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Students
Tuition Fee
GBP 26,800
Per year
Start Date
2025-09-01
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
48 months
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
PhD
Major
Biomedical Sciences | Biochemistry | Biotechnology
Area of study
Natural Science
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
GBP 26,800
Intakes
Program start dateApplication deadline
2025-09-01-
2025-01-01-
About Program

Program Overview


Biochemistry

Overview

As a school, we believe that part of our mission is to train the next generation of life scientists. We take great pride in the standard of our postgraduate provision and offer both three- and four-year PhD programmes. It is also possible to pursue a one-year Master's by Research (MScR) which allows an additional year of write-up time if necessary. Competition for places on our postgraduate programmes is high, but we believe that we offer a unique and nurturing environment for talented students.


You will receive extensive research training that covers methodology, critical interpretation and problem-solving, as well as transferable skills training in communication, presentation, teamwork, time management and teaching. You will also be encouraged to participate in personal development planning, which is considered a valuable adjunct of your professional development. Training is also available in enterprise and entrepreneurship.


You will have access to the world-class Wolfson Bioimaging Facility and GW4 high-resolution cryoEM facility, which provides a suite of state-of-the-art light and electron microscopes. In addition, the Proteomics Facility offers bespoke proteomics services for researchers.


Key Information

  • Programme duration: MScR: up to two years full-time; up to four years part-time. PhD: up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time.
  • Start date: From September or January in each year, unless otherwise stated in a funding opportunity. If you wish to apply for an alternative start date, please contact the admissions team directly.
  • Application deadline: Please check our funding webpages for details of funding application deadlines. Applications from self-funded students are welcomed and have no fixed deadline. However, if you wish to join in September 2025, please apply with a complete application by 30 June 2025 if you are an overseas student and 31 July 2025 if you are a home student.
  • Delivery method: On-Campus
  • Location: Clifton
  • Awards available: PhD, MSc by research

Programme Structure

Our research activity in the school is guided by focusing on 3 key themes:


  • Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology
  • Biomolecular Structure and Mechanism
  • Synthetic Biology

All researchers across the school identify with one or more of the themes. The school usually has 100 research postgraduates at any one time, working in a wide variety of subject areas and adopting a range of different research approaches.


World-leading Research

  • The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
  • 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

  • A first or upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in a biomedical science discipline is required for entry to the PhD programme. We may consider MSc by research applications from candidates with a lower second-class degree (or international equivalent).
  • See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

English Language Requirements

  • If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.
  • Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and Funding

  • Home: full-time: £4,850 per year
  • Home: part-time (two years): £2,425 per year
  • Overseas: full-time: £26,700 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.


Alumni Discount

  • University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and Scholarships

  • Funding to support postgraduate studentships is provided by the BBSRC and MRC from September 2024 onwards (eligibility criteria apply). A limited number of University scholarships are also available for exceptional UK, EU and overseas students, although international students are often self-funded or supported by funds from their own governments.
  • Details about funded places and scholarships are listed on the Faculty of Life Sciences website.

Career Prospects

  • Most of our postgraduate students become highly productive researchers, publishing in leading peer-reviewed biomedical journals. Over 75 per cent of our students go on to postdoctoral research in academia and industry.
  • Other students use the transferable skills gained during their study to enter postgraduate-level employment, including publishing, management and administration.

Meet Our Supervisors

  • The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
    • Professor Ross Anderson
    • Professor Imre Berger
    • Professor Christiane Berger-Schaffitzel
    • Dr Steven Burston
    • Dr Bernadette Carroll
    • Dr Anna Chambers
    • Dr Alan Cheung
    • Professor Ian Collinson
    • Professor Pete Cullen
    • Dr Paul Curnow
    • Professor Mark Dillingham
    • Professor Mark Dodding
    • Professor Jan Frayne
    • Dr Adam Grieve
    • Professor Jonathan Hanley
    • Emeritus Professor Jeremy Henley
    • Professor Mike Jones
    • Professor Jon Lane
    • Professor Harry Mellor
    • Dr Fabio Parmeggiani
    • Professor Nigel Savery
    • Professor Mark Szczelkun
    • Professor Ash Toye
    • Dr Marc Van der Kamp
    • Professor Paul Verkade
    • Dr Helen Weavers
    • Professor Dek Woolfson

Research Groups

  • Research in the school covers all aspects of modern biochemistry and this is reflected in the wide range of postgraduate projects available.
  • The school has an international reputation in cell biology, and enjoys an association with the Wolfson Bioimaging Facility and GW4 high-resolution cryoEM facility, which houses the state-of-the-art light and electron microscopes.
  • Our work in this area of dynamic molecular cell biology covers intracellular trafficking, cell shape and movement, and the control of cell death and proliferation.
  • We have also earned an international reputation for our research in structural biology and biophysics, including rational drug design, mathematical modelling of protein structure and folding, pioneering work on the interactions between DNA and proteins, and structural biology of complex systems including membrane proteins and complexes.
  • Synthetic biology is another key area of active research within the school, which is supported by the BrisSynBio Centre and the Bristol BioDesign Institute - world-class flagships for multi-disciplinary studies in this area.

How to Apply

  • When applying you must indicate one or two potential supervisors whose research interests you. We recommend that you contact these supervisors by email in advance of making your application.
  • Details of the members of staff that could serve as supervisors are available on Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology, Biomolecular Structure and Mechanism, Synthetic Biology.
  • Apply today via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.

Program Outline


Careers:

  • Most postgraduate students become highly productive researchers, publishing in leading peer-reviewed biomedical journals.
  • Over 75% of students go on to postdoctoral research in academia and industry.
  • Other students use transferable skills gained during their study to enter postgraduate-level employment, including publishing, management, and administration.

Other:

  • The school has an international reputation in cell biology, structural biology, and biophysics, as well as synthetic biology.

UK: full-time £4,758 per year UK: part-time £2,379 per year Overseas: full-time £26,000 per year For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year. For postgraduate research students who are not funded by UK Research Councils or (specific) UK charities, it is usual to charge a bench fee. A bench fee covers the costs of laboratory consumables, specialist equipment and other relevant costs (such as training) for the duration of the programme. The bench fee charged can vary considerably depending on the nature of the programme being undertaken. Details of specific bench fee charges can be provided on request and will be made clear in the offer letter sent to applicants.

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