Program Overview

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Basic & Clinical Neuroscience MPhil/PhD, MD(Res)

Key information

Award: MPhil, PhD, MD(Res) Study mode: Full time, Part time Campus: Denmark Hill Campus

Study

The Basic and Clinical Neuroscience department’s mission is to change the therapeutic options for people with neurological and psychiatric disorders and inspire the next generation of neuroscientists. Our vision is to link up fundamental biological research and clinical research to gain a better understanding of disease mechanisms, identify novel opportunities for intervention and test out new therapies. This will only be achieved through close collaboration of scientists and clinicians working on a common problem.

Our research explores the cellular and molecular basis of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, motor neuron disease, schizophrenia, depression and autism spectrum disorder. We use human brain tissue, rodent and fly models, cells and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to identify genes, proteins and signalling pathways implicated in the development of motor neuron disease, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, with a view to developing novel disease-modifying therapies for the treatment of these diseases.

Our current research facilities have been greatly enhanced with the opening of the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, which provides cutting-edge technology for more than 200 Neuroscientists. The institute hosts the Wohl Cellular Imaging Centre, providing state-of-the art light microscopy equipment, image analysis software and workstation for neuroscience and biomedical research. We are driving research that will translate molecular discoveries made in the laboratory into therapies for our patients.

Key benefits

• Access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities
• Interaction with internationally recognised researchers in a wide range of neuroscience topics
• Excellence in basic and clinical research and development
• Strong partnerships with hospitals, industry and other research centres
• Access to rich and varied clinical populations
• Access to academic mentoring
• PhD students have access to a wide range of educational resources, ranging from neuroscience specific seminars at the Department to transferable skills and career development resources at the KCL level.
• Opportunities to be involved in laboratory demonstrations/supervision for undergraduate and taught post-graduate research projects

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 to [insert email].

Copies of the PAF can be downloaded here.

5. IoPPN Step 5 - Required Documentation

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

• 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, please visit the following page. 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: Yes
  • A full CV (Resume) is needed as part of the 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.

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.

• 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

Denmark Hill Campus

Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Graduate research students work closely with their supervisors and enjoy regular meetings to discuss their progress. They also liaise with other members of staff with relevant research interests and are encouraged to attend and participate in departmental research presentations and other Institute seminars. There is a full induction for new graduate students on commencing their studies. Each full-time graduate research student is allocated their own workspace and computer; facilities for part-time students can be arranged according to their needs. State-of-the-art genetics and neuroimaging facilities are available, and students benefit from a unique Clinical Research Facility, and the new Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience building.

Postgraduate training

Training courses run by the department, the Institute or through the Graduate School can be utilised as required to provide training in a wide variety of topics, from transferable skills to academic areas directly relevant to the student's thesis.

Head of Department

Professor Peter Giese

Co-head/Deputy of Department

Professor Sandrine Thuret

Contact for information

For any additional queries regarding application and project approval procedures please contact:

• Education Support Team: [insert email]
• Admissions Tutors: Alessio Vagnoni (primary) and Deb Pal [insert email]
• Senior Business Manager: Leanne Lu [insert email]

Entry requirements

UK requirements

• A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a country to view the equivalent 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.