Doctor of Philosophy / Master of Philosophy
PhD/MPhil Medical Genetics
Tackle real-world challenges in medical genetics and understand the genetic roots of complex conditions.
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Overview
Programme overview
- Integrate basic and clinical research to identify genetic causes of monogenic and complex disorders—with expertise in biochemical genetics and developmental genetics.
- Join research groups in the Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics with links to the Manchester Regenerative Medicine Network (MaRMN) and the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine , focusing on genetic contributions to disease and personalised medicine.
Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health postgraduate research page to start your journey.
Open days
Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health postgraduate research events page to find out about upcoming open days and events.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Contact name
- Doctoral Academy Admissions Team
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 275 5608
- FBMH.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/
- School/Faculty overview
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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
Other international entry requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2025 were as follows:
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PhD (full-time)
UK students (per annum): Standard £5,006, Low £11,500, Medium £17,500, High £23,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £29,500, Medium £35,000, High £41,500 -
PhD (part-time)
UK students (per annum): Standard £2,503, Low £5,750, Medium £8,625, High £11,750
International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,750, Medium £17,500, High £20,755
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Scholarships/sponsorships
In the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health we offer a wide range of fully funded studentships and scholarships covering postgraduate research tuition fees, research costs and an annual stipend for living costs.
Application and selection
How to apply
- Browse our project listings and funded programmes to discover a project you’re passionate about and check you meet eligibility criteria.
- Understand how your project is funded and, if it’s listed as self-funded, consider our funding opportunities for self-funded projects or other funding opportunities .
- Speak to the listed supervisor about your suitability for their project or programme before you apply.
- Visit our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more and ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission.
Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health postgraduate research page to find out more.
Advice to applicants
Before you start your application, you should:
- Discover more about the research area you’re interested in.
- Identify the programme or find the specific research project you'd like to apply for.
- Contact the listed project supervisor and speak to them about your suitability for the project.
- Understand how your project is funded and, if you are applying for a self-funded project, consider how you plan on funding your project and discuss this with the listed supervisor.
If you already have your own funding:
- Find a specific self-funded project and contact the project supervisor to talk to them about your suitability for the project; OR
- Determine your own research project and title, find a potential supervisor in this research area and contact them to discuss potentially supervising your research.
Supporting documents
You'll also need to make sure you have the following documents before you start your application:
- Personal statement
- Certificates and transcripts
- CV
- Confirmation of funding (if you are self-funded)
- English language ability
- Names and details of two referees to support your application
Visit our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more about the information required for each of these supporting documents.
Any missing information may delay the processing of your application.
Application deadlines
The deadline for applying for postgraduate research in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health depends on when you intend to start your research and how your project is funded.
If you are applying for one of our funded programmes, please refer to the deadlines detailed on the relevant page .
If you’re applying for a project that isn’t part of one of these programmes, our final application deadlines are:
- January 2026 entry: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
- April 2026 entry: Thursday, 15 January 2026
- September 2026 entry: Tuesday, 15 June 2026
Programme details
Programme description
Our PhD/MPhil Medical Genetics programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Medical Genetics.
The field of genomic medicine integrates basic and clinical research. At a genetic level, the aim is to identify the genetic basis of both single gene and complex disorders.
This includes studying the normal role of the genes and proteins that have been identified, as well as understanding the functional consequences of pathogenic genetic variants.
Ultimately, the aim is to translate this research knowledge into healthcare benefits, including improved diagnosis and management, as well as, ultimately, into new treatment methods for the conditions investigated.
The University of Manchester has internationally-recognised expertise in several areas of genomic medicine that include the following:
- Biochemical genetics: Diagnosis, research and development of treatmentsof a range of metabolic and lysosomal diseases, including mucopolysaccharide diseases.
- Developmental genetics: The main aim is to understand the cellular and molecular processes behind both normal development and genetic disease and to improve diagnosis and management of human genetic disorders and birth defects. Manchester leads the European Reference Network for this group of disorders. Major programs of work include studies on the genetic basis and molecular treatment of visual impairment; chromatin remodelling disorders, including Kabuki syndrome.
- Health services research in genetics: Qualitative and quantitative programmes focused around the evaluation of genetics clinical services and the psychosocial impact of genetic disease.
- Cancer genetics: Includes research into the inherited forms of breast and colorectal cancer. We also have specific interests in neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis linked to nationally commissioned clinical services.
- Neurogenetics: Includes conditions encountered in paediatric neurogenetic practice, with the aim of improving the diagnosis, management and, ultimately, treatment of these disorders. Particular expertise has been developed in the study of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome.
- Inflammatory disorders: rare Mendelian forms of inflammation can provide insight into common disorders including systemic lupus erythematosis.
- Renal genetics: studies on the lower urinary tract include characterising bladder disorders including urofacial syndrome and bladder exstrophy. Expertise is considerable in renal cystic disease and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) modelling.
- Cardiac Genetics: Studies on the rare inherited heart rhythm disorder catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia include variant characterisation and treatment modelling using iPSC.
- Pharmacogenetics: study of how genetic variation can result in different responses to medication and how to avoid adverse reactions in clinical practice and the effects of medication taken in pregnancy on the developing fetus.
- Ophthalmic genetics: studies on Mendelian and complex conditions including retinal and corneal dystrophies and age-related macular degeneration. Expertise in bioinformatic analysis of next generation sequencing data, and functional and treatment modelling using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC).
State-of-the-art genomic technologies including exome and genome sequencing are employed in the centre to facilitate the work.
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.
What our students say
Visit our PhD life page to discover life as a postgraduate researcher at Manchester or read our postgraduate research student blog .
Disability support
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.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.