Biology
Entry requirements
Candidates must usually achieve a minimum upper-second class (2:1) UK honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject.
Months of entry
January, April, October
Course content
An MPhil/PhD is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of 60,000 to 100,000 words. At Birkbeck, you are initially registered on an MPhil and you upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two. You need to find a suitable academic supervisor at Birkbeck, who can offer the requisite expertise to guide and support you through your research. Find out more about undertaking a research degree at Birkbeck.
As a PhD student in biology, you will become part of a rich research environment at Birkbeck and University College London. We are also part of a multidisciplinary centre for world-class research, the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB), which seeks to integrate techniques from the chemical and physical sciences to provide insight into the molecular basis of biological processes.
In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in a joint submission with UCL, Biological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked 11th in the UK, with a research environment supporting world-leading and internationally excellent research. Our academic staff have many years of experience in teaching both part-time and full-time research students and offer internationally recognised expertise in the following key areas of research:
- Biology (organismal)
- Biophysics
- Cell biology
- Chemical biology
- Computational biology
- Microbiology
- Structural biology
Highlights
- Birkbeck is one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions. Our cutting-edge scholarship informs public policy, achieves scientific advances, supports the economy, promotes culture and the arts, and makes a positive difference to society.
- Birkbeck’s research excellence overall was confirmed in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework with 83% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
- Birkbeck has state-of-the-art laboratories equipped for protein crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, confocal microscopy, biophysics, spectroscopy, molecular biology, synthetic and analytical chemistry and microbiology.
- We are part of the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB), a multidisciplinary centre for world-class research.
- Read about Birkbeck research helping to identify fundamental biological and physical structures and fight disease.
Information for international students
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses, foundation programmes and language support services to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Fees and funding
Flexible finance: pay your fees in monthly instalments at no extra cost. Enrol early to spread your costs and reduce your monthly payments.
As part of the Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB) we attract funding for PhD studentships that ensure researchers of the highest standard can pursue their research with us. Each year we invite applications for fully funded PhD studentships provided by the BBSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust and others. Please note that applicants for studentships must be able to satisfy specific eligibility requirements in relation to qualifications and residency. Information about funded PhD opportunities is available on our website.
Find out more about other research funding opportunities at Birkbeck.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MPhil/PhD
- part time84 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time48 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700