Engineering Biology (PhD) at University of Bristol

Programme overview

Society faces major global challenges including a need for sustainable food, materials and chemicals, solutions to combat climate change, and innovative technologies for improved healthcare. Engineering Biology (EngBio) is an emerging field at the confluence of Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, AI and Data Science. It has the potential to provide innovative solutions to these challenges by harnessing biology in new ways and creating biomimetic and engineered living systems capable of surpassing what is possible from single-discipline approaches.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences | Department: School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology | Duration: Up to four years full-time | Study mode: full-time | Intake: September 2027 | Location: Bristol, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

The first year will be divided into three segments. The first segment will begin with induction weeks in both Bristol and Oxford. You will then receive around four weeks of foundation training (in Oxford).

Career pathways

As this was a new course launched in 2024-25, there is no graduate destination data yet. However, for context, graduates of the Synthetic Biology programme which preceded this Engineering Biology cohort-based training programme, progressed into industry (50%), academia (40%), and startups (10%).

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from candidates who aspire to work in a multidisciplinary field. As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their international equivalent: a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in engineering, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, medicine or related disciplines. You are not expected to identify a research project in advance of applying. English language: profile level E.

Domestic applicants: GBP 5,343 a year (2027/28). full-time per year; 2027 entry, subject to annual review. Source

International applicants: GBP 28,300 a year (2027/28). full-time per year; 2027 entry, subject to annual review. Source

Intake: September 2027

Duration: Up to four years full-time

Apply through the official page: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/start-application/

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