Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biological Sciences  Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Biological Sciences 4-year 2026/27

PGRs may undertake study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy through the Biological Sciences 4-year programme in the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University under the supervision of a member of staff who satisfies the eligibility requirements specified by the relevant committee.

Two temporary supervisors will be appointed at the commencement of the programme of study (the Cheney PhD Director and a member of the Cheney Accelerator board).  

The final supervisory team will be appointed when the research project is confirmed.

This programme is delivered as part of the Cheney Scholarship funded programme in Biological Sciences.

Candidates will normally be required to have obtained (a) a relevant degree at least equivalent to at UK first class honours degree, or (b) a relevant degree at least equivalent to a UK upper second class honours degree and a relevant Masters level degree with Distinction or Merit. Relevant subject areas include biochemistry, biological sciences, structural biology, biomedical sciences, imaging, chemistry or physics.

This programme is not available to international applicants.  

Candidates will be expected to start the programme in October.

Candidates may normally undertake study on a full-time basis only. The Standard Period of Study for full-time PGRs is four years and the Maximum Time Limit is four years.  

This Programme is not available for study by split-site or distance learning modes.

All candidates for the degree of PhD are expected to undertake appropriate generic training. In addition, PGRs will undertake a programme of training in biomedical research in structural and in situ cell biology as described in this programme of study. 

Other requirements for the degree, including examination requirements are set out in Ordinance X and its associated regulations.

The aim of the programme is to train PGRs in state of the art biomedical research in structural and in situ cell biology – i.e. to understand the structure and function of biological macromolecules in situ (within cells and/or tissue). The programme structure is designed to attract the most able PGRs and support them in learning novel techniques quickly, whilst giving them sufficient time to tackle a challenging research question via a 3.5 year main thesis project.

Year 1 (outline)

Training:

• Induction training: faculty Induction and Welcome events, health and safety, Ethics, Academic Integrity Tutorial and Test and online tutorials in research integrity and research ethics.
• Programme specific technique training: hands-on practical classes in light and electron microscopy training, molecular tools for labelling, proteomics, in cell NMR.
• Transferable skills: oral presentation, data visualisation, data analysis & fitting, scientific writing
• Life skills: resilience training, life skills.

Laboratory projects:

• Two 8-10 week, PGR-selected rotation projects in a laboratory from the supervisor pool.

Progress monitoring:

• A presentation session at the end of each of the two rotations, with each PGR giving a 10 minute talk on their project. The session is open to all potential Cheney PhD supervisors
• Within 3 months - completion of training plan.  This will be completed between the PGR and the Director initially and will be reviewed with the supervisory team at 6 months and reviewed throughout the research degree in line with the University policy.
• Within 5 months, start to work on thesis project proposal, with feedback given at a project proposal meeting at 6 months. The proposal is reviewed by the Director, and feedback is provided to the PGRs.
• By 10 months submit First Formal Progress Review 
• The progress report should be completed on GRAD by 15 months (9 months after starting the final PhD project). PGRs are asked to submit a Trends Style Review or Grant Proposal based on their research area.  These documents will be discussed at an assessment meeting with two independent assessors.
• The PGRs will not be allocated to their final supervisor until month 6. They will be required to submit 5 supervision meeting records in the first six months. The first of these will be with the programme Director or nominee (from the academic management team). They will also have two meetings with the supervisors of each of their rotation projects. A further 5 (minimum) supervision meetings with the supervisor team will be held. A minimum of 10 supervision meetings will therefore be held in year 1. Records of all meetings should be logged on GRAD.  In addition, the PGR will meet with the Director on a monthly basis until they begin their final project.

Year 2 (outline)

• Laboratory project.

Training:

• Ongoing as agreed with the training plan.
• Bespoke entrepreneurship training – alternate years.
• Bespoke public engagement training – alternate years.
• Contribute to supervision of Cheney summer studentships – research placements for A level students or UG students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Progress monitoring:

• PGRs will be expected to transfer to full PhD status no later than 18 months.  PGRs will be contacted at 14 months and asked to submit their transfer report by 16 months.
• Flash talk and poster presentation at an annual scientific advisory board event.
• Supervision meetings – PGRs are expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year and records of these meetings should be logged on GRAD.  
• Annual Progress Review at end of year 2 – PGR submit progress report on GRAD and thesis plan and paper draft.

