Program Overview

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Overview

The School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the study of cancer biology, infection and immunology, and regenerative medicine.

Ongoing refurbishment of our immunology, microbiology, virology, regenerative medicine and cancer research laboratories has created an outstanding working environment with state-of-the-art facilities. Researchers in the school also have access to facilities within the Faculty of Life Sciences, for example the Molecular Recognition Centre and Cell Imaging, Proteomics and Wolfson Bioimaging Facility.

Staff research interests include:

• childhood and adult cancers
• regenerative medicine
• molecular genetics
• developmental biology
• haematological disorders
• immunology
• virology
• bacterial antibiotic resistance
• bacterial pathogenesis.

The school combines basic research with a focus on translation, in other words turning basic scientific discoveries into something that is clinically useful. Key successes of this type include the development of novel drugs, therapies and diagnostic tests, and the implementation of changes to clinical practice. Several members of staff in the school are clinicians.

We have a list of pre-defined research projects available for the MSc by Research.

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.
• MD: up to five 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, MD, MSc by research

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).
• Applicants for the MD should be medically qualified and should consult with the graduate director before applying.
• See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Admissions Statement

• Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

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

• Details about funded places and scholarships are listed on the Faculty of Life Sciences website and the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine website.
• Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career Prospects

• Graduates have varied careers, including academic research, contract research, working in industry, diagnostics and clinical science, secondary education, higher education, science communications, journalism and research council grant administration.

Meet Our Supervisors

• The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
  • Dr Borko Amulic
  • Professor Matthew Avison
  • Dr Asme Boussahel
  • Professor Rafael Carazo Salas
  • Mr Adam Chambers
  • Dr Christine Chew
  • Professor Andrew Davidson
  • Dr Abdelkader Essafi
  • Dr Alice Halliday
  • Professor Darryl Hill
  • Dr Gareth Jones
  • Dr Wael Kafienah
  • Dr Siang Boon Koh
  • Dr Maisem Laabei
  • Dr Bethan Lloyd-Lewis
  • Professor Karim Malik
  • Professor Ruth Massey
  • Professor David Matthews
  • Professor Andrew Mumford
  • Dr Lindsay Nicholson
  • Dr Deepali Pal
  • Dr Parthive Patel
  • Professor Eugenia Piddini
  • Professor Anne Ridley
  • Dr Laura Rivino
  • Dr Iart Luca Shytaj
  • Professor Jim Spencer
  • Professor Christoph Wuelfing

Research Groups

• Our research activity in the school is guided by focusing on key themes:
  • Cancer biology
  • Infection and immunity
  • Regenerative medicine and stem cells
• All researchers across the school identify with one or more of the themes. The school has many research postgraduates at any one time, working in a wide variety of subject areas and adopting a range of different research approaches.
• Read more about our Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Areas and research in the Faculty of Life Sciences.
• 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 the webpages above.