Expand+Entry Requirements

A research degree offers you the opportunity to develop your research skills and prove yourself as a researcher. Queen's is committed to the enhancement of research training and teaching and offers postgraduate research opportun...

Hide-Entry Requirements

A research degree offers you the opportunity to develop your research skills and prove yourself as a researcher. Queen's is committed to the enhancement of research training and teaching and offers postgraduate research opportunities across all fields of study. The following postgraduate research study routes for this subject area are:

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)
MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (MPhil)

Entrance Requirements

The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Qualifications

For information on international qualification equivalents please select Your Country from the list on our International Students website.

English Language Requirements

International students (where English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes. Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component (*taken within the last 2 years) is required.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this programme, our partner INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability to entry to this programme.

English for University Study - an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level.

Pre-sessional English - a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Expand+Special Features

The diverse array of research interests - ranging from biochemistry, food safety, microbiology and parasite control to plant and soil sciences - is linked by common approaches within the molecular biosciences that are aimed at exp...

Hide-Special Features

The diverse array of research interests - ranging from biochemistry, food safety, microbiology and parasite control to plant and soil sciences - is linked by common approaches within the molecular biosciences that are aimed at exploiting the ongoing genomic, transcriptomic/proteomic revolution.

Additional linkages are common: The molecular microbiology and parasitology components are heavily involved with industry and stakeholders to develop new biotechnologies and/or new therapies for disease control. Via the Institute for Global Food Security, the food safety and nutritional research elements have links throughout the agri-food industry which aim to exploit cutting-edge technologies to drive a competitive and sustainable agricultural sector. The interdisciplinary ASSET Centre (Assured Safe and Traceable Food) aims to secure food chain safety through state-of-the-art food forensics. Additionally, the group has a wide range of strong international links across Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Expand+Overview

These include overlapping themes in Biochemistry, Food Safety and Nutrition, Microbiology, Parasitology and Plant/Soil Science, with a broad research ethos that encompasses research in molecular biosciences from molecules to ecosystems.
...

Hide-Overview

These include overlapping themes in Biochemistry, Food Safety and Nutrition, Microbiology, Parasitology and Plant/Soil Science, with a broad research ethos that encompasses research in molecular biosciences from molecules to ecosystems.

Biochemistry explores basic facets of cell signalling, molecular interactions and enzymology in the healthy and diseased organism.

Food Safety concentrates on the detection of toxins, drug residues, endocrine disruptors and pathogenic micro-organisms in foods with a view to the improvement of food safety and integrity using diverse systems biology approaches

Nutrition research aims to improve life quality through the reduction of oxidative stress.

Microbiology explores fundamental microbial processes related to the functions of micro-organisms in the environment and their use in biotechnology.

Parasitology aims to improve parasite control and agricultural sustainability through the exploration of drug resistance, the development of drug target discovery and validation methods, and the development of vaccines to control parasite infections.

Plant & Soil Science focuses on improved quality (more nutrients, less toxicants) and efficiency of growing (reducing fertiliser inputs, novel field management) of grains/vegetables/fruits, by integrating soil chemistry and microbiology with plant physiology.

Expand+Research Strengths

•Bio-imaging

•Bio-screening for beneficial natural compounds
•Emerging microbiological and chemical threats to food and water

•Human dietary intervention studies, especially related to satiety and obesity

•Identificati...

Hide-Research Strengths

•Bio-imaging

•Bio-screening for beneficial natural compounds
•Emerging microbiological and chemical threats to food and water

•Human dietary intervention studies, especially related to satiety and obesity

•Identification of cellular and systemic receptors and targets for novel therapeutic drug design related to diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease

•Microbial biochemistry, genomics, stress metabolism and bioremediation

•Molecular biology, cell biology, cell signalling and regulation

•New sensor-based methods and sample preparation techniques to deliver rapid and effective monitoring of harmful food and environmental contaminants

•Parasite biology, gene silencing, physiology and therapeutics

•Protein biochemistry, structure, expression and engineering

•Relationship between heat-processed diets and vascular health