PhD in Biomedical Science
| Length | Start dates (semester dates) | |
|---|---|---|
| PhD |
3-4 years full-time |
January or |
This programme provides an opportunity for outstanding graduates with an interest in biomedical science, the area of basic science which focuses on the study of fundamental biological processes involved in health and disease.
Our programme, as well as biomedical research in general, uses multidisciplinary approaches to comprehend and combat disease, encompassing a wide variety of disciplines from molecular medicine to chemical biology, biophysics and bioengineering.
Depending on the specific nature of your project, you'll have the opportunity to obtain the following academic designations upon completion:
- PhD in Biomedical Science
- PhD in Biomedical Science (Biomedical Technologies)
- PhD in Biomedical Science (Chemical and Structural Biology)
The choice of degree titles aims to reflect the different disciplines involved in this degree. Studying across a range of disciplines you'll have access to tailored York Biomedical Research Institute (YBRI) doctoral training activities focused on the biomedical sciences and the core YBRI themes:
- Immunology, haematology and infection
- Molecular and cellular medicine
- Neuroscience
Your research
A PhD thesis can be up to 80,000 words long and must contain a substantial original contribution to scientific knowledge or understanding.
Your thesis is assessed by internal and external examiners, who will feed back on your work, and may require corrections. You will sit a final oral examination, known as a viva, within three months of submitting your thesis.
Areas of PhD research fall within, but are not limited to, the diverse biomedical portfolio of our academic staff, including neuroscience, molecular and cellular medicine, immunology, haematology, infection, chemical and structural biology, biophysics, and bioengineering.
Working under the supervision of world-leading, research-active supervisors, you'll be encouraged to contribute substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches as you pursue research in biomedical science at an advanced level.
Contact us
York Biomedical Research Institute
biomed-sciences-pgr
Department of Biology, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, YO10 5NG
@YBRI_UoY
Funding
Explore funding for postgraduate researchers.
Supervision
YBRI hosts over 90 principal investigators covering a range of disciplines. Search our academics according to their research interests.
Training and support
A dedicated Biomedical Science training and cohort-building programme will draw on the training offered by the collaborating departments, while offering the students on the PhD programme additional training and opportunities to promote collaboration and networking across the programme.
Cohort activities will include: a monthly journal club, an annual research symposium, and other cross-departmental YBRI seminars and events.
The York Graduate Research School (YGRS) connects more than 2,000 postgraduate researchers (PGRs) across all disciplines and brings together the support you need to make the most of your research project.
I'm researching the development of an osteoarthritis drug screening tool using mesenchymal stromal cells. Being a part of the Biomedical Science cohort at York is great because there are always other people around to support you, bounce ideas off with when you’re stuck on something and need a different perspective or even just to grab a coffee with. Having this community is very important to me and was one of my priorities to have when I was looking for a PhD.
Jess, first year PhD student in Biomedical Science.
My project focuses on the antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA, specifically studying a membrane protein in this bug as a potential route by which antibiotics enter the cell. I chose to be part of Biomedical Science here at York because I wanted to work on a multidisciplinary project, combining fields I'm interested in like biochemistry and medical microbiology. I've enjoyed being part of a varied community of postgraduates working across different fields, all with a shared interest in medical science.
Imran, second year PhD student in Biomedical Science.
Course location
This course is run by the York Biomedical Research Institute, based in the Department of Biology on Campus West and also includes contributions from the departments of Chemistry, Health Sciences, and Psychology, Hull York Medical School, and the School of Physics, Engineering, and Technology.
Entry requirements
To apply for this course you should hold, or expect to hold, an honours degree in a related subject area for entry into this PhD programme with a 2:1 or first-class honours (or overseas equivalent).
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.
Check your English language requirements
Applying
You can apply to start a full or part-time PhD in either January or September.
Take a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.
Find information about fees for research degrees.
Find out more about how to apply.
Identify a supervisor
Please review the lists of funded and self-funded research projects available at the bottom of this page. Once you have chosen your project, make a note of its title and the name of the supervisors and include this in your application.
Funding
We are pleased to support candidates seeking to apply for international PhD scholarships. The University of York has a special arrangement with CONACYT (Mexico). Additional opportunities can be found by visiting the following links: ANID/CONICYT (Chile), ANII (Uruguay), The Egyptian Bureau, Scholarship program (Saudi Arabia), Fulbright (US), Commonwealth Scholarships (several) and others.
Funded projects for 2025 entry
The Discovery Medicine North (DiMeN) partnership programme is open for applications yearly between November and December.
Utilising the combined expertise of five world-leading institutions (Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield and York) the DiMeN partnership will train the next generation of researchers to tackle the major health problems facing the population.
The partnership provides up to 40 fully-funded studentships per year and delivers training for the next generation of biomedical researchers.
Self-funded projects for 2025 entry
We welcome applications at any time from those who are able to fund their own studies. You can start the programme on either 1 September or 1 January. Please see the projects currently open for applications listed below. Our YBRI academics list provides details of the research interests of all members.
Discover York
Accommodation
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.
Our research
Our research spans the biological sciences and influences areas including environmental policy, tackling disease and biofuels.
Graduate Research School
Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.
Next steps
Contact us
York Biomedical Research Institute
biomed-sciences-pgr
Department of Biology, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, YO10 5NG
@YBRI_UoY