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Synthetic Biology MRes

London, Bloomsbury

Synthetic biology allows us to support and augment the living world, recreating nature’s most ingenious elements and systems so we can design vaccines, monitor pollution, sustain our food production, and much more. This interdisciplinary research Master’s will provide both the broad biological knowledge and the specific tools you’ll need to thrive and progress in this rapidly advancing field of science and industry. 

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£20,500
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£39,800
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally, a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in biochemistry, biomedical sciences, life sciences, biochemical engineering, chemical biology or any related subject area, or a medical degree (MBBS), or a physical sciences degree, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with an appropriate professional qualification and relevant work experience may also apply.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


Join us on this intensive one-year Master’s, and qualify as a research scientist with the practical skills needed to specialise in the exciting new field of synthetic biology.

Building expertise with career applications far beyond academia, you’ll gain transferable research skills and a comprehensive understanding of a broad range of related biological disciplines, including molecular biology, microbial physiology, biochemical engineering, mathematical modelling, DNA design and bioinformatics.

Using this knowledge, you’ll be able to use interdisciplinary approaches to design and build synthetic elements, pathways, cells, and systems for a range of different real-world applications.
You’ll also gain a wider appreciation of the ethical and societal contexts of synthetic biology, and gain a nuanced awareness of the patenting considerations that apply to technologies that draw their inspiration from the natural world.

Who this course is for

This programme attracts students from a wide range of science backgrounds including graduates from biology-based science degrees and the physical, engineering, chemical and mathematical sciences, and we train them in this new field, enabling students to transfer these skills to work on further research, in industry and teaching.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This degree offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • Join the oldest biochemical engineering department in a UK university, with over £60m in current research and industry grant funding supporting more than 160 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
  • Apply your new skills to a lab-based research project to gain hands-on experience in experimental design, synthetic bioengineering techniques, data acquisition and analysis.
  • Build solid foundations for your research career, learning to apply the Researcher Development Framework (RDF) in a bioprocess research context for your professional development and improved research impact.
  • Learn from world-leading academics at UCL Engineering, ranked as one of the top four UK engineering schools by grade point average (GPA), with 97% of our research activity rated by the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
  • Refine your bioprocessing skills at the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering (ACBE), where you’ll access world-class facilities including a fully equipped bioprocess pilot plant and a suite of laboratory automation platforms. We are the only UK university to have a scaled bioprocessing pilot plant like this.
  • Immerse yourself in UCL research culture at our Bloomsbury campus, in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Case study: Eating away at the plastics problem

We're speeding up evolution to recycle plastic.

The foundation of your career

Synthetic biology is a fast-growing area of research and will have a major economic and social impact on the global economy in the coming decades. The involvement of molecular biologists, biochemists, engineers, physical scientists, chemists and biologists can create designed cells, enzymes and biological modules that can be combined in a defined manner. These can be used to make complex metabolic pathways for pharmaceuticals, designed and synthetic cells, novel hybrid biosensors or novel routes to biofuels. A future integration of biological devices and hybrid devices as components in the electronics industry might lead to a whole new high-value industry for structured biological entities.

It's a really unique experience being able to talk to all these really intelligent people who are at the forefront of their fields and research. It's the best thing I've done.

Headshot of alumni student Finn Porter talking to camera.

Finn Porter

MRes Synthetic Biology

Hear more from Finn

Employability

As a graduate of this programme, your interdisciplinary skills and expertise will be in demand across a wide range of leading companies and organisations for many roles, potentially including consultant engineer, business analyst, process development scientist or process engineer.

Recent graduates from UCL Biochemical Engineering have taken exciting roles at companies such as Merck, GSK, Pall, Oxford Biomedica, Exmoor Pharma and Ori Biotech.

Completing this programme also means you’ll be well placed to pursue an academic career in postdoctoral research or university lectureship, either here at UCL or at any number of universities across the world.

As part of your studies, you’ll also take part in the Modular Training for the Bioprocess Industries Programme (MBI). Attended by more than 1,500 participants from over 300 companies since its inception, the MBI programme is designed for students from a range of disciplines across UCL to work alongside industrialists looking to up-skill and harness our bioprocessing expertise.

Delivered by UCL faculty members in collaboration with over 70 industrial experts, MBI cohorts often include group leaders, senior-level directors, and executives who are keen to gain insights into current trends in new therapy areas, regulatory affairs and the latest research.

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s:

  • Attend tailored events at both the faculty and departmental level facilitated by the Department of Biochemical Engineering's postgraduate events committee, UCL Careers, the Office of Vice Provost Advancement (OVPA) and UCL Innovation and Enterprise.
  • Participate in and organise student-led events, such as industry visits or guest lectures, with a focus on specific industrial sectors relevant to your studies.
  • Get enterprise-ready through the UCL Innovation and Enterprise Entrepreneurship Skills programme. You’ll access an entire ecosystem of startup support, with events, lectures, enterprise bootcamps, competitions and more.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, interactive workshops, and research mentorship and collaboration activities. Guest lectures delivered by industrialists provide professional and social context to your learning.

This programme is assessed via unseen written examinations, coursework, individual and group project reports, individual and group oral presentations, and the research or design project.

This is a full-time course, which means students should expect a working schedule of approximately 35 hours a week divided between contact hours and self-directed learning. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the term depending on the student's module choices.

Assessment varies according to the student's module choices. The taught modules are assessed by assignments and coursework. The research project is assessed by an oral presentation, submission of a dissertation and is subject to oral examination.

The Synthetic Biology MRes programme offers a stimulating blend of contact hours and self-directed study that promotes both academic guidance and intellectual independence. Here's a glimpse of what to expect, including some unconventional approaches that redefine the traditional study experience:

Contact Hours:

  1. Interactive Lectures and Workshops: Around 4-8 hours per week, focusing on lively discussions and active participation.
  2. Mentorship Meetings: Regular sessions with research mentors, providing personalised guidance and insight into real-world applications.
  3. Collaborative Research Projects: Regular team meetings fostering collaboration with peers, industry professionals, and international scholars.
  4. Guest Lectures and Seminars: Occasional special sessions with renowned researchers, industry leaders, and global experts.
  5. Self-Directed Study

Independent Research:

  1. Around 10-20 hours per week, depending on the stage of the programme. This time is invested in reading, experimentation, data analysis, and writing, allowing students to deeply explore their chosen field.
  2. Innovative Learning Platforms: Access to online libraries and AI-powered webtools that facilitate self-paced learning and exploration.
  3. Global Collaborations: Flexibility to connect with international peers and researchers, transcending time zones and geographical boundaries.
  4. Personal Growth and Wellness: MRes students are encouraged to practice mindfulness, creativity, and to prioritise their well-being within the self-study regimen, ensuring a balanced and holistic learning journey.

The Synthetic Biology MRes programme structure is meticulously designed to inspire curiosity, nurture creativity, and foster innovation. It's more than just attending classes and reading textbooks; it's about immersing oneself in a Synthetic Biology research environment that encourages thinking beyond conventional boundaries. Whether collaborating with a team or engaging in solitary contemplation, each moment is an opportunity to grow, explore, and redefine Synthetic Biology research. Students and staff on the UCL Synthetic Biology MRes programme together embark on an educational adventure that transcends the ordinary!

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The Synthetic Biology MRes programme is one calendar year long.

The 9-month research project is 120 credits, the Synthetic Biology taught module is 30 credits and the transferrable skills modules are 15 credits each.

The taught modules start at the beginning of the academic year and the research project starts in November and continues till the end of August.

The taught module in Synthetic Biology spans Term 1 and Term 2. 

The Transferable Skills in Bioprocess Research and Development module is in Term 1 and the Research Skills module spans Term 1 and 2.

Compulsory modules






Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MRes in Synthetic Biology.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Where you'll study

Three students in blue lab jackets looking up at biochemical engineering equipment

UCL’s Department of Biochemical of Engineering’s unique facilities include a pilot plant, part of our Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering (ACBE). With several bioreactors, from ultra scale down (USD), right up to a 100L bioreactor, students and researchers can pilot industrial processes on campus. We are the only UK university to feature a fully-functional scaled bioprocessing facility. Students are also taught at our new Manufacturing Futures Lab, which is pioneering faster, smarter and more flexible ways to develop products and processes of the future. A multi-disciplinary research and teaching hub, this lab spans biochemical, chemical and mechanical engineering and chemistry.

Find out more

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Where can a UCL Engineering degree take you - Alumni Perspectives

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Where can a UCL Engineering degree take you? Join us for a panel and Q&A event with UCL Engineering alumni. You'll learn what you can expect from postgraduate study at UCL Engineering and get application advice from previous students! This is an opportunity for all applicants to hear personal experiences of studying with us, but may be most relevant to those applying from the USA, Latin and South America.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £20,500
Tuition fees (2025/26) £39,800

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Students will be expected to pay their own travel costs to industry visits. Visits change each year and the cost will vary from approximately £30 - £200 based on location, how early the student books, and what method of transportation they choose.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Synthetic Biology at graduate level
  • why you want to study Synthetic Biology at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with the essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver. Applicants who have a portfolio are strongly recommended to submit it when they apply.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Biochemical Engineering
Biochemical Engineering

biochemeng@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.