Year 3 (outline)

• Laboratory project.

Training:

• Ongoing as agreed with the training plan.
• Bespoke entrepreneurship training – alternate years
• Bespoke public engagement training – alternate years
• Contribute to supervision of Cheney summer studentships – research placements for A level students or UG students from disadvantaged backgrounds

Progress monitoring:

• Annual Progress Review at end of year 3 – PGR will submit a progress report on GRAD a paper draft and agree a plan for the writing up and completion of the thesis to enable submission by the end of year 4.  
• Flash talk and poster presentation at an annual scientific advisory board event and/or the annual postgraduate symposia in the Faculty of Biological Science.
• Supervision meetings – PGRs are expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year and records of these meetings should be logged on GRAD.  

Year 4

• Laboratory project.

Training:

• Ongoing as agreed with the training plan.
• Future leaders training – bespoke depending on career plans.

Progress monitoring:

• Annual Progress Review at end of year 4 (if thesis not submitted). PGR submit progress report on GRAD and thesis plan and paper draft.
• Flash talk and poster presentation at an annual scientific advisory board event and/or the annual postgraduate symposia in Faculty of Biological Sciences.
• Supervision meetings – PGRs are expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year and records of these meetings should be logged on GRAD.  
• Thesis write-up within 4-year funded period.

PGRs will in the first instance be accepted as provisional candidates for the degree of PhD. After the initial period of provisional registration, PGRs are subject to the process whereby they are formally assessed and, if successful in the assessment, are transferred to the specific degree category of PhD or MPhil.  

Full-time PGRs must undergo assessment by no later than 18 months of study. 

The decision to transfer will be based on the submission of appropriate material for assessment and all PGRs must undergo an oral examination by an assessment panel which must include at least two independent individuals who have not been involved in the supervisory support of the PGR. The PGR will be interviewed by the assessment panel in the form of a viva voce examination. 

A case for an extension to the period of provisional registration would have to be made on academic grounds to the relevant committee. In such cases any period of extension will be no more than six months. 

In addition to the Transfer process, there must be formal reports on progress as follows:

• First formal progress review (FFPR) at ten months
• Annual Progress Reports (APR) each year following Transfer.  

The arrangements for formal reports on progress by the supervisor(s) are described in the University Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidatures which is published at: Postgraduate research policies and procedures.

PGRs must present a thesis (100,000 words maximum), or alternative method of submission where stipulated in the Regulations for Ordinance X, on the subject of their research and satisfy the examiners as specified in Ordinance X and its associated Regulations. For faculties where a format and presentation of an alternative style of doctoral thesis including published material is permitted, specific regulations for the presentation of the work are published under Thesis submission and examination.  
 
Except with the special permission of the relevant committee, every PGR is required to submit their thesis for examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by no later than the end of the fourth year after their entry upon the approved course of full-time study and research 

As permitted in Ordinance X, when the progress and quality of the PGR’s research justify it, the relevant committee is empowered to reduce the required minimum period of study provided that no PGR shall submit for examination of the thesis before the completion of a total of two calendar years of full-time study.

Following examination, the examiners will be asked to make one of the following recommendations:

• a) Pass.
• b) Pass (subject to the correction of ‘editorial and presentational corrections’ or ‘minor amendments’): these corrections must be made within six or six months respectively from the date of the oral examination. The internal examiner is responsible for ensuring that ‘editorial and presentational corrections’ or minor amendments are corrected by the PGR. The degree will not be awarded until confirmation that the corrections have been completed is received.
• c) Referral (see the information that follows after this list).
• d) Recommend award of MPhil for those PGRs who fail to achieve the standard for the award of a PhD but who nevertheless satisfy the criteria for the award of the degree of MPhil. In these circumstances, the degree of MPhil may not be awarded with distinction.
• e) Recommend award of MPhil (subject to the correction of ‘editorial and presentational corrections’ or ‘minor amendments’): These corrections must be made within six weeks or six months respectively from the date of the oral examination. The internal examiner is responsible for ensuring that ‘editorial and presentational corrections’ or ‘amendments’ are corrected by the PGR. The degree will not be awarded until confirmation that the corrections have been completed is received. In these circumstances, the degree of MPhil may not be awarded with distinction.
• f) Referral for MPhil (see the Referral recommendations information that follows after this list). In these circumstances, the degree of MPhil may not be awarded with distinction.
• g) Fail: the PGR has no further opportunity for submission.

