PhD/MPhil Bioinformatics

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Doctor of Philosophy
Duration
3-4 years PhD, 1-2 years MPhil
Entry requirements

We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

  • January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
  • April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
  • September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Programme options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
PhD Y Y N N
MPhil Y Y N N

Programme overview

  • Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
  • Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
  • Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
  • Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).

Open days

Attending an open day is a great way to find out what undertaking postgraduate research at Manchester is like. Find out about our  upcoming open days .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • PhD (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
  • PhD (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Contact name
Doctoral Academy Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0)161 275 5608
Email
Website
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/
School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

English language

For applicants whose first language is not English, or if you have not studied recently in the UK, you must provide evidence of how you meet the English Language requirement.

We mainly accept IELTS or TOEFL tests. Please note IELTS and TOEFL are only valid for two years.

We require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall or TOEFL (iBT) 90. Each component of the English test should meet the minimum requirement of IELTS 5.5 in all components, TOEFL (iBT 22). For the  writing component , we expect you to have achieved a minimum of 6.0 (IELTS).

If your IELTS or TOEFL expires before the start of your programme, you will need to take another official English test before we can issue you with a CAS for your visa application. This is a requirement of UKVI.

For more information about English language tests see  English language requirements .

Please contact us at FBMH.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk for further information.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements, including English language, see  entry requirements from your country .

Application and selection

How to apply

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

  • January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
  • April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
  • September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Advice to applicants

In addition to the formal online application, candidates should send all supporting documents (CV, transcripts, certificates, confirmation of funding, English language ability (if applicable) and a personal statement).

About the personal statement   

We recommend that your personal statement summarises:

  • any research experience and your interests;
  • your motivation for postgraduate research study;
  • why you want to do a postgraduate research degree in Manchester;
  • your career development to date;
  • your future career plans;
  • other supporting information: recent publications if any or other research training and experience;

If you have completed a research project during your undergraduate/master's study, please give a short description of the work you undertook, including the following details:

  • the research problem
  • your key findings
  • techniques acquired and skills learned

This information is especially important for applicants from overseas, so we can fully assess your practical background and experience alongside your academic qualifications. Failure to include this information may delay the processing of your application.

See further guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application  on our website .

Interview requirements

Candidates will be required to attend an interview with their prospective supervisor as well as an independent Postgraduate Tutor. If it is not possible for you to attend in person, we are able to interview by Zoom/video conferencing.

Disclosure and Barring Service check

Depending on the project you undertake, you may be required to undertake DBS screening.  We will notify of you this requirement if appropriate.

Programme details

Programme description

Our PhD/MPhil Bioinformatics programme enables you to undertake a research project that offers training in state-of-the-art computational approaches to study an aspect of biological and/or biomedical science.

Manchester is a leading centre for bioinformatics and computational biology, with one of the largest concentrations of academic groups in any UK higher education institute.

Biology is increasingly becoming a more digital science that generates large volumes of complex data, requiring allied informatics skills to process, analyse and store the information generated, leading to better interpretation of biological function, and potentially novel predictions. This can be used in both biology and clinical settings, for prediction of gene function in biological processes as well as in diagnostics and prognostics linked to disease.

This growth in the area has, in the main, been driven by the expansion of genomic and post-genomic technologies (e.g. next generation sequencing and allied 'omics) that generate high volumes of sequence and gene expression information, for example for the human 100,000 genomes project.

Incresingly, this can also involve spatial and temporal information such as imaging data, as well as recent developments in protein structure prediction. By integrating such data sources including evolutionary, environmental, text-mining and more, new understanding and discoveries can be made which place bioinformatics at the core of modern bioscience research.

We cover the full range of skills and expertise across an exciting portfolio of research topics, ranging from sequence analysis of nucleotides and proteins, through to integrated systems biology and mathematical modelling and machine learning.

We analyse data and generate tools linked to topics such as noncoding gene function, transcriptional networks, systems biology of cancer, antimicrobial resistance, protein folding and aggregation, quantitative proteomics and metabolomics in organisms ranging from viruses, microbes and model organisms to man. This often involves informatics approaches to help close the genotype-phenotype gap - i.e. why does varying at the genetic level lead to a particular change in phenotype, such as genetic disease. 

Bioinformatics postgraduate research students also often form part of highly collaborative and multidisciplinary teams tackling major problems in biomedical science, offering opportunities to work closely with experimental colleagues in a mutually supportive environment.

Special features

Training and development

All of our postgraduate researchers attend the Doctoral Academy Training Programme delivered by the Researcher Development team . The programme provides key transferable skills and equips our postgraduate researchers with the tools to progress beyond their research degree into influential positions within academia, industry and consultancy. The emphasis is on enhancing skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals, whether they relate to effective communication, disseminating research findings and project management skills.

Teaching and learning

PhD/MPhil programmes are based on individual research projects that last three to four years (PhD) or one to two years (MPhil), working with a specific Primary Supervisor and Co-Supervisor(s).

Applicants are specifically matched with a Primary Supervisor and individual project based on their research interests and background.

International applicants interested in this research area can also consider our PhD programme with integrated teaching certificate .

This unique programme will enable you to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, whilst also carrying out independent research on your chosen project.

Scholarships and bursaries

Funded programmes and projects are promoted throughout the year. Funding is available through UK Research Councils, charities and industry. We also have other internal awards and scholarships for the most outstanding applicants from within the UK and overseas.

For more information on available the types of funding we have available, please visit the  funded programmes  and  funding opportunities  pages.

What our students say

Find out more about what it's like to undertake a postgraduate research degree at Manchester on the Doctoral Academy Blog and the support available through our Faculty Doctoral Academy.

Facilities

You will have access to a range of  research and learning facilities  across the University and at some of our partner organisations.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Your postgraduate research degree will open up a range of career opportunities after you graduate. Find out more on the  Careers  page.