Program Overview

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MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology MPhil/PhD, MD(Res)

Key information

Award:

• MD(Res)
• MPhil
• PhD

Study mode:

• Full time
• Part time

Campus:

• Guy’s Campus

Programme Description

Understanding how the brain is constructed is one of the great questions of science. The Centre for Developmental Neurobiology provides an excellent environment for research and training. It is one of the largest Centres in Europe for the study of brain development, and is at the technological forefront of contemporary research.

Doing a PhD at the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology is a unique opportunity for students to receive world-class graduate training. There are currently around 40 PhD students in the Centre, funded from a variety of sources. To carry out their research in the Centre, students have access to a range of studentships offered through several MRes/PhD programmes.

How to Apply

1. Finding Supervisors

Firstly, you will need to find supervisors to work with you in this capacity. You can search through our research portal to find supervisors who work in your chosen research area. Applicants are expected to contact academics directly.

2. Arranging Funding

Unless you are applying for a studentship or can self-fund your studies, you will need to arrange for funding before you make the application. The following pages are useful:

• Funding Database
• Funded Research Opportunities

3. Make an Online Application

Next, you need to make your online application. This application will be assessed by the Admissions team to assess your references, fee status, as well as your eligibility in terms of education and experience. Guidance on how to apply can be found here.

4. Submit a Project Approval Form

The project approval form (PAF) is used to assess your project in terms of planning, feasibility, and appropriateness for a PhD. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the form is completed, but it is recommended that applicants work closely with the supervisors.

Make sure you complete all sections, answering all questions fully, and signatures from all supervisors and student are included. There is no need to collect the signatures from the Head of Department/Business Manager and Sub-Committee Chair at this point.

We strongly advise the submission of your application as early as possible to ensure that you can begin with your desired intake. If your application is not processed in time, you run the risk of a deferral to the subsequent intake.

We advise students to aim to submit their online application and PAF at least four months before their desired registration date, although the earlier the application submission the better.

It is typical that the process from the receipt of your online application and PAF through to offer letter stage (which includes the arrangement of the PhD interview) takes approximately six weeks.

Please note that the deadlines listed below are for both the online application and Project Approval Form (PAF) which is to be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

Copies of the PAF can be downloaded here.

5. Application Procedure

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Personal Statement: Yes
  • A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). It should include an explanation of your interest and existing knowledge of the field.
• Research Proposal: Yes
  • The proposal should explain in some detail precisely the field of study that you want to contribute to and current research gaps, what you want to do and how you propose to do it. For advice on how to write a winning application. A letter of support from your proposed King's supervisor is also required.
• Previous Academic Study: Yes
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
• References: Yes
  • One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
• Other: Optional
  • You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

6. Application Closing Date

We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed. We may need to request further information from you during the application process. In addition, if you receive an offer, this programme requires all non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (with some exceptions) to have an ATAS certificate before they can enrol at King’s and this can take some time. We therefore advise applying as soon as possible to avoid any delay in obtaining this certificate.

The final application deadlines are detailed below; on these dates, the programme will close at 23:59 (UK time) and we will open for the corresponding intake in 2026 soon after the same intake has passed in 2025.

• February 2025 entry – 20 October 2024 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2024 for Home fee status
• June 2025 entry – 20 March 2025 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2025 for Home fee status
• October 2025 entry – 25 July 2025 for Overseas fee status and 25 August 2025 for Home fee status
• February 2026 entry – 20 October 2025 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2025 for Home fee status
• June 2026 entry – 20 March 2026 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2026 for Home fee status

Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier than the application deadlines listed above.

Fees or Funding

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

• Full time tuition fees: £7,950 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £3,975 per year

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

• Full time tuition fees: £30,240 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £15,120 per year

UK Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £8,500 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £4,250 per year

International Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £32,400 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £16,200 per year

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

Study Environment

Base Campus

Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Students work alongside staff researchers, are supervised by two members of academic staff and overseen by a divisional research co-ordinator. Students' progress is monitored closely and reported on every six months. For more details on study environment see the facilities description in the School entry.

Postgraduate Training

All students are regularly notified about skills development opportunities through a monthly newsletter. Participation in the annual Research Showcase, co-ordinated by the School, is compulsory for all students and provides an opportunity to improve science communication and presentation skills.

Entry Requirements

UK Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours, or a postgraduate degree in Molecular or Cellular Biology, with some previous experience of developmental and/or neurobiology. The successful candidates will be of the calibre expected of MRC and Wellcome Research students.
• A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters degree with Merit.

Equivalent International Qualifications

Select a country to view equivalent international qualifications.

English Language Requirements

English language band: D

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.