Program Overview

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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology PhD/MRes

Overview

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology PhD/MRes program at the University of Nottingham allows students to choose their own area of interest to research, under the title of their choosing. The program is bespoke, and students will work with a supervisor to advance the area of life sciences that interests them.

Research Areas

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology grouping is made up of the following available PhD and MRes courses:

• Animal Behaviour
• Conservation Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Ecology
• Evolutionary Ecology

Course Content

PhD or MRes?

PhD programs allow students to research a topic that interests them over the span of 3-4 years. Students will be required to submit a thesis on their work at the end of their research period and take part in a viva voce examination.

Masters by Research (MRes) programs allow students to undertake a substantial amount of independent research while gaining 20 credits of transferable skills training over the span of 12 months.

Defining Your Research Area

If you have a particular research area you are interested in, you should start by emailing a relevant supervisor and talking through your interests with them. You can then follow the steps to write your research proposal.

Entry Requirements

Home / UK Students

• British Honours degree at least 2:1 or equivalent
• Applicants currently studying Masters in the UK will be accepted with a minimum average of 60% (Merit) in taught elements, if they have a 2:1 or equivalent at undergraduate level

EU / International Students

• Undergraduate degree of at least 2:1 or equivalent
• Applicants currently studying Masters in the UK will be accepted with a minimum average of 60% (Merit) in taught elements, if they have a 2:1 or equivalent at undergraduate level
• International and EU equivalents: We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world
• IELTS: 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element) as a minimum
• English language requirements: As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications

Fees

PhD

• Home / UK: TBC
• International: TBC

MRes

• Home / UK: £5,006
• International: £30,750

Funding

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans. Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Support

Researcher Training and Development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Student Support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

• Academic and disability support
• Childcare services
• Counselling service
• Faith support
• Financial support
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Visa and immigration advice
• Welfare support

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Related Courses

• Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry PhD/MRes
• Pharmacology and Drug Discovery PhD/MRes
• Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology PhD/MRes
• Genetics and Genomics PhD/MRes

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

• 100% of UoA24 (Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism) and 84% of the UoA5 (Biological Sciences) research submitted was judged to be "world-leading" (4), or "Internationally Excellent" (3) in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 results
• 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4) or 'internationally excellent' (3)
• 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
• 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**