Referral recommendations

If the thesis is not considered to be of sufficiently high standard to recommend the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy but there is evidence of the potential of a successful PhD or MPhil submission, then on the recommendation of the examiners either:

• The PGR will be granted permission to resubmit the work in a revised form for the degree of PhD within a period of eighteen months, on one occasion only and on payment of an additional fee.
• The PGR will be granted permission to resubmit the work in a revised form for the degree of MPhil within a period of twelve months, on one occasion only and on payment of an additional fee.

Any PGR whose thesis has been referred for the degree of PhD may, subject to approval by the Head of their School, exercise the option of resubmitting a revised thesis for consideration for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy.

The recommendation of the examiners is subject to confirmation by the Graduate Board’s Examinations Group which will consider the examiners’ report.

On completion of the research programme PGRs should have shown evidence of being able to:

• discover, interpret and communicate new knowledge through original research and/or scholarship of publishable quality which satisfies peer review

• present and defend original research outcomes which extend the forefront of a discipline or relevant area of professional/clinical practice
• demonstrate systematic and extensive knowledge of the subject area and expertise in generic and subject/professional skills
• take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others where appropriate
• independently and proactively formulate ideas and hypotheses and to design, develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these
• critically and creatively evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship in the discipline
• demonstrate systematic knowledge of and be able to critically assess, analyse and engage with the ethical and legal context of their research and any ethical and legal implications of their research.

PGRs will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities through the research training and research specified for the programme:

• the skills necessary for a career as a researcher and/or for employment in a senior and leading capacity in a relevant area of professional/clinical practice or industry
• evaluating their own achievement and that of others
• self-direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations
• independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development.

This will include the critical analysis of, and decision making in, complex and unpredictable professional and/or clinical situations. 

The structure of the programme will provide research and/or professional training, breadth and depth of study and opportunities for drawing upon appropriate resources and techniques. Opportunities will be provided for PGRs to:

• develop to a high level interests and informed opinions
• develop to a high level their design and management of their learning activities
• develop to a high level their communication of their conclusions
• make an original contribution to the field.

PGRs will be expected to engage in the exercise of autonomous initiative in their study and work in professional environments.

Achievement will be assessed by the examination of the PGR’s thesis (or alternative form of thesis) and performance under oral examination. Assessment will involve the achievement of the PGR in:

• evidencing an ability to conduct original and independent broad and in-depth enquiry within the discipline or within different aspects of the area of professional/clinical practice normally leading to published work
• drawing on and/or developing a range of research techniques and methodologies appropriate to enquiries into the discipline/area of professional practice
• demonstrating independent critical ability in the application of breadth and depth of knowledge to complex issues within the discipline or specialist area of professional/clinical practice
• drawing on a range of perspectives on the area of study
• evaluating and criticising received opinion
• making reasoned and well-informed judgements on complex issues within the specialism whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data
• the written style and overall presentation of the thesis.

Full-time:

• Standard period of study: 48 months
• Overtime period: na
• Maximum time limit: 48 months
• Earliest submission: 24 months
• Reduction for earliest submission: 12 months
• Training plan required: 3 months
• First formal progress report: 10 months
• Transfer deadline: 18 months
• Maximum transfer after deferral: 24 months (6 months after transfer)
• Annual progress review: annual post transfer
• Supervision meetings: 10 meetings per year
• Meeting gaps: no more than 8 weeks
• Commitment to research activity: 37 hours per week
• Annual leave allocation: 26 days per year
• Maximum suspension/extension: 24 months
• Maximum resubmission deadline following referral: 18 months.