exciting collaborative program offered by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. The program's goal is to provide intensive interdisciplinary education to enable outstanding students to become leaders in identifying and solving tomorrow's biological problems using computational and/or mathematical methods and fundamental principles of life and physical sciences.

The  Integrative Systems Biology (ISB) graduate program  provides an exciting, innovative and vigorous academic environment for training highly motivated biomedical students and prepare them for a systems biology research career in academic institutions and industry.

The  Interdisciplinary Program  offers training in Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology, Pathology and Pharmacology. This program has a strong track record of training success that begins with an emphasis on laboratory rotations and rigorous introduction to modern cell and molecular biology, followed by students choosing an area of specialization. After the first year of interdisciplinary training and selection of a dissertation mentor, students transfer into a PhD granting program in one of the following areas:

• Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology 
• Cellular & Molecular Pathology
• Molecular Genetics & Developmental Biology
• Molecular Pharmacology

The  Program in Microbiology and Immunology (PMI)  brings together faculty in basic and translational sciences, including researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, Rangos Research Center at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center. The program aims to train highly motivated PhD students as self-reliant scholars in an environment with ready access to the breadth of expertise, approaches, and sub-disciplines that constitute the diverse fields encompassing microbiology and immunology.  

The  Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology program  is an exciting joint program (offered by  Carnegie Mellon University  and  the University of Pittsburgh ) operates at the fertile interfaces between Biology, Chemistry, Physics and other traditional disciplines. Molecular Biophysics aims to unravel and explain biological phenomena and processes in atomic and molecular detail. Research conducted by faculty of the MBSB program addresses diverse problems of molecular structure and function at the highest levels of resolution that one can observe.

This campus-wide program is overseen through the  Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh  (CNUP). It is designed to develop competence in conducting laboratory research, general knowledge of neuroscience and specific expertise in one or more areas of neuroscience, and general professional competence in oral and written expression necessary for a career in science.

The Oncology Graduate Program provides comprehensive training opportunities for the next generation of cancer researchers. Located at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, one of only 53 National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, students will have access to state-of-the art facilities and train with scientists from the entire spectrum of cutting-edge cancer research and biological basis for care, from the bench to the bedside.

Financial Support

Graduate students enrolled in PhD programs receive a stipend ($40,000), full tuition remission, and individual health insurance (with an option to purchase additional family coverage). The combination of our competitive stipend and Pittsburgh's affordable cost of living allows students to live comfortably. In addition, a $2,000 educational enrichment account is provided to each first-year PhD student for the purchase of books, computers, and other education-related expenses.

Blood- and brain-based genome-wide association studies of smoking

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Background Self-reported smoking is often incorporated into disease prediction tools but suffers from recall bias and does not capture passive exposure. Blood-based DNA methylation (DNAm) is an objective way to assess smoking. However, studies have not fully explored tissue-specificity or epigenome-wide coverage beyond array data. Here, we update the existing biomarkers of smoking and conduct a detailed analysis of the associations between blood DNAm and self-reported smoking.

Methods and Findings A blood-based Bayesian epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of smoking was carried out in 17,865 Generation Scotland individuals at ∼850k CpG sites (Illumina EPIC array). For 24 pairs of smokers and non-smokers a high-resolution approach was implemented (∼4 million sites, TWIST methylome panel). A DNAm-derived biomarker of smoking (mCigarette) was tested in the independent Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n=882, Illumina 450k array) and in the ALSPAC parents and offspring at four time points (range n=496–1,207). To explore tissue specific signals, EWASs of smoking were run across five brain regions for 14 individuals using DNAm from the EPIC array. Lastly, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of smoking pack years and an epigenetic score for smoking (GrimAge DNAm pack years) were conducted (n=17,105). The primary EWAS analyses identified two novel genome-wide significant loci, mapping to genes related to addiction and carcinogenesis. Associations with CpG sites which are currently absent from methylation arrays were identified by the high resolution EWAS of smoking (n=48). The mCigarette pack years biomarker showed excellent discrimination across all smoking categories (current, former, never), and outperformed existing predictors in associations with pack years in an external test dataset (Pearson r=0.75). Several CpGs showed near-perfect discrimination of smoking status in both blood and brain, but these loci did not overlap across tissues. The GWAS of DNAm (but not self-reported) pack years identified novel and established smoking-related loci. However, the self-reported phenotype GWAS had a higher genetic correlation with a large meta-analysis GWAS of self-reported pack years. Among the study shortcomings are its potential lack of generalizability to non-Europeans and the absence of serum cotinine data.

Conclusion A multi-tissue, multi-cohort analysis of the relationship between smoking, DNA and DNAm (assessed via arrays and targeted sequencing) has improved our understanding of the biological consequences of smoking.

Competing Interest Statement

R.E.M has received a speaker fee from Illumina and is an advisor to the Epigenetic Clock Development Foundation. R.F.H. has received consultant fees from Illumina. R.E.M and R.F.H. have received consultant fees from Optima partners. All other authors declare no competing interests.

