Clinical & Surgical Sciences PhD/MD/MSc (Research)
Individual research projects tailored around the expertise of principal investigators.
- PhD: 3-4 years full-time; 5 years part-time;
- MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Thesis of 18,000-30,000 words
- MD (Doctor of Medicine): 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time;
Research projects
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Nuclear RNA involved in the regulation of mitosis
Supervisor: Dr Andrew Hamilton
Research areas: fundamental cell biology, non-coding RNA, mitosis, cancer, CRISPR, RNAseq
Project outline: Understanding mitosis is a major aim of fundamental molecular cell biology but is also vitally important for understanding cancer and stem cells. My lab has discovered novel patterns of nuclear RNA around mitotic chromosomes (see image below) and we’ve also discovered major global effects of RNA on mitotic chromosomes that have never been described before so this is a very exciting field to be in. Your project will be an important part of our lab’s work to understand how the mass of nuclear RNA in a cell affects mitosis.
This image shows an example from our lab of a cell in the prometaphase of mitosis..its cytoplasm is outlined by the yellow dotted line to show the cell’s size more clearly. In the middle, the blue is the cluster of condensed mitotic chromosomes and the purple are the two asters that are beginning to radiate microtubules that will form the spindle. This is all typical of mitosis: the same as you would see in many cell lines. However, we also labeled all the nuclear RNA that was made just before mitotis in yellow and you see that this RNA concentrates around the clustering chromosomes (from El-Messeiry and Hamilton, manuscript in prep). It does not diffuse randomly through the cytoplasm as is widely assumed in the literature. This is an exciting discovery and other work from the lab suggests these RNAs have major effects on mitotic chromosomes.
Your project will involve use of CRISPR-based gene interference techniques (e.g. CRISPRkd, CRISPRi, CRISPRa) to explore the roles of these RNAs. RNAseq will be also used to characterise different RNA populations. You are also likely to use many standard, molecular techniques such PCR, Golden-gate cloning, Western blotting, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation, immunofluorescence and Q-PCR.
Supervision: Your work in the lab will be directly advised and taught by me, the PI of the lab, and even if you don’t have much lab experience, you will learn a range of vital molecular and cell-biology techniques with my direct guidance.
If you want more information about our work and PhD study in my lab, please contact me directly.
School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, Anderson College, 56 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow G11 6NU.
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Overview
Our research cuts across the following subjects:
Study options
PhD
- Duration: 3/4 years full-time; 5 years part-time
Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators.
MSc (Research)
- Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
MD (Doctor of Medicine)
- Duration: 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time (for medically-qualified graduates only)
Entry requirements
Our regular standard of admission is usually a 2.1 honours degree.
Required documents
Applicants should submit:- Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
- CV
- MVLS Cover Letter
- Two References
Applicants to the MD option must hold an MBChB or equivalent, and have been engaged since graduation for at least three years in either scientific work bearing directly on their profession, or in the practice of Medicine or Surgery.
English language requirements
For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English language proficiency level.
Accepted English language tests
We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)
- 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- We do not accept General Training
TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)
Tests taken up to 20 January 2026
- 90 Overall, no subtest lower than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
Tests taken from 21 January 2026
- 92 Overall, no subtest lower than 4.5
Pearsons PTE Academic (test centre only)
- 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall, no subtest less than 169
Oxford ELLT
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
LanguageCert Academic SELT/Academic/Academic Online
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 60
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II
- 96 overall with no subtest less than 90
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
PSI Skills for English
- B2 Pass with Merit
Duolingo English Test
- 120 overall with Writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110
Oxford Test of English Advanced
- 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher
Alternatives to English Language qualification
Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- Students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
TNE degree for UK University taught at a campus outside of the UK.
- Students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- ST Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
Fees and funding
Fees
2027/28
- UK: To be confirmed [26/27 fee was £5,238]
- International & EU: £51,495
Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.
Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.
Alumni discount
We offer a 15% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the 2027/28 academic year.
This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.
Possible additional fees
- Re-submission by a research student £540
- Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
- Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790
Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.
Support
The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences Graduate School provides a vibrant, supportive and stimulating environment for all our postgraduate students. We aim to provide excellent support for our postgraduates through dedicated postgraduate convenors, highly trained supervisors and pastoral support for each student.
Our overarching aim is to provide a research training environment that includes:
- provision of excellent facilities and cutting edge techniques
- training in essential research and generic skills
- excellence in supervision and mentoring
- interactive discussion groups and seminars
- an atmosphere that fosters critical cultural policy and research analysis
- synergy between research groups and areas
- extensive multidisciplinary and collaborative research
- extensive external collaborations both within and beyond the UK
- a robust generic skills programme including opportunities in social and commercial training
How to apply
Identify potential supervisors
All postgraduate research students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You must identify a potential supervisor supervisor from the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.
Research projects
If you are interested in a research project listed above, please include the title on your application.
Gather your documents
Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:
- Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
- Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
- Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. References may be uploaded as part of the application form or you may enter your referees' contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference.
- MVLS PGR programme cover letter template must be completed and uploaded with a copy of your CV.
Contact us
If you require assistance before you apply: mvls-gradschool@glasgow.ac.uk
After you have submitted your application: Admissions Enquiries form
Induction
- Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community