phd in science uk

Study Postgraduate

Phd in life sciences (2025 entry).

Course code

6 October 2025

3-4 years full-time; 5-7 years part-time

Qualification

Life Sciences

University of Warwick

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

Explore our Life Sciences PhD degree at Warwick

Study your PhD in the vibrant community of Warwick's School of Life Sciences, with 90% of our research rated as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent' in the REF 2021 assessment. Pursue both subject-specific and general research expertise on the practical-based PhD in Life Sciences.

Course overview

This is a practical course based on a single research project, carried out under the training and supervision of one of our Research Leaders. Assessment is by dissertation and oral examination. All students also participate in a programme of transferrable and research skills training.

Being funded for your studies from one of our Doctoral Training Programmes means that certain bespoke training activities are required under that programme. Our  School of Life Sciences website  offers further information on Postgraduate Research courses and funding.

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a Life Sciences related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page Link opens in a new window .

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Our research

• Cells & Development
• Environment & Ecology
• Microbiology & Infectious Disease
• Neuroscience
• Plant & Agricultural Biosciences
• Quantitative, Systems & Engineering Biology

Full details of our research interests are listed on the School of Life Sciences website Link opens in a new window .

Find a supervisor

You can identify potential supervisors in the area(s) that are of interest you via the Research pages on the School of Life Sciences website. The academic staff in the School welcome enquiries from potential research students, so you are advised to contact them directly. Send your research proposal or explain that you would like to discuss possible research projects with them and detail how you plan to fund your studies.

For further information, see How to Apply.

Research proposals

A research proposal is a document explaining what you would like to research for your doctorate.

If you are applying for an advertised project, you will not be required to submit a research proposal as the broad aims and objectives of your PhD will already be defined. When applying for an advertised project, you will need to clearly list the title of the project on your application.

If you are not applying for an advertised project, you will be required to develop a research proposal in consultation with a potential supervisor.

A good PhD proposal outlines the scope and significance of your topic and explains how you plan to research it. See how to write a great PhD research proposal on the Find a PhD website Link opens in a new window .

See our research degree application checklist Link opens in a new window .

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our  Module Catalogue  (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support.

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Life Sciences at Warwick

The School of Life Sciences is a cohesive, enthusiastic community producing world-class, high-impact bioscience research and teaching within a friendly and collaborative environment. Our internationally recognised academics are engaged in innovative bioscience research, working to investigate solutions to major global challenges. With 90% of research in the School of Life Sciences rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in REF 2021, the school is a dynamic and growing place for biological sciences research.

Our range of postgraduate programmes cover key global priorities and include interdisciplinary courses with modules delivered from colleagues across the Warwick community, including the renowned Warwick Business School. Study a postgraduate degree with us to hone your subject knowledge and enable you to gain the scientific skills and business acumen to develop your future career.

As part of our postgraduate degrees, you will be taught vital transferable skills such as research techniques and management, personal effectiveness, communication, networking, teamworking and careers management, enhancing your employability. You will be supported during your studies by a dedicated Postgraduate support team and a personal tutor who work within the School of Life Sciences, and additional support is offered, if needed, for English language and data handling skills.

Find out more about us on our website Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management (MSc)
• Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate (MSc)
• Food Security (MSc)
• Medical Biotechnology and Business Management (MSc)
• Sustainable Crop Production: Agronomy for the 21st Century (MSc)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• MSc by Research in Life Sciences
• PhD in Life Sciences

How to apply

Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.

For research courses that start in September and October 2025 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2025. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

Join a live chat

Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

• Warwick hosted events
• Postgraduate Fairs
• Talk and Tours
• Department events

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

5th best student city in the UK

Coventry is ranked as the 5th Best Student City in the UK, and 40th in the world (Best Student Cities, QS World University Guide 2023)

Gold standard teaching

Gold, the highest possible rating across all three categories (student experience, student outcomes, and overall) (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

92% of our research

was assessed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2021)

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history .

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

Website navigation

In this section

• Imperial Home
• Data Science Institute

The DSI hosts a number of PhD students, funded from a variety of mechanisms including industry, research funders and self-funded. All applications for a PhD programme need to be submitted through the department where the chosen supervisor sits. For example, if the supervisor is hosted in the Department of Computing, visit  this page with relevant information about the application process.

The DSI are currently advertising for a PhD studentship in collaboration with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and Jiangsu Automation Research Institute (JARI) to produce the next generation of Data Scientists, if you are interested you can find further information on our vacancy page . The closing date for applicants is 28th February 2021. 

Imperial College London received funding from UKRI for a Centre for Doctoral Training in  AI for Healthcare  which is currently open for applications. More information on the CDT can be found  here .

Axel Oehmichen

"This dual position as a researcher and a student has proven extremely rich in experiences as I was learning and collaborating with other DSI researchers across different fields."

Dr Axel Oehmichen

Axel on his time at the DSI; "I was a part-time PhD student and a research associate working on the eTRIKS and OPAL projects. My research focused on the development of a new platform called the eTRIKS Analytical Environment (eAE) as an answer to the needs of analysing and exploring massive amounts of medical data in a privacy preserving fashion. This dual position as a researcher and a student has proven an extremely enriching experiences as I was learning and collaborating with other DSI researchers across different fields. Those collaborations have brought me new perspectives, allowed me to explore new fields and helped me grow as a researcher. I am an engineer by training and, while it was sometimes challenging, that duality made it possible to join both worlds during my PhD and facilitated my transition to the start-up world". 

Hao Dong  

Akara Supratak Akara Supratak was a PhD student at the Data Science Institute (DSI) from 2013 to 2017, supervised by Professor Yike Guo. During his PhD, he has developed a deep learning model, named DeepSleepNet, for automatic sleep stage scoring, which can achieve state-of-the-art performance ( https://github.com/akaraspt/deepsleepnet ). The study at DSI has given him an opportunity to learn and work with other researchers across different fields such as distributed computing and health informatics, and has broadened his knowledge and experience in doing frontier research.

What is he doing now : He is an instructor at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mahidol University, Thailand. Currently, he teaches several courses for undergraduate students such as Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Architecture. His research focuses on Machine Learning, Biosignal Processing, and Image Processing.

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• Postgraduate research degrees
• Funding and studentships
• Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK

Funded PhD research programmes 2025 UK

The University of Brighton invites applicants for PhD study across all its disciplines, and highlights regular opportunities to develop applications for full-funding or partial funding.

These opportunities allow motivated, high-calibre applicants for research degrees to join our thriving academic community and contribute to our rich and innovative research environment. 

Our funding pages publicise any funding offered directly from the university, partnership funds to which we can help students apply, and other financial help that can allow students to study at doctoral level. Our processes often allow us to support promising candidates for applications to external funders and, if unsuccessful, we welcome self-funded applicants to programmes .

Please visit our PhD funding advice page  for current offers or see below for further general advice about applying for a funded PhD in the UK. 

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

Current funding opportunities for study at the University of Brighton, UK

The University of Brighton is proud to be a partner in five Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP) and Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT), and  funding opportunities are currently available through two of them for doctoral, PhD degree study starting in autumn 2025. 

South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership

The ESRC-funded DTP aims to develop the next generation of research leaders in social science in academia, government, business and civil society.

Techne Doctoral Training Partnership

This AHRC-funded DTP draws together traditional scholarship, history, theory and practice across seven universities, with collaboration from world-leading partners.

University of Brighton funding opportunities

On this page we post all funding opportunities available through the University of Brighton, its partners and networks. 

Applying for PhD study

Depending on the discipline area, applicants for postgraduate research study may be:

• applying to work on specific, defined research projects
• applying to work with an academic department or individual with specific interests
• or applying with a self-identified research topic proposal.

When available, studentships are open to home and international students and will be given to candidates who best fulfil the promise outlined by these academic departments.

When funding schemes are open, the application will usually involve: 

• approaching and securing the assistance of a relevant member of the University of Brighton's academic staff
• submitting a full application through the university's PhD application portal; you will upload your research proposal as part of this process.
• The submission will typically require two references, academic qualifications, a proposed project approach and a personal statement.

Please note, funding schemes are only open at specific times of year. Applications for funding outside of these timeframes will not be considered. See our  PhD funding opportunities page  for details of any current funding calls.

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube .

Can you be a researcher? Professor Bhavik Patel reassures applicants of all backgrounds that they can study for a PhD and aim for a research career. 

What does PhD funding include?

The funding for the PhD usually covers the full fee and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus an allowance of £1,500 per year for researcher training for three years (or part-time equivalent). 

Successful candidates benefit from expert supervisory teams, a programme of postgraduate researcher development workshops and membership of specialist, interdisciplinary research centres and groups. There will be introductions to a network of relevant researchers, careers advice and opportunities for interaction within and beyond the university. Through this, our PhD students have the best start possible towards ambitious careers that make use of their research degrees.