Funding Statement

Generation Scotland: Generation Scotland received core support from the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorates (CZD/16/6) and the Scottish Funding Council (HR03006). Genotyping and DNA methylation profiling of the Generation Scotland samples was carried out by the Genetics Core Laboratory at the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Edinburgh, Scotland and was funded by the Medical Research Council UK and the Wellcome Trust (Wellcome Trust Strategic Award STratifying Resilience and Depression Longitudinally (STRADL; Reference 104036/Z/14/Z). The DNA methylation data assayed for Generation Scotland was partially funded by a 2018 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (Ref: 27404; awardee: Dr David M Howard) and by a JMAS SIM fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (Awardee: Dr Heather C Whalley). LBC1936: The LBC1936 is supported by the BBSRC, and the Economic and Social Research Council [BB/W008793/1] (which supports S.E.H.), Age UK (Disconnected Mind project), the Milton Damerel Trust, the Medical Research Council (MR/M01311/1), and the University of Edinburgh. Methylation typing of LBC1936 was supported by the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (Pilot Fund award), Age UK, The Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund, The University of Edinburgh, and The University of Queensland. Genotyping was funded by the BBSRC (BB/F019394/1). S.R.C. is supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (Grant Number 221890/Z/20/Z). ALSPAC: The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 217065/Z/19/Z) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. This publication is the work of the authors and they will serve as guarantors for the contents of this paper. A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website ( http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf ). Funding for ALSPAC DNAm measurements were supported by the Wellcome (102215/2/13/2); the University of Bristol; the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ES/N000498/1); the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12013/1, MC_UU_12013/2); the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBI025751/1 and BB/I025263/1); and the John Templeton Foundation (60828). P.Y. and M.S. work is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, the Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol (MC_UU_00032/3, MC_UU_00032/4, MC_UU_00032/6), and Cancer Research UK [C18281/A29019, EDDISA-Jan22\100003]. A.D.C. is supported by a Medical Research Council PhD Studentship in Precision Medicine with funding from the Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Program and the University of Edinburgh College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. R.F.H is supported by an MRC IEU Fellowship. E.B. and R.E.M. are supported by Alzheimer's Society major project grant AS-PG-19b-010. This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust (104036/Z/14/Z, 108890/Z/15/Z, 220857/Z/20/Z, and 221890/Z/20/Z). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.

Author Declarations

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

All components of Generation Scotland received ethical approval from the NHS Tayside Committee on Medical Research Ethics (REC Reference Number: 05/S1401/89). All participants provided broad and enduring written informed consent for biomedical research. Generation Scotland has also been granted Research Tissue Bank status by the East of Scotland Research Ethics Service (REC Reference Number: 15/0040/ES), providing generic ethical approval for a wide range of uses within medical research. This study was performed in accordance with the Helsinki declaration. Ethical approval for the LBC1936 study was obtained from the Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee for Scotland (MREC/01/0/56) and the Lothian Research Ethics committee (LREC/1998/4/183; LREC/2003/2/29). All participants provided written informed consent. These studies were performed in accordance with the Helsinki declaration. Ethical approval for the ALSPAC study was obtained from the ALSPAC Ethics and Law Committee and the Local Research Ethics Committees. Consent for biological samples has been collected in accordance with the Human Tissue Act (2004). Informed consent for the use of data collected via questionnaires and clinics was obtained from participants following the recommendations of the ALSPAC Ethics and Law Committee at the time.

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

7. Availability of data and materials

According to the terms of consent for Generation Scotland participants, access to data must be reviewed by the Generation Scotland Access Committee. Applications should be made to access{at}generationscotland.org .

Lothian Birth Cohort data are available on request from the Lothian Birth Cohort Study, University of Edinburgh ( https://www.ed.ac.uk/lothian-birth-cohorts/data-access-collaboration ). Lothian Birth Cohort data are not publicly available due to them containing information that could compromise participant consent and confidentiality.

ALSPAC data are available on request from bona fide researchers. The study website contains details of all the data that is available through a fully searchable data dictionary and variable search tool ( http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/researchers/our-data/ ).

All custom R (version 4.3.1), Python (version 3.9.7), and bash code is available with open access at the following GitHub repository: https://github.com/aleksandra-chybowska/Smoking_EpiScore/

GWAS and EWAS summary statistics will be made available on Edinburgh DataShare on publication.

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Graduate School

Biochemistry (ph.d.), biochemistry (ph.d.) | graduate.

Our Biochemistry doctoral students are at the forefront of biochemical research and molecular medicine, examining biological mechanisms underlying human disease; they are finding new ways to detect and attack diseases and immunological disorders like cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease.

