Research Degrees in

Bioscience (incl. Microbiology and Infection, Cardiovascular Science and Ageing & Lifelong Health)

in the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Overview

Do you want to advance or change your career, deepen your expertise in a topic, or expand your research and practical skills?

With a PhD or other postgraduate research degree in Bioscience and related areas, you will:

    • Work with leading experts in the field. We are home to one of the highest concentrations of research excellence in the UK, with expertise in microbiology, cardiovascular pathology, healthy ageing, genetics, and cell and molecular biology.
    • Choose from our flexible study pathways. You can pursue full- or part-time research on our PhD, MPhil or MSc by Research programmes.
    • Join a thriving intellectual community. You will be a member of our Centre for Bioscience, which carries out cutting-edge research into the main burdens on UK health and well-being in the 21st century.
    • Network with industry and practitioners. We work closely with industry partners, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology companies. We also have extensive links with clinical teams in the Central Manchester Foundation Trust and throughout the North West.
    • Benefit from state-of-the-art facilities. Your research will be enhanced by our recent significant investment in our facilities to support research into ageing, vascular pathology and microbiology.
    • Undertake tailored personal and professional development training. We provide training in research methodologies and transferable skills to equip you for careers in academia or in industry.

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Areas of supervisory expertise

We can supervise a wide range of projects within Bioscience and related fields. Our particular areas of research specialism include:

  • Biomedical sciences
  • Microbiology and infection
  • Cardiovascular science
  • Ageing & Lifelong Health
  • Cell biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Stem cell biology.

Find out more about our staff's expertise

Research culture

We undertake world-leading, innovative, multi-disciplinary research in bioscience and related disciplines. We conduct basic and translational research in order to identify and address many of the world’s most pressing societal challenges, including ageing, personalised medicine, heart defects, and infectious diseases.

More about our research culture

Our research aims to pioneer new ideas with real world application and global potential to improve health and wellbeing. We are committed to interdisciplinary approaches, and work with colleagues in Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Computing.

Postgraduate researchers are a core part of our research environment. You will be a member of our Centre for Bioscience. You will also benefit from a wide range of academic and industry events held at Manchester Met and beyond, including an Annual Symposium run by the Faculty of Science and Engineering for postgraduate researchers.

Courses offered, duration, and start dates

Programmes offered

  • PhD (3 years full-time, 6 years part-time)
  • Masters by Research (1 year full-time, 2 years part-time)
  • MPhil (2 years full-time, 4 years part-time).

Find out more about the different research degrees we offer

Start dates

The majority of our students enrol in October. We offer further enrolment points in January, April and July.

Distance learning

Research degrees are available to study on-campus or through distance learning.

Career prospects

You will develop higher-level technical and research skills, which equip you to pursue careers in academia, the clinical professions, national and international government organisations, the pharmaceutical industries, and biotechnology companies. 

Course structure

This course is research based. You will independently conduct research into your own topic or a topic that we advertise. Your supervisory team will offer expert guidance throughout your studies and review work in progress.

Each year, you will follow a programme of training and development to enhance your research methods, subject-matter expertise and professional skills.

Fees and funding

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Postgraduate Research Degrees Fees

Please refer to our Fees page for more information on tuition fees.

Loans for research degrees

Many of our PhD and Professional Doctorate programmes are eligible for the government's Doctoral Loan Scheme. MPhil and MA/MSc by Research degrees are eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.

Find out more about tuition fees and financial support

Scholarships

Each year we offer a number of competitive scholarships to support high quality research projects. Current scholarship opportunities in Bioscience are advertised on our site.

Sign up to be notified when relevant scholarships are advertised

Entry requirements

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You should, as a minimum, have a first or 2.1 honours degree or an equivalent qualification.

International students must demonstrate a sufficiently high standard of English language ability.

In order to enter most postgraduate courses the English requirements are IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 575, and TOEFL computer-based 230.

We welcome interest from applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We will take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment into consideration.

See more about our standard entry requirements.

Enquiries

Before applying for a research degree, you should have a preliminary discussion with a member of staff about your project and ideas. To arrange this, please email Dr Fiona Wilkinson, f.wilkinson@mmu.ac.uk, the Research Degrees Co-ordinator for the Department of Life Sciences.

For further information on the application process, contact the Admissions team pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk, +44 (0)161 247 2966

How to apply

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To apply for this degree, please select one of the study options below to begin your application.

Before you apply, you should discuss your project with a member of academic staff. You should also complete the postgraduate research degree thesis proposal form, which you will need to upload as part of your application. The document can be attached at the final checklist section after you’ve submitted your application.


Postgraduate Study