Life Sciences - PhD
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
A PhD in Life Science will help you to develop research skills that support, research and/or academic careers. You will work closely with a team of specialist academics in your chosen field, and receive excellent support tailored to your individual needs.
- Level Postgraduate Research
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Award PhD
- Start date September 2025, February 2026, May 2026
- Fees View course fees
- Location City South
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
A PhD in Life Science will help you to develop research skills that support, research and/or academic careers. You will work closely with a team of specialist academics in your chosen field, and receive excellent support tailored to your individual needs.
What's covered in this course?
- A PhD enables you to follow a programme of self-directed, independent study, supported by experienced supervisors who are themselves experts in their area.
- You will also be supported by the wider research community in the Faculty and you will have regular opportunities to attend research seminars, conferences and symposia.
The research project and technical skills developed during the course provided the opportunity to explore my scientific creativity, develop my critical thinking skills, and build confidence in my abilities as a researcher, improved my employability in several biology-based fields and laid the foundations of my research career.
Jack Spencer, PhD student in Life Sciences
Why Choose Us?
- The College of Life Science at BCU is a friendly academic environment that offers excellent support to all our PhD students.
- As well as a main supervisor (or Director of Studies), you will have a second supervisor to advice and comment on your work.
- We have a strong research culture and provide a range of career development opportunities to our graduate students.
- Our staff are also expert researchers in Life Sciences contributing to national and international highly recognized research.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation. Booking isn't open for this event yet, register your interest and we'll let you know as soon as booking goes live.
Next Event: 28 June 2025
Research Interests
The College of Life Science is keen to hear from serious researchers interested in pursuing a PhD. Normally we would expect a good MA in a relevant area as an entry requirement, but in certain cases this may not be needed. PhD applications tend to be taken more seriously where some thought has been given not just to the project, but also to the potential supervisor.
We supervise doctoral work in a range of areas within Life Sciences primarily:
- Microbiology
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Biotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: PhD
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3-4 Years
- £5,006 in 2025/26
- Part Time
- 4-7 Years
- £2,503 in 2025/26
Award: PhD
Starting: Feb 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3-4 Years
- £5,006 in 2025/26
- Part Time
- 4-7 Years
- £2,503 in 2025/26
Award: PhD
Starting: May 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3-4 Years
- £5,006 in 2025/26
- Part Time
- 4-7 Years
- £2,503 in 2025/26
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: PhD
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3-4 Years
-
TBC
Award: PhD
Starting: Feb 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3-4 Years
-
TBC
Award: PhD
Starting: May 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3-4 Years
-
TBC
If you’re unable to use our online application form for any reason, please email Research.Admissions@bcu.ac.uk.
Entry Requirements
To apply for our Life Science PhD research degree you should have, or expect to be awarded, a Masters degree in a relevant Life Science area at British or overseas university.
Exceptional applicants without a Master's degree, but holding a first class or high second class Bachelors degree in Biomedical Science or Biomedical Engineering, may be considered dependent upon the academic coherence and promise of their research proposal, and its consonance with the academic expertise of the college.
Please send us an initial PhD enquiry containing your brief PhD research proposal (1500 words), and/or any questions or queries you may have. You’ll notice that it asks you whether you’ve thought about potential supervisors. You may wish to contact one of our members of academic staff to discuss a potential project, and you are encouraged to do this. Applications, however, should be sent through official channels, beginning with the initial enquiry form.
We will review your initial enquiry to ensure your research proposal compliments one of our PhD research interests and you will be invited for an interview.
Requirements for International Students
- Valid Academic IELTS certificate with overall score of 7.0 with no band below 6.5 or equivalent.
Course in Depth
Supervision and guidance from the supervisory team to help the student refine the initial research proposal, research training, completion of the Post-graduate Certificate in Research Practice, participation in research seminars, journal review groups and in-house conference events, pilot studies and completion of research governance procedures.
Supervisors and Support
As a Life Science PhD research student you will be guided through your programme of study by a team of supervisors.
Your supervisory team will include a Director of Studies whose role it is to ensure that you are meeting targets and following the correct processes and systems for conducting Life Science PhD research.