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Biochemistry program at Howard's Graduate School are prepared for careers at top research universities and senior-level research positions in biomedical and related industries. The program's key strengths in molecular microbiology, proteomics and genetics, bioinformatics, and drug design and discovery make us a nexus for collaborative investigations between biochemistry researchers and clinicians. You'll learn to apply biochemical techniques, including NMR spectroscopy, crystallography, and single-molecule methods as well as contemporary approaches to cell culture and genetic analysis to answer key questions about the pathogenesis of specific diseases and the development of effective drug therapies. You'll also enjoy the close mentorship of faculty who are committed to your professional development. Our faculty are experts in several areas of biochemistry, including analysis of molecular structure, proteomics and genetics, tumor biology, structural biology, enzymology, RNA catalysis, stress response, and RNA modification. As you advance in the program, you'll become increasingly involved in laboratory research and the critical analysis of biochemical literature. Our graduate seminar series offers a venue to present your early-stage research. Students may pursue a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree.

Program Snapshot

      ❱  72 credit hours        ❱  Full-time       ❱  On-campus format       ❱  Degree: Ph.D.       ❱  Dual degree: M.D./Ph.D.

Application Deadlines

Spring 2024 entry:         ❱  No spring entry 

Fall 2024 entry:         ❱  Dec. 1, 2023 (early deadline)       ❱  Feb. 15, 2024 (priority deadline)       ❱  Apr. 15, 2024 (final deadline)

Applicants should submit their applications as early as possible for earlier consideration of departmental funding opportunities. Applicants have until the final deadline to apply. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle. 

Dr. Zaki Sherif

Dr. matthew george, jr., angela wilson, program details.

• Degree Classification: Graduate
• Related Degrees: M.D. / Ph.D., Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

Application for admission.

• Online GradCAS application
• Statement of purpose/ Statement of academic interest ( 500-1,000 words )
• GRE scores  not required
• Official transcripts sent to GradCAS
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent 
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Autobiographical statement ( 500-750 words )

GRE Required?

Gre preferred minimums.

• GRE Verbal Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Quantitative Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Analytical Writing: N/A

GPA Required Minimums

• Overall GPA minimum: 3.0
• Undergrad GPA minimum: 3.0

Prerequisite Courses

The following course prerequisites are required. Applicants are required to have at least a B average in these prerequisites.   No expiration date for recommended prerequisites.

• Biology (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• General Chemistry (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Organic Chemistry (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Elementary Physical Chemistry (college-level course and lab, 4 semester credit hrs)
• Physics (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Calculus  (college-level course, 3 semester credit hrs)

Reference Requirements

Evaluator type accepted:

• Professor (Required)
• Supervisor/Manager
• Other 

Evaluator type not accepted:

• Family Member

Celebrating Our 2024 Graduates

As we honor our 2024 graduates, RWU celebrates their exceptional academic and co-curricular achievements and eagerly anticipates their post-Roger journeys. In these stories, discover how an RWU education has profoundly influenced their futures.

Theatre Major Lands Full-Time Position Improving Accessibility for Diverse Casts, Audiences

Senior Korbin Johnson will work as the associate director of Neurodiverse Inclusive Certified Entertainment at Spectrum Theatre Ensemble in Providence, R.I., where they will make theater more accessible for the neurodivergent community.

Architecture Major Will Continue at RWU to Pursue Master’s Degree, Real Estate Certificate

Senior Rachel Borzone reflects on her enriching experiences – from internships to study abroad – and the supportive community she found at RWU.

From the Classroom to the Field, Construction Management Grad Takes a Hands-on Approach to Education

Crediting her experiential learning opportunities at RWU, senior Christina Marra has accepted a job with PC Construction in North Carolina.

Master in Architecture Graduate Creates Solutions, Builds Connections

During her time at RWU, Renee Parry has participated in hands-on studio projects, studied Preservation Practices, and worked as a designer for Tecton Architects.

UC Graduate Shares His Energy

After working full time doing electrical work and teaching dance, Mekbul Tahir will graduate from University College’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program and hopes to one day own his own business.

Powerful Combination Sets Up Grad for Law School Success

Senior Sophia Szaniawski will draw on her Forensic Science and Legal Studies background as she prepares for a career in the legal field.

Forensic Mental Health Counseling Graduate Champions Mental Health Reform Behind Bars

At RWU, Leslie Gutierrez found a program that unites her passion with purpose as well as a welcoming community where she served as a Graduate Program Ambassador and a Graduate Assistant at the Intercultural Center.

Finance and Economics Double Major Hired at New York Stock Exchange

Phillip Call ’24, who completed his degrees in January, has been working as a surveillance analyst since March.

Special Education Grad Fosters Inclusive Education in Rhode Island Classrooms

Megan Pomeroy ’23 credits the M.A. Special Education 4+1 program and faculty mentors with helping her find her passion for creating supportive learning environments.

Accounting Major Lands Job at One of Big Four Accounting Firms

Senior Christain Barbosa will work at Ernst & Young after graduating from RWU this spring