PhD Infection and Immunity
An MPhil / PhD degree in Infection and Immunity offers an opportunity to work with world class scientists and to develop your skills as an independent researcher.
UCL is a world leading university and a dynamic and exciting environment for your studies. We offer research training of the highest standard to form the future leaders in the field.
Our researchers are internationally recognised leaders in infection and immunity, providing a unique opportunity for you to network and further your career. Identify a potential supervisor by exploring our list of investigators and projects.
The Division
The Division comprises:
- The Department of Infection
- The Department of Immunology
and two Institutes:
Our research areas
The Department of Infection focuses on pathogen biology (HIV-1, Herpesviruses, hepatitis viruses, mycobacterium tuberculosis, pneumococcus, meningococcus, SARS-CoV-2, transmissible cancers, pathogens evolution, immune regulation by pathogens and translational medicine).
The Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) is based in the new Pears building. The IIT focuses its research on transplantation and tissue engineering, vaccination, cell and gene therapy, chronic infection, autoimmunity, immunological therapy for cancer and inherited immunological diseases.
The UCL African Health Research Institute (AHRI), based in Durban, South Africa, is funded by the Wellcome Trust and focuses its research on global health problems such as HIV-1 and Tuberculosis, drug resistance, SARS-CoV-2, population surveillance, viral reservoirs and co-infections.
We have strong links to UCL hospitals, which include University College Hospital (UCH), The Royal Free Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH), and other UCL Partners members.
Key information
Duration: Full-time: 3-4 years / Part-time: 5 years.
Entry requirements: A First-Class degree or equivalent from a good institution. For candidates with an Upper-Second class (2:1) degree, the standing of the awarding institution carries more weight, along with A-level (or equivalent) results. Previous research experience is required. For overseas students, we provide advice on academic degree equivalence. You must also meet English language requirements.
Structure
- Each student will have a primary supervisor and a thesis committee, which will include a secondary supervisor (acting as thesis committee chair) and one or two faculty members who can provide guidance and insight over the duration of the project. The thesis committee will have an advisory role and will meet at regular intervals during the PhD. The thesis committee will foster intellectual exchange and collaborations between the student and faculty members as well as among faculty members based at the different Institutes.
- Students will transfer (upgrade) from MPhil to PhD one and a half years after registration. Upgrade is conditional on satisfactory progress and the student will be required to present his/her research at a Divisional seminar, write a report and pass a viva examination.
- Students will have access to lectures and modules organized by the Division. Currently there are 19 modules covering Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Mycology, Epidemiology, Immunology, Allergy and Immunodeficiency.
Fees and funding
We do not currently offer studentships, but you can apply to several competitive PhD funding schemes that accept overseas students. (The Royal Free Charity / Pears Foundation Scholarship is only available to students with 'home' fee status.)
If you are accepted to one of these schemes, you will be able to choose a PhD project in the Division of Infection & Immunity.
- BBSRC London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme
- UCL-Birkbeck MRC Doctoral Training Programme
- UCL Graduate Research Scholarships
We welcome applicants who have secured, or plan to secure, a governmental scholarship through their home country. Overseas students must obtain funding that covers:
- tuition fees for 3 years (subject to yearly increases)
- your living expenses
- research consumables, where relevant.
Self-funded students are considered only if they have been shortlisted by a UK competitive PhD funding scheme but were just below the threshold for acceptance. Evidence of the selection process is required.
You must inform your prospective supervisor how you propose to fund your studies. If you have not yet secured funding, please indicate where you intend to seek it.
UCL Research Scholarships for 2025/26 entry
Applications are open for the UCL Research Excellence Scholarship and Research Opportunity Scholarship for 2025/26 entry.
To apply for either of these schemes, please review the application guidance in full.
Please send your completed scholarship application to pgr-infection-immunity@ucl.ac.uk by 10 January 2025.
We cannot consider incomplete applications. Please ensure that all required documentation and all references sent separately have been received by the Division by the deadline.
How to apply
Before applying, you should review the projects available and the profiles of the Principal Investigators in the Division and contact a potential supervisor.
To apply: if you are applying to any of the funding schemes above, you need to follow their guidelines and apply through their systems. Otherwise, please apply online via UCL.
When you apply, you should provide a statement letter explaining which lab(s) you would like to join and why. Please be as specific as possible.
What happens next?
Suitable applicants who meet the selection criteria will be shortlisted for interview, either in person or remotely.
For administrative questions on PhD applications, please contact Satinder Ruprai (pgr-infection-immunity@ucl.ac.uk).
