Mphil Phd School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
Course overview
Start date
September 2018
Subject area
Phd
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus
Course summary
Studying for a PhD with UEL’s School of Health, Sport and Bioscience (HSB) will push you to the limit - and you’ll be supported all the way by our world-class academic staff.
HSB has a well-developed postgraduate research culture, across bioscience, health and sport. Our supportive academic supervisors can help you develop your postgraduate ideas and your research skills at the same time. What’s more, you’ll be working in our modern, multi-million facilities and buildings in our Stratford campuses.
Our research is concentrated into several research groups, including the: Human Motor Performance Group (HMPG); Medicines Research Group (MRG); Infection and Immunity Research Group (IIRG); and the Centre for Disabilities, Sport and Health (CDSH). We also work closely with UEL’s Institute for Health and Human Development (IHHD).
Contact us
If you have any questions, talk to a member of our Applicant Enquiries team on +44 (0) 20 8223 3333 or email study@uel.ac.uk.
Get in touchWorld-leading research
Sixty two per cent of UEL’s research was rated ‘World-leading’ or ‘Internationally excellent’, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework.
Active researchers
Alison Lyddon is researching how foot and ankle impairments in stroke patients affect their mobility and balance. Her clinical measurement model will improve this group’s assessment and management.
Hot topic projects
The effects of addictive drugs typically last beyond their presence in the body. Oghenetega Francisca Umukoro’s is investigating how drugs cause long-term changes in gene expression and behaviour.
What you'll study
UEL offers two main research degrees: the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
The most popular course is the PhD via MPhil. A PhD is an original and distinct contribution to the knowledge of the field of study. It is often essential for those wishing to follow an academic or research career in industry or commerce. PhD research can be carried out in all subject areas - normally over three years.
PhD and MPhil students are supervised by one or more research-active staff. Your supervisors will support your programme of research through regular meetings and reviews.
At the end of your PhD, you’ll write an 80,000-word thesis, summarising your research. You will then have to undergo an oral examination (a viva) on your thesis.
The PhD via MPhil course normally takes a minimum of 33 months to complete. It involves two years of study, followed by an application to transfer from the MPhil to a PhD, when the quality of your research is assessed. You can then go on to do a full PhD.
Fees and funding
UEL postgraduate research programmes attract the same fees per year, across all Schools.
Some postgraduate research programmes may charge additional ‘bench fees’ of up to £6,000 - mainly for laboratory based programmes.
There is a write-up fee of £900 (with £450 rebate for handing in thesis within first 6 months of write-up phase).
If you are a UEL alumnus enrolling on an MPhil or PhD programme, you are eligible for up to 15 per cent discount of your fees. You don’t need to apply for this - if you are eligible, it will apply automatically.
Entry requirements
Your research proposal
Research proposals give us a better understanding of the area you want to study for an MPhil, PhD via MPhil or PhD Direct course.
You don’t have to follow a predetermined structure when writing your proposal, but it’s a good idea to include a title that describes the aims and scope of your research, and information on how your ideas fit in with the research interests of UEL.
Other important elements include: relevant academic literature, how your research will advance knowledge in this area, and a possible methodology. You should also include a timescale for your research.
To find out more about how to write your research proposal, see our research proposal guidance.
What we're researching
Major areas of research within HSB include: bioscience, health promotion, therapeutic and clinical medicine, herbal medicine and plant biotechnology, and sports science.
Making a difference
UEL is one of the UK’s leading modern research universities. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 17 per cent of our overall research submission was classified as ‘world-leading’ for its quality and impact – almost double our previous REF score. A further 45 per cent of our work was considered ‘internationally excellent’.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme
If this applies to you, you will need to apply to the UK government for an ATAS Clearance Certificate to study in the UK as soon as UEL has made you an offer of a postgraduate place.
The scheme applies only to UEL postgraduate students in the Schools of Health, Sport and Bioscience (HSB) and Architecture, Computing and Engineering (ACE).
You can find out more about ATAS here.
