Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Medicine, Health and Human Disease  Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Medicine, Health and Human Disease 2026/27

PGRs may undertake study for the degree of PhD Medicine, Health and Human Disease in the School of Medicine and Health of the University under the supervision of a member of staff who satisfies the eligibility requirements specified by the relevant committee. Supervisors will be appointed at the commencement of the programme of study.

This programme offers two different pathways: Medical Research and Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease. All PGRs take the same compulsory module. The pathways are defined by the choice of optional modules.  

Candidates will normally be required to have obtained a relevant degree at least equivalent to a UK upper second class (2:1) honours degree in biological or physical sciences, medicine, or subjects allied to medicine relevant to the proposed field of research.

International candidates will normally be required to have achieved at least 7.0 in IELTS (with no component below 6.5) or an equivalent English language qualification. Equivalent academic and English Language qualifications can be found on our entry requirements page.

Candidates will normally be expected to start the programme in October.

The standard period of study for full-time PGRs is four years and the maximum time limit is five years. A list of milestones and deadlines is provided in the ‘Milestones and deadlines’ section of this programme of study.

This programme is not available for study by part-time, split-site or distance learning modes.

All candidates for the degree of PhD are expected to undertake appropriate generic training. In addition, PGRs will take 120 credits of taught modules as specified.

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

Year 1

PGRs will commence research in the School of Medicine under the direction of their supervision team and are expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year. 

• Month 1: completion of the training plan by the end of month 3.
• Month 6: first formal progress report.

PGRs will take 120 credits of taught modules as follows:

All candidates must take the following compulsory module:

• MEDS5020M Paper Criticism (15 credits).

PGRs must also take 75 credits made up of one research methods module and two related project modules as follows:

PGRs on the Medical Research pathway will take:

• MEDM5161M Methods in Biomedical Research (15 credits)
• MEDR5410M Research Project 1 (30 credits)
• MEDR5420M Research Project 2 (30 credits).

PGRs on the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease pathway will take either:

• MEDM5161M Methods in Biomedical Research (15 credits), or
• MEDP5321M Research Methods (15 credits).

together with:

• CARD 5001M Research Investigation 1 (30 credits)
• CARD 5002M Research Investigation 2 (30 credits).

PGRs must also take 30 credits of specialist modules from one of the following lists, to be agreed with the programme manager. Other optional modules may be selected, subject to consideration and approval of the programme manager. 

PGRs are advised to discuss this with their supervision team. Other optional modules must be chosen through discussion and in agreement with the host and programme lead to compliment the research project area of each individual PGR and should be selected to increase the breadth and depth of knowledge.

Optional modules can be either undergraduate or postgraduate as set out in the academic regulations but all PGRs must undertake a minimum of 90 credits of modules at M level.

Medical Research pathway:

• MEDM5221M Cancer Biology and Molecular Oncology (15 credits)
• MEDM5211M Stem Cell Biology: A Genomics and Systems Biology Approach to Haematopoiesis (15 credits)
• MEDM5134M Models of Human Disease for Translational Research (15 credits)
• MEDM5121M Immunity and Disease (15 credits)
• BIOL5178M High throughput Technologies (15 credits)
• MEDM5111M Human Molecular genetics (15 credits)
• MEDM5151M Big Data for Rare and Common Disorders (15 credits)
• EPIB5032M Introduction to Genetic Epidemiology (15 credits)
• MEDM5141M The Molecular Biology of Cancer (15 credits)
• MEDM5231M Cancer Drug Development (15 credits).
   

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease pathway:

• MEDP5311M Digital Radiography and X-ray Computed Tomography (15 credits)
• MEDP5312M Magnetic Resonance Imaging (15 credits)
• MEDP5314M Ultrasound Imaging (15 credits)
• MEDP5317M Radionuclide Imaging    (15 credits)
• MEDP5318M Medical Image Analysis (15 credits)
• EPIB5022M Core Epidemiology (15 credits)
• EPIB5023M Introduction to Modelling (15 credits)
• EPIB5024M Statistical Inference (15 credits)
• EPIB5032M Introduction to Genetic Epidemiology     (15 credits)
• MEDM5101M Research Informatics and Dissemination (15 credits)
• MEDM5111M Human Molecular Genetics (15 credits)
• MEDM5134M Models of Human Disease for Translational Research (15 credits)
• MEDM5121M Immunity and Disease (15 credits).

PGRs must pass all 120 credits in order to progress to year 2 of the programme. PGRs who do not complete the taught requirements will not be able to proceed to the degree of PhD, but may be eligible instead for the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Research or Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease dependent upon the pathway taken provided they meet the award requirements set out in the academic regulations.

Year 2

• PGRs will continue research under the direction of their supervision team and are expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year.
• Month 22: submission of transfer report.
• PGRs will be required to undergo the formal assessment procedure for transfer to PhD status before the end of the second year of study.

Year 3

• PGRs will continue research under the direction of their supervision team and are expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year.
• Month 36: annual progress review.

Year 4

• PGRs will continue research under the direction of their supervision team and are expected to meet with their supervisors at least 10 times per year.
• Month 48: annual progress review (unless thesis submitted).

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 24 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 the mid-point of the first year.
• 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 published on the postgraduate research policies and procedures page.

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.

In schools where an alternative form of submission is permitted, specific regulations for the presentation of the work are published.

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 fifth 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 three 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 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 ‘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 (the ‘referral recommendations’ section that follows explains this in more detail).
• d) Recommend award of MPhil: for those candidates 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 ‘minor 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 (the ‘referral recommendations’ section that follows explains this in more detail). 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:

• a) The PGR will be granted permission to resubmit the work in a revised form for the degree of PhD within a period of 18 months, on one occasion only and on payment of an additional fee.
• b) The PGR will be granted permission to resubmit the work in a revised form for the degree of MPhil within a period of 12 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 candidate’s thesis (or alternative form of thesis) and performance under oral examination. Assessment will involve the achievement of the candidate 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 (FT, 1.0)

• Standard period of study: 48 months
• Overtime period: 12 months
• Maximum time limit: 60 months
• Earliest submission: 36 months
• Reduction for earliest submission: 12 months
• Training plan required: three months
• First formal progress report: six months
• Transfer deadline: 24 months
• Maximum transfer after deferral: 30 months (six months after transfer)
• Annual progress review: annual post transfer
• Supervision meetings: 10 meetings per year
• Meeting gaps: no more than eight 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.