UCL DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING

MPhil/PhD

The department offers a range of research degree opportunities; many supported by BBSRC awards, and by industrial sponsors. Typically eight to ten new PhD positions are offered each year. The projects draw upon the expertise within the department and the multidisciplinary research linkages of the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering. Many of the PhD projects are collaborative with leading bioindustry companies. These external links, and close involvement with the Centre’s research team, provide the foundation for producing much sought after doctoral graduates.

Candidates are invited to contact the Department of Biochemical Engineering about all of our available Mphil/PhD programmes using the “How to Reply” and “Request more information” links on the left.  Meanwhile, some of our projects and other details are offered via the BBSRC London Interdisciplinary Biosciences PhD Consortium website

EngD

The department has been selected as the recipient of an annual EPSRC-supported allocation of ten Bioprocess Leadership Engineering Doctorates. Each EngD programme is of four calendar years’ duration; with up to half of the time spent with the host company which also sponsors the researcher. This gives the researchers unprecedented opportunities to explore novel science and engineering in a process and business context relevant to future leadership roles in the bioindustry. Given the levels of company sponsorship negotiated by the department the stipends received by the EngD researchers are, in many cases, equivalent to graduate starting salaries in industry. 

Further information concerning the Bioprocessing Leadership Engineering Doctorate is available on the centre's dedicated website

Research Programmes (MPhil/PhD/EngD)

Graduates with at least an upper second-class Honours degree or a graduate Master’s qualification in a suitable science or engineering discipline are eligible to apply. Candidates offering relevant industrial experience in addition to, or partly in place of, academic qualifications are also welcome to apply.

Taught MSc Programmes

Normal entry requirements are at least a second-class Honours degree from a UK university or the equivalent from an approved overseas institution. Candidates offering recent industrial experience in place of academic qualifications are encouraged to apply.

As with any engineering discipline numeracy skills are important for the quantitative description of biological and physical phenomena. Evidence of numerical ability is requested as either an A level in Mathematics (or in exceptional cases, in Physics) or some mathematics studied at university. The department provides mathematics tutoring for Master’s students throughout the year adjusted to a candidate’s ability.

Applications from graduate scientists are normally from candidates holding qualifications in applied biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacy or other related subjects. Applications from graduate engineers are normally from candidates holding qualifications in chemical engineering, process engineering or other related subjects. For the graduate biochemical engineer’s pathway applicants will have a degree in the field or closely related subject.

There are typically up to 30 full-time places available each year. Both degree programmes are 12 months in length and begin in late September.

To make an application please visit the UCL application website, and select How to Apply, where you can choose between the options of applying online, downloading the application materials, or requesting an application pack to be sent by post.

Alternatively you may telephone the UCL Study Information Centre to request an application pack (contact details are given on the inside front cover). Your completed application should be submitted to UCL Admissions.

Some advisory notes on the completion of the application form are listed below. You may have already submitted a detailed CV and this form will request duplicate information. If preferred, you are welcome to cross-refer to your CV.

Research subject area/name of taught programme

For research subject areas ‘Biochemical Engineering/Bioprocessing’ will suffice as an entry but applicants who do have specific research areas of interest should note these in the personal statement.

Page last modified on 20 sep 11 13:01

The department welcomes applications from overseas students for both its taught Master’s degree programmes and research degrees. Over recent years students have come from Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and the United States.

All applicants for graduate programmes are required to hold, or to expect to hold prior to entry, a first-class or second-class Honours degree from a UK university, or its equivalent from a recognised overseas institution. Before beginning a programme of study all students whose first language is not English are required to provide recent evidence of their ability to understand and use English to a standard that will ensure that language problems do not substantially impede their academic progress. UCL accepts a number of English Language qualifications including the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at a minimum overall grade of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. A full list of acceptable English Language qualifications is included in UCL’s Graduate Applications Pack.

UCL’s Language Centre offers both a one-year full-time Certificate in English for Special Purposes and a range of pre-sessional English Language Courses for those who do not meet UCL’s minimum standard.

The International Office is a centre of expertise and advice for overseas students, who are welcome to seek help or guidance in many areas such as immigration, housing, finance, English Language tuition and fees. Research in Biochemical Engineering can be expensive especially when using recombinant materials or operating at pilot-plant scale. For overseas students we must request a contribution towards the cost of the research in the form of additional research expenses. Typically these will range from £2,000 to £10,000 per year and will be agreed before the research programme begins.

Advice on a variety of matters, including the level of additional research expenses required, can also be obtained within the department from the Admissions Tutor or the Departmental Administrator (non-academic matters only).

More information can be found on UCL's international student pages.

Download a PDF of our postgraduate prospectus