Life Sciences
Our PhD programme is designed to allow students to transition smoothly from course-based study towards independent research.
Course key facts
Qualification
PhD
Duration
3-4 years
Start date
October 2023
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Entry requirements
Have or expect to have a BSc degree of 1st class or 2.1 standard in UK system, or equivalent for overseas degrees.
A Master's degree may also be required.
Course overview
The Department of Life Sciences has a vibrant and internationally leading research programme that spans levels of organisation from atoms to the biosphere, that strongly supports multidisciplinary collaborations and that actively fosters the development of new fields. The Department's research and teaching activities are funded by a wide variety of research councils, charities and industries bodies, with the value of current external research grants totalling £70+ million.
We're home to a community of world leading researchers, working to find solutions to the world's biggest challenges. Our research covers a wide range of themes. Our facilities support our researchers to achieve their goals.
Structure
Milestones for the first year of study include:
- Induction and Safety training
- Personal Review Panel (PRP)
- Research Plan
- Six-months progress report
Project partners
We are collaborating with industry leaders to deliver the practical aspects of this programme.
The studentship will principally be based at Imperial College, with a placement at AstraZeneca in Macclesfield (for 3 months) and in close collaboration with the Biological Mass Spectrometry Theme at the Rosalind Franklin Institute.
Find out more about the CASE award scheme.
Supervisors
Dr Arkhat Abzhanov
Reader in Evolution and Developmental Genetics, Department of Life SciencesArkhat's research group is interested in a variety of topics related to the vertebrate craniofacial (head) development, craniofacial genetic conditions in humans and craniofacial developmental evolution.
Dr Maruf Ali
Reader in Molecular and Structural Biology, Department of Life SciencesThe aim of my research is to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern how cells maintain the quality of proteins during cellular stress, towards developing novel strategies for therapeutic intervention in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Entry requirements
Footnotes
- Have or expect to have a BSc degree of 1st class or 2.1 standard in UK system, or equivalent for overseas degrees. A Masters degree may also be required.
- Applicants who do not meet the above criteria but who sufficient relevant experience and background knowledge may be considered.
- Have a commitment to and demonstrated ability in research.
How to apply
Apply online
The deadline for applying for admission is generally set by the programme or the funding competition for which you are applying.
If you are not applying for a specific programme then you should make contact with an academic member of staff as a prospective supervisor prior to submitting an application. Thoroughly research your options and suitability on the following webpages: Themes, Centres, Research active staff profiles.
Find out more about applying to Imperial.
If you are interested in applying for a College funded programme, please ensure you follow the instructions on the specific webpages and check the deadlines. The deadline for applying for admission is generally set by the programme or the funding competition for which you are applying. If you want to apply for funding listed on the Departmental PhD Opportunities Page the closing date will be published in the advert. If you want to apply for College-wide funding refer to the Scholarship and Awards Search Tool for their competition closing dates.
Your personal statement should be informative and persuasive and should indicate why you are interested in the area of research.
Apply online through Imperial Gateway .
General information relating to applying to Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research programmes can be found on our Postgraduate Doctoral pages.
Fees and funding
We have departmental studentships available for prospective students.
We also have a range of grants and scholarships which you don't need to pay back.
For further information about possible sources of funding please visit our Scholarships page.
Scholarships
Learning and assessment
- Research Plan Confirmation (RPC) - A brief description of your research area (2-4 pages) for discussion with supervisor(s).
- Early Stage Assessment (ESA) - Written report of research problem which is to form the core of your thesis (no more than 15 pages) orally examined by at least one independent member of academic staff.
- Late Stage Review (LSR) - Written report of research problem (no more than 30 pages) orally examined by two independent member of academic staff.
- Year Three Progress Report (Y3PR) - Year three progress report describing achievements/immediate goals for discussion with supervisor(s).
- Exam Entry Form (EEF) - Completed/submitted at least 4 months before thesis submission date.
- Thesis Submission
Career
Graduates of our Life Sciences Research PhD programmes are active with industry and academia.
Testimonials
Further links
Success Guide
The Success Guide for postgraduate students offers you advice and resources to excel at Imperial College London.
Support for International Students
We provide specialist immigration advice and run a programme of webinars, trips and events to foster integration, friendship and community.
Centre for Academic English
Throughout your degree, you can take advantage of a range of CfAE courses and resources designed to help you communicate your STEMM research effectively.
Library services
Your subject librarian can help you find books and access online resources