The University of Brighton fosters research careers and will provide doctoral training, attentive and expert supervision and access to world-class laboratories and equipment. 

We are renowned as a leading applied university, with pioneer academics in disciplines from sport science to design history and applied science research that translates efficiently to the global challenge of worldwide health and wellbeing. Our strategy of 'practical wisdom' leads to real-world partnerships and beneficiaries across all disciplines while the development of community-university partnership practices have placed us among the best universities for many aspects of co-produced research and innovation.

We pride ourselves on the ways we work in partnership with those outside higher education, across the European Union and internationally. Through our research collaborations we work with a wide range of universities, both internationally and with universities in the UK. We are also founding members of two UKRI Doctoral Training Partnerships which, this year, are dealt with outside our University of Brighton studentship offer. We learn constantly from our involvement in these, and our rich resources are offered across all doctoral research programmes.

Recently the University of Brighton celebrated its performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) and the Knowledge and Exchange Framework (KEF2023). Over 87 per cent of our submitted impact case studies in REF2021 were rated as having 'outstanding' or 'very considerable' impact beyond academia. We are dedicated to developing this quality work with new students. Read more about the review of our research and knowledge exchange performance in REF2021 . Also, read more about our KEF2023 results, which placed Brighton in the top tier for economic and social benefits .

How will you build a relationship with your supervisor? Professor Annebella Pollen and Dr Tom Ainsworth are among those offering advice. This film was made by the University of Brighton for UKRI and also features academics from other institutions.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You must be able to show your suitability for a UK research degree if you wish to apply for fully-funded studentships.

This includes evidence either of a relevant and successful academic background or equivalent relevant professional/expert background in the applied subject area. Applicants from overseas will also have to fulfil any English language and visa requirements.

This will be true for studentships in the UK across most of the UK universities. It is usual for applicants either to have completed (or be about to complete) a masters degree, have an exceptional undergraduate record and references, or demonstrate the equivalent scholarly potential.  

Supervisory staff and research students at the University of Brighton consider how important diverse thinking and inclusive practice are to their doctoral studies.

Can I get PhD funding at the University of Brighton?

We have a long-standing annual programme of funded PhD opportunities across all our disciplines, including several rooted in research council (UKRI) partnerships .

The initiatives allow postgraduate study for UK-based students as well as study in the UK for international students (depending on the PhD programme). 

We are also keen to encourage students who might be able to self-fund their doctoral studies. Studying part-time, for example, is likely to prove more affordable and more easily balanced with professional life than you'd imagine. 

We are dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere and structure for your studies. Show us your own qualities and your suitability for programmes as they become available and we will look forward to receiving your application. 

Please visit our  PhD funding advice page  for current offers or see below for further general advice about applying for a funded PhD in the UK. 

Insitutions and funding bodies for PhD study

On the Funding pages of our website we post advice as to the regular and specific funding opportunities available through the University of Brighton, its partners and networks. 

These include  Doctoral Training Partnership  and University of Brighton PhD studentship calls,  individual studentship projects , University of Brighton  international research scholarships  and our  alumni scholarships  for current and past students. 

We also include below some of the major funding options for international students wanting to do a PhD with us, each of which may support all or part of your studies.

Worldwide international funding schemes for PhD research

The british council.

The British Council offers a search engine for UK courses, institutions (including the University of Brighton) and scholarships.

Find out more about scholarships and funding through The British Council.

The Gen Foundation

The Gen Foundation considers applicants living in all countries. It is a charitable trust which principally provides grants to students/researchers in natural sciences, in particular food sciences/technology.

Find out more about grants to students and researchers from The Gen Foundation .

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. Our multifaceted development approach aims to help communities and individuals become self-reliant.

Find out more about research funding through the Aga Khan development network .

The Open Society Foundations

The Open Society Foundations are active in more than 120 countries around the world, using grant-giving, research, advocacy, impact investment, and strategic litigation to support the growth of inclusive and vibrant democracies. The four main themes of the Open Society Foundations are climate justice, equity, expression, and justice and they will award grants and fellowships throughout the year to organisations and individuals who share those values. The Open Society Foundations look for grantees who have a vision and whose efforts will lead to lasting social change.

Find out more about postgraduate funding through The Open Society Foundations .

International Education and Financial Aid

The International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA) provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Using the IEFA website, you can easily search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more about international PhD research funding through the IEFA .

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds 

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of two to three-and-a-half years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

Find out more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships .

Resource sites for international PhD research funding

Internationalstudent.com.

InternationalStudent.com is a leading online resource for international students around the world providing advice pages for studying in the USA, UK and Australia for international students, plus a dedicated study abroad center for US students who want to travel abroad.

Find out more about international study through InternationalStudent.com .

ScholarshipTab

ScholarshipTab is an online portal that connects international students to available scholarship opportunities round the world.

Find out more about the Scholarship Tab resource .

International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)

The IEFA provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more from the International Education and Financial Aid website .

The European Funding Guide 

Scholarships and grants for students from the European Union

Find out more through the European Funding Guide  

The Americas: Postgraduate doctorate funding from institutions and bodies to study in the UK

• Marshall Scholarship:  Provides for United States students to study abroad.
• Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship provides for United States students to study abroad.
• American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
• Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships Program
• Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund
• Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• The Bolsas Lideres Estudar Program provides for Brazilian students studying in the UK .

Asia: Postgraduate doctorate funding from Asian institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust

China and Hong Kong

Great Britain – China Educational Trust is a charity that promotes mutual understanding between the UK and China and aims to build long-term connections between the two countries. It delivers awards contributing towards university tuition fees and living expenses for Chinese nationality students studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university.

Great Britain China Centre Chinese Student Awards  offers scholarships of up to £3,000 for citizens of China and Hong Kong studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university

The Hong Kong People Association (HKPA)  aims to provide financial aids for further university education to students from Hong Kong who are not able to afford international tuition fees. 

The Charles Wallace India Trust  offers PhD funding for study in the arts, heritage conservation or the humanities.

The Inlaks India Foundation

The JN Tata Endowment award funds 90 to 100 scholars across disciplines ranging from the sciences to management, law and commerce and the fine arts.

The KC Mahindra Education Trust

The Persia Educational Foundation Abdolreza Ansari Scholarship   is designed to support the education of students of Iranian descent enrolled in a Master or Doctorate programme in human rights or public service in the UK.

Momeni Iranian Financial Assistance Scholarships  offer partial funding scholarships for international students of Iranian descent towards a PhD in any subject.

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship Trust

The Anglo-Jewish Association (AJA)  provides funding for Jewish students to study a Masters or PhD in the UK.

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies  funds students of macroeconomics with a view to them working at the International Monetary Fund.

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan . The HEC offers government scholarships for Pakistani students to study abroad in various countries, including the UK.

Saudi Arabia

The Cultural Bureau of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (SACB)  offers scope for full tuition fees and supporting fees for PhD level study.

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs 

Europe: Postgraduate doctorate funding from European institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The European Funding Guide  - Scholarships and grants in the EU.

France -  Entente Cordiale scholarships for postgraduate studies  provide funding to help students enrolling for a Masters or a PhD qualification in the UK or in France.

Italy -  Il Circolo Italian Cultural Association is a UK-registered charity based in London with the mission to support deserving students with awards and scholarships.

Norway - Lanekassen  - The Norwegian student loans and grants awarding body supports Norwegian students studying overseas.

Scandinavia - Fundraising.how  - article database offering funding advice for Scandinavian students.

Sweden - CSN -  loans and grants for Swedish students studying overseas.

Australia: funding for PhD study in the UK

The Australia Day Foundation  offers grants to young Australians for fees and course materials.

Africa: funding for PhD study in the UK

Sudan -  The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF)

PhD in Biomedical Science

Course overview

• Flexible, 3 Years
• Doctor of Philosophy
• From £8,099 per year *
• From £14,172 per year *
• School of Postgraduate Medicine

Discover Buckingham

See our picturesque Buckingham campus for yourself on a Campus tour.

Upcoming events

Why not meet us at our next online or in-person event?

About the Course

You will be placed in one of our research labs to undertake a three-year tailored research project. During this period, you will receive formal training in research-related skills. At the end of your research project, you are expected to write a thesis on your studies and to defend this in a viva examination.

Our research programme brings together expertise from across many subject areas in the biomedical sciences to provide you with training in several key areas of current research interest. The programme focuses on experimental science and a research-informed dissertation. It will provide you with practical laboratory-based experience with access to specialist techniques in state-of-the-art facilities.

Additionally, you will be enabled to develop skills in:

• Research papers interpretation
• Critique and literature review
• Data analysis, interpretation, and discussion
• Thesis writing
• Defence of your findings at your viva.

You will also be extended the opportunity to:

• Present your research data at national or international conferences.
• Be published in peer scientific journals.
• Experience a research environment with senior and junior researchers, post-docs, PhD and MSc students, and laboratory technicians.
• Translational research skills to enhance your employment opportunities in academic and private research institutions, as well as in pharmaceutical industry.

Entry Requirements

• First class or upper second-class undergraduate UK degree, or an equivalent overseas qualification, with statistical content.
• Standard English language entry requirements for The University of Buckingham.
• A passion for research and drug discovery.
• 3000-word research proposal.
• A Master’s degree in life Science or Biomedical Science with.
• Skills in of cell culture (primary and/or established cell lines), molecular biology (western blotting PCR, RT-PCR) and immuno-enzymatic methods (EIA, ELISA).
• Significant previous experience in a research laboratory would also be highly considered.

Research Proposals

Applications should be accompanied by a 3000-word research project proposal referring to the current research scopes of IBBR in human and animal cell physiology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, pharmacology, nutrition, and the physiology of metabolic diseases, particularly diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, and other diabetic-related diseases, as well as in plant-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) research and development.

Your proposal will be assessed to see:

• Whether the project is likely to be completed within three years of full-time research
• Whether it can be effectively supervised at the university
• Whether you are competent and motivated for completion
• Whether the project fits a growing or established research priority of the university
• how the proposal fits with the current cohort and the research IBBR environment and scopes.

Within the proposal, you should take the opportunity to clearly outline your research idea, your research methodology and critical approaches, your experience in this field of research where you can, and how your research proposal will be offering an original contribution to knowledge, theories and/or practice.

International students: We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country. The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.

English levels

If English is not your first language, please check our postgraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.

Selection process

All applicants are interviewed by prospective supervisors or appropriate academic members of staff. This also provides an opportunity for the applicant to discuss their project proposal.

Our Admissions Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact them on +44 01280 820229 or by email [email protected]

For more information about the research topics please get in touch with Professor Mohamed Zaibi, by phone on +44(0)1280 820370, or by email: [email protected]

Student Contract for prospective students

When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract .

Fees & Scholarships

The fees for this course are:

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

Postgraduate loan scheme

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course, such as a PhD. The loan is worth up to £27,892.

More details can be found on the gov.uk website .

How To Apply

You can apply directly using our online application form.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about postgraduate research

PhD Science, Technology and Innovation Policy / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

• View full page
• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Normally, a Master's degree in a relevant cognate subject normally with an overall average of 65% or above (or overseas equivalent)
• Professional qualifications other than a Bachelors Degree and/or relevant and appropriate experience may be taken into account for entry to a PhD programme.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

The current deadline for consideration in internal funding competitions is 1 December 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2025 entry: 30 June 2025

Programme options

Programme overview.

• Join one of the world's most innovative and ambitious doctoral research schools.
• Work alongside a range of specialists conducting cutting-edge research in business, innovation management and strategy.
• Ranked 3rd in the UK for research power 'Business and Management Studies' in the REF2021.

Please enable JavaScript to watch this video.

Our virtual week took place October 2024 – to find out about future sessions to explore postgraduate research opportunities across the university, please visit our study fairs and events page.

To stay up-to-date with future events and recorded sessions in the Faculty of Humanities, please join our postgraduate research email update list .

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): TBC International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): TBC International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards available to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply for University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The current deadline for most internal competitions, including Alliance Manchester Business School studentships is 1 December 2024.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting your funding application and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more funding information, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships 2025 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme 2025 Entry
• Alliance Manchester Business School PhD Scholarships 2025 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• RADMA Doctoral Studies Funding 2025 Entry
• PhD Scholarship for Research into Productivity
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards 2025 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Business and Management

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Biosciences PhD

Ranking 14th in UK (QS World Rankings 2024) Ranking details

Start date September

Duration 3 and 4 years full-time - 6 years part-time

Award Doctorate

Entry requirements A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent, or a postgraduate Masters, in a relevant subject. Full requirements

Fees £4,921 (full-time) / £2,461 (part-time) Fee details

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Course overview.

Unlock your potential with our Biosciences PhD, where you'll explore cutting-edge research in human, animal, plant, microbial, cell, and molecular biology guided by top experts in one of the UK's leading Biosciences schools.

You'll gain essential research skills, both specialiSed and transferable, shaping you into a versatile scientist. Our training, support, and expert guidance ensure you’re prepared for a successful, impactful career.