Clinical & Surgical Sciences PhD/iPhD/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;
IPhD: 5 years full-time;

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Research projects

IPhD self-funded projects (November-April)

Our Integrated PhD combines an MSc and PhD project in a 1+3+1 format.
You can select from the below projects and indentify your chosen MSc from the options listed on the project.

Please note that you can apply for the below PhD projects outwith the IPhD route.

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Nuclear RNA involved in the regulation of mitosis

Supervisor: Dr Andrew Hamilton

MSc choices: Biomedical Sciences [MRes], Biomedical Sciences [MSc]

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.

Integrated PhD programmes (5 years)

Our Integrated PhD allows you to combine masters level teaching with your chosen research direction in a 1+3+1 format.

International students with MSc and PhD scholarships/funding do not have to apply for 2 visas or exit and re-enter the country between programmes. International and UK/EU students may apply.

Year 1

Taught masters level modules are taken alongside students on our masters programmes. Our research-led teaching supports you to fine tune your research ideas and discuss these with potential PhD supervisors. You will gain a valuable introduction to academic topics, research methods, laboratory skills and the critical evaluation of research data. Your grades must meet our requirements in order to gain entry on to your pre-selected PhD research project. If not, you will have the options to pay outstanding MSc fees and complete with masters degree only.

Years 2, 3 and 4

PhD programme with research/lab work, completing an examinable piece of independent research in year 4.

Year 5

Thesis write up.

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

A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:

TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

79; with Reading 13; Listening 12; Speaking 18;Writing 21
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

59 with minimum 59 in all subtests
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

176 overall, no subtest less than 169
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

Oxford ELLT 7
R&L: OIDI level no less than 6 with Reading: 21-24 Listening: 15-17
W&S: OIDI level no less than 6

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

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 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
Undergraduate 2+2 degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

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 also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

Fees and funding

Fees

2024/25

UK: £4,786
International & EU: £47,100

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.

Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School with us. The discount is applied at registration for students who are not in receipt of another discount or scholarship funded by the University. 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 may want to identify a potential supervisor 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.

You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search.

IPhD applicants do not need to contact a supervisor, as you will choose from a list of IPhD projects. Each project has named supervisors.

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 [except iPhD applicants, where only one academic or professional reference is required]. 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. We can also accept confidential references direct to rio-researchadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk, from the referee’s university or business email account.
Research proposal, CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area. iPhD applicants do not need to submit any of these as you will start your programme by choosing a masters.
Completed College of MVLS Postgraduate Research Cover Letter

Notes for iPhD applicants

add 'I wish to study the MSc in (select MSc from IPhD project choices) as the masters taught component of the IPhD' in the research proposal box
For supervisor name, please ensure you write the named supervisors from your chosen IPhD project.