PhD in Bioengineering

Qualification
- PhD
Duration
4 years, 8 years
Entry in
2026
Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
Delivered by
- Department of Bioengineering
Location
- South Kensington
- White City

Academic requirements

A good 2:1 or 1st class degree from a UK university or equivalent in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, biological sciences, physiology or medicine.

Course overview

Biomedical engineering is a discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology and medicine, and improves human health through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice.

Our interdisciplinary research involves collaborations across the College as well as with other international centres of research, leading London hospitals and a variety of industrial partners. This creates a highly stimulating environment for student research attracting exceptional individuals from an array of academic backgrounds.

Our research areas are:

Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
Biomedical sensing, diagnostics and imaging
Computational and Theoretical Modelling
Medical devices
Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering
Neurotechnology and Robotics
Regenerative Medicine and Biomaterials

Structure

Months 0-12

Milestones for the first year of study include:

Within 2 months of starting:

Submit a short research plan, summarising the problem you have been set, and your proposed plan to work on it.

Within 12 months of starting (24 months for part-time):

(Early Stage Assessment) Submit a report summarising the first year’s work, including courses taken. Make an oral presentation to examiners.

Months 12-24

Within 24 months of starting (48 months for part-time):

(Late Stage Review) Submit a report describing progress so far, and a work plan for completing the thesis. Make a poster presentation to examiners.

Final year

At month 36 of starting (48 for part-time):

(36th Month Progress Review) Submit a brief report describing progress and remaining work, decided whether you should move to writing up stage or have your active registration extended.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Candidates must be in receipt of, or due to receiveL

A first-class honours (or equivalent) in an undergraduate degree, or
A 2:1 in an integrated Master’s degree.

Candidates who do not hold a first-class undergraduate degree or 2:1 in an integrated Master’s degree may still be considered if they:

Hold a 2:1 undergraduate degree, and are in receipt of, or due to receive, a standalone Master’s.

English requirements

International qualifications

Equivalent to a UK good 2:1 or 1st class degree in engineering, any of the physical sciences, mathematics, biological sciences, physiology or medicine.

For guidance see our accepted qualifications, though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.

If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.

Supervisors

Visit the research and academic staff pages of the Bioengineering website to identify topics of interest and appropriate supervisors.

How to apply

Apply online

PhD applications can be made all year-round for the four eligible start dates of the first Mondays of the academic year, October, January, April and July. We encourage you to apply early, approximately a year prior to your proposed start date.

Fees and funding

Scholarships and funding

Students in the Department are funded from a variety of sources, including UK Research Councils, industry, College scholarships and Departmental funding.

Current funding opportunities available to Bioengineering applicants are advertised on our PhD funding page. Please also ask your prospective supervisor about funding opportunities that they may have or be aware of in your pre-application discussions with them.

We also have a range of grants and scholarships which you don't need to pay back.

For further information about possible sources of funding please visit our Scholarships page.

Home fee

2023 entry

£7,030 per year

2024 entry

£7,340per year

Please note that fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.

Tuition fees are set for the academic year which runs from 1 September to 31 August. You will pay the fees for the full 12 months of the academic year that your start date falls in.

Please refer to our tuition fees pages for more details of fees are charged and billed.

Overseas fee

2023 entry

£28,600 per year

2024 entry

£29,900per year

Please note that fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.

Tuition fees are set for the academic year which runs from 1 September to 31 August. You will pay the fees for the full 12 months of the academic year that your start date falls in.

Please refer to our for more details of fees are charged and billed.

Scholarships

Project specific ��ýhips

Value per award

Various

Find out more

Scholarship search

Value per award

Various

Find out more

Postgraduate scholarships

Value per award

Various

Find out more

Career

Based on the different groups that were forerunners of the department, the largest percentage of our PhD graduates has gone into academia. This is not surprising since, until recently, we have been a primarily research-oriented department. However, an increasing number of our PhD graduates are now going into industry and R&D positions. Our graduates can be found in businesses, research organisations and health services around the world. They are also building their own start-ups. The sectors in which bioengineers work include: