Program Overview

Program Overview

The Systems Biology PhD/MSc (Research) program emphasizes a multi-level, integrative approach to understanding how living organisms work. With close links to the polyomics facility, the program applies a full range of post-genomic technologies to aid understanding.

Program Details

• Duration: PhD: 3-4 years full-time, 5 years part-time; MSc (Research): 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• Entry Requirements: A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent
• English Language Requirements:
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
  • TOEFL (ibt, mybest, or athome): 90 overall with Reading 20, Listening 19, Speaking 19, Writing 21
  • 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: 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
  • LanguageCert Academic SELT: 70 overall with no subtest less than 60
  • Password Skills Plus: 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
  • Trinity College Tests: Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV, ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests
• Fees:
  • UK: To be confirmed (2025/26 fee was Ł5,006)
  • International & EU: Ł33,210
  • Part-time study fees are half the full-time fee
• Alumni Discount: 20% discount to University of Glasgow alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programs
• Additional Fees:
  • Re-submission by a research student: Ł540
  • Submission for a higher degree by published work: Ł1,355
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: Ł350
  • Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship: Ł790
  • Bench fee (research support costs) may apply depending on the research project

Research Areas

• Modelling organ specificity in the plant circadian clock
• Post-genomic insights into tissue function and control in Drosophila
• Optimising recombinant protein expression and secretion in mammalian cells
• Systems biology approaches of stress-induced plasticity of the mitochondrial intermembrane space
• Light control of local and long distance phytohormone signalling in Arabidopsis
• Quantitative systems biology of membrane transport and cellular homeostasis
• Systems biology of gas exchange and photosynthesis, from molecule to the field
• Materials and metabolomics for identification of stem cell fate modifying metabolites
• Analysis and integration of large omics datasets

Support and Resources

• The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Graduate School provides a vibrant, supportive, and stimulating environment for postgraduate students
• Excellent facilities and cutting-edge techniques
• Training in essential research and generic skills
• Excellence in supervision and mentoring
• Interactive discussion groups and seminars
• 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
• Robust generic skills program including opportunities in social and commercial training
• Wide range of cutting-edge research facilities
• Core facilities in fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis, cell imaging, and biophysical techniques, with NMR
• Cutting-edge microarray, next-generation sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics facilities
• In-house informatics support