Biotechnology MPhil

The MPhil is a one-year research degree where students get the opportunity to study a specific research project. The MPhil degree can act as a stand-alone degree for applicants who would like to gain experience in a specific area, or can be linked to a PhD programme. Rather than register on a direct entry 3 or 4 year PhD, some postgraduates may first register on a one-year MPhil programme. Subsequently students may then wish to transfer on to a full PhD programme with a further 2 or 3 years of study.

As genome projects for animals, plants and microorganisms continue to advance, new opportunities arise which offer huge potential benefits in healthcare, agriculture and the environment, through the production of new drugs, novel crops and bioremediation. The Faculty houses the UK Centre for Tissue Engineering and there are strong links with industry. The Faculty is well placed to exploit emerging research opportunities with industry as the first purpose-built BioSciences Incubator is situated adjacent to the Faculty and is where companies which spin out from our basic research can be located. Research in Biotechnology is diverse, and the following represent just a few examples:

• Wound Healing,
• Injury and Repair,
• Cancer Biology,
• Arthritis Research,
• Appetite and Body Weight,
• Neurodegeneration & Movement Disorders;
• Animal Cell Biotechnology;
• Microbial Pathogenicity & Production of Therapeutics,
• Fungal Biotechnology & Protein Production,
• Genetic Engineering of Crops,
• Containment of Transgenes in the Environment,
• Bioremediation of Terrestrial & Aquatic Environments
• Bioinformatics.

Each year the Faculty of Life Sciences has a number of studentships on offer to eligible UK/EU applicants. These studentships are funded by awards from UK research councils (i.e. BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC, ESRC, AHRC). Studentships are linked to specific PhD projects and are available for applicants to work in the laboratories of named principal investigators. Each year the list of funded PhD projects varies. In addition, throughout the year other studentships may be available through charities, internal funds and some industry-sponsored awards.

The Faculty endeavors to assisting academically excellent international students who wish to undertake a research degree within biological or life science. The Faculty has a number of different scholarship options available to international students.

Applicants are advised to check the Faculty postgraduate web pages for lists of current funding opportunities and eligibility criteria.

Academic entry qualification overview:

The standard entry requirement for MPhil study is a First or Upper Second class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject. In certain circumstances, a Lower Second class honours degree supplemented by appropriate relevant experience, may be acceptable.

English language:

For MPhil applicants whose first language is not English an IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL 577 (paper based), TOEFL 233 (computer based) or TOEFL 90 (internet based) is required as a minimum.

Other international entry requirements:

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For more details see entry requirements from your country.

All research degree programmes are based on supportive supervision in an outstanding research environment. As well as a supervisor each PhD student also has an advisor who is available to oversee the progression of the student and provide additional support during their research degree.

The Faculty of Life Sciences is proud to have one of the largest and most innovative training and development programmes for postgraduate students in Europe, which has undergone continual development over the past 10-15 years. The Graduate Training Programme (GTP) is a series of compulsory and optional workshops, seminars, and skills training modules that are designed to complement a student's research laboratory training. Every student benefits not only from the outstanding academic environment, but also from the opportunity to acquire a broad and individualised range of personal and transferable skills that are of great value in future careers. For more information about the Graduate Training Programme please see the skills development page on the Faculty of Life Sciences website.

Each year the postgraduate community is joined by all members of the Faculty of Life Sciences to formally celebrate their substantial research achievements at the Faculty Research Symposium. During this important day in the Faculty calendar, a selection of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers present their work, through talks and posters, to their peers, academic and support staff and invited guests. This event  provides all of our postgraduates with an important opportunity to showcase their research.

The Faculty of Life Sciences at The University of Manchester comprises 250 independent research groups, and is one of the largest and best biology research groupings in Europe. The Faculty's research encompasses the entire spread of life sciences from the molecule to cell to organism to population.

The Faculty occupies a series of superb new buildings, each of which incorporates an enviable collection of equipment core facilities. These include analytical research facilities, bioimaging facility, bioinformatics facility, biomolecular analysis and mass spectrometry facilities, microarray facility, botanical experimental grounds, electron microscopy facility, fermentation facility, flow cytometry facility, histology facility, mammalian transgenic technologies facility, nuclear magnetic resonance facility, and x-ray crystallography facility.

The majority of our MPhil students choose to study for a subsequent 2 or 3 years to gain a PhD qualification. Other students use the skills they have acquired to move into related areas such as education, information technology, consultancy and management, helped by the comprehensive skills training they gain during their programme of study.

Faculty of Life Sciences

See: About the Faculty of Life Sciences.

Telephone: +44 (0)161 275 5608

Facsimile: +44 (0)161 275 5657

Email: pgresearch.lifesciences@manchester.ac.uk

Website: www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/phdprogrammes