You will also be supported by a second supervisor (and sometimes a third) who will provide guidance based on their knowledge of your specific PhD research interest.
You will meet with your supervisors on a regular basis to review your progress, receive advice and plan the next stages of your PhD research degree.
You will present your research developments regularly to supervisors and other members of your PhD research community at Birmingham City University
Modes of Study
Our Life Science PhD research degree is offered full-time or part-time.
These two modes of study ensure that we can create a PhD research plan around your lifestyle needs, even if you are in full-time employment.
Full-time PhD Research: three to four years
As a full-time PhD research student you will undertake much of your research on campus using the facilities at Birmingham City Business School.
You will be expected to complete your research and submit your work for examination within 36-43 months.
Part-time PhD Research: four to seven years
You would chose part-time PhD research if you opt to study whilst in employment or if full-time study is impractical.
You will be encouraged to use the campus facilities when you can and may often work from home.
You will be expected to complete your research and submit your work for examination within 48-72 months.
Employability
The value of a PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy or PhD is recognized worldwide and is often an essential requirement for those wishing to follow an academic or research career in industry or commerce.
Our Life Science PhD research degree will help you create opportunities to develop research skills that support professional practice, research and/or academic careers.
Graduate Jobs
Typical careers include research roles in academia or industry, research combined with teaching roles in higher education, roles in scientific writing and journal editor roles and consultancy.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested over £400 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.
Mock Wards
These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four to six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.
These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.
The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites
The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.
These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.
Home Environment Room
This facility replicates a small flat with bedroom, bathroom and kitchen diner space. It is used to simulate non-clinical settings, to give students experience of working in different environments. It also incorporates a range of digital health technology, to help prepare students to work in the NHS of the future.
Simbulance
Our ‘Simbulance’ is a purpose built teaching space that allows students to practise their skills in a highly specialist, high-fidelity simulated environment. The Simbulance is an exact replica of an operational emergency ambulance. Learners are truly immersed in the clinical environment and test their knowledge and skills in a safe and supported space, before entering the clinical environment ‘for real’ on placement.
Assisted Living Space
This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.
Assisted Kitchen
This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.
Physiotherapy Room
This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.
Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite
Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.
Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite
These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.
VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training
This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.
Radiotherapy
This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.
Telehealth Room
This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with five small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Imaging Academy
This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the Midlands Imaging Training Academy, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.
Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room
Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.
Ultrasound simulation suite
Students have access to a wide range of Ultrasound simulation equipment to develop their clinical skills and aid in training. The equipment includes two ultrasound machines with a range of phantoms, scan training stations and eve body works.
Our staff
Loukia Tsaprouni
Research Director for Health Sciences
Loukia Tsaprouni is a Professor in Health with interests in the areas of Genomics and Epigenetics of common diseases, complex traits aiming at the discovery of molecular origins of human disease, and the development of novel diagnostic and intervention strategies.
More about LoukiaProfessor John Howl
Professor of Life Sciences
Professor John Howl graduated from the University of Birmingham where he pursued a PhD in the field of muscle cell physiology and pathology supervised by Dr S. J. Publicover. Following an extended post-doctoral period in Birmingham, during which he was supported by two personal grants from the British Heart Foundation, he joined the University of...
More about JohnDr James Barnett
Senior Lecturer (Biomedical Science)
James graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2000 with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and Genetics. James’ first graduate job was at The Binding Site Ltd, where he was employed as a technician In the monoclonal antibodies department. James later embarked on a research career, and in 2002 joined the group of Professor Colin Robinson in the Dept...
More about JamesDr Irmgard Haussmann
Associate Professor in Health Sciences
Irmgard is an Associate Professor in Health Sciences and teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level. In her role as Director of Postgraduate Research Degrees for Life and Sport she leads all aspects of recruitment and student experiences for PhD Life and Sport Sciences.
More about IrmgardDr Martin Goldberg
Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology
After completing his degree in Bacteriology and Genetics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Martin worked for several years as a Biomedical Scientist in the large microbiology labs at Leicester Royal Infirmary. During this time, he became a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences. Martin then moved to the Genetics Department at...
More about